Christopher McCandless: The Adventure that Never Died

“We like companionship, see, but we can’t stand to be around people for very long. So we go get ourselves lost, come back for a while, then get the hell out again.” 
― Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild

Hello Wild Ones,

Today seemed especially difficult, as I found myself thinking about Christopher Johnson McCandless. How alone he must have felt during his last moments alive. For those of you who do not know the story of McCandless he was what I like to call an adventerous free-spirited soul who would stop at nothing to become one with nature.

In early 1992, a young man went in search of an adventure and left everything behind. Material possessions were minuscule. Even though Christopher’s family were well off financially, he had no interest in any of it. What did matter to him was to search for a deeper meaning to life. And so, he set out into the wild of the United States of America, traveling to Arizona, California, and South Dakota. He even got himself in a bit of a bind when he found himself canoeing from Colorado and into Mexico. Paddling throughout and only surviving off rice and any catch of marine life. Christopher always found a way to look for an adventure; one of his very own. Soon enough he found himself across the Pacific Ocean and on the Stampede Trail in Alaska. His goal was to survive off the land any which way he could. Although, McCandless found himself trapped when weeks later the river to cross back into town had quickly rose and was therefore uncrossable. Unfortunetly, it is theorized that his life was cut short when he accidentally foraged some poisonous berries or seeds in which he consumed and later died. Although others speculate it was from starvation.

The book became an instant national bestseller during the 1990s and has since then been translated into 30 languages. This is the type of book that I wish would have been a requirment to read in high school in my English class. I know I would have felt an immediate connection to it. This book didn’t fall into my hands until 2013. I had heard reviews about the film adaptation but never saw it until I read the book. There is a reason why I look up and admire the stories that where told about him in this book. He was a young brave soul who captured the hearts of many wilderness enthusiasts and hikers across the world. His adventure is one that should not be forgotten even after all these years.

In the book there are snippets of letters and postcards written personally by Christopher sent to his many friends he met along the way. Throughtout the story there are times where it is written in perspective of McCandless as well as the perspective of the author Jon Krakauer.

I believe we can all learn something from Christopher McCandless. It is that his spirit as bright as it burns with the calling of the wild, his fate was sealed when he ventured off. Maybe he belonged there all along. Out in the free world, within the trees and trails where no one but himself could understand it’s very desirable calling. To be one with your surroundings especially in the great outdoors, is the greatest feeling of all, and I can understand that. I believe Alexander Supertramp, which is what he liked to call himself, found his soul and himself and everything that he was searching for in life. His memory will forever be embedded into my mind. He may be gone but never forgotten. Supertramp who was only 24 years old when he died became a trailblazer for adventure junkies and is highly reference upon and talked about on the trails to this very day. As the wise words of Alexander Supertramp resonate with me today I can picture him and hear an echo of his voice within the woods saying

“If we admit that human life can be ruled by reason, then all possibility of life is destroyed.”

“I now walk into the wild.”

Christopher Johnson McCandless

aka Alexandar Supertramp

February 12, 1968 – August 18, 1992