Who is Chris McCandless?
Though known by many, Chris is never truly known by anyone. After leaving Jan Burres in Salton City, California, McCandless hikes into the desert, setting up camp in Anza-Borrego, Calif.
Why did Chris go to the slabs?
Chris writes to Jan Burres, inviting her and Bob to visit him, but before they can depart Chris arrives at their campsite located at the Slabs, an unconventional campground for vagabonds and drifters. Chris explains that he was tired of life in Bullhead City.
Where did Chris McCandless go on his trail?
Isolation v. Intimacy Krakauer picks up McCandless’ trail at Bullhead City, Arizona where Chris stays for two months, flipping burgers at McDonald’s. Chris’ coworkers remember Chris as a responsible, but rebellious worker, who would always show up, but worked slowly at the grill and resented wearing socks and shoes to work.
Why did Chris McCandless leave Bullhead City?
Chris explains that he was tired of life in Bullhead City. McCandless’ rapid movements from one town to the next not only underscore his itinerant lifestyle, but also his mercurial ways.
Did Chris McCandless live in Slab City?
At a hippie commune McCandless resided at called Slab City, the production engaged locals as extras and actors. Not everything, however, could be done the way McCandless lived it, especially the Alaska-set abandoned bus sequences, which presented many logistical challenges.
How did Chris feel about Slab City?
All in all, slab city is a pretty sensational place for a certain sort of folks. Me? I loved it. I hope to head back there this season, meet the people who reside there, and uncover what I couldn't see from the road.
What places did Chris McCandless travel to?
Chris McCandless encountered many significant and important places throughout his long journey but the most significant of all were; Bus 142, Anza-Borrego, Fairbaks, Alaska, Carthage South Dakota, Bullhead City, Arizona, Denali National Park, the Slabs, Detrital Wash, the Stampede Trail and Emory University.
Who owns the land in Slab City?
The stateThe state owns the land, and any revenues derived from it are earmarked for the California State Teachers Retirement System. Slab City nowadays is home to some 200 permanent residents and between 1,000 and 2,000 retirees seeking refuge from their native cold winter climes. Some of its residents are homeless.
Who was the girl at Slab City in into the wild?
While most of the people Chris McCandless met on his epic road trip were adults, he also encountered Tracy (Stewart), a young woman who had grown up most of her life in the unusual environs of Slab City, an RV camp in the California desert where free facilities draw all manner of vagabonds, renegades and non- ...
Was Tracy a real person in Into the Wild?
ellisd wrote: Yes she is a real person. she did an interview w/ animal planet for the new chris documentary being released later this year. I spoke with her a number of times and she is a very nice and interesting lady. Very real, indeed.
What are the slabs Into the Wild?
McCandless stays with Jan and Bob at "the Slabs," the remnants of a demolished Navy air base that has become home to a community of drifters. There he helps Jan and Bob sell used books at the local flea market.
What were Chris McCandless last words?
It was discovered that he died of starvation due to his inability to cross back over an overflowing river. His last known words were written on the back of a page from a book: “I have had a happy life and thank the Lord. Goodbye and may God bless all!” The man's name was Christopher McCandless.
How long was Chris McCandless journey?
According to his journal, for 114 days, Chris lived in what he called his "magic bus." By the end, he had written that "death looms" and he was "too weak to walk out." He wrote that he had "literally become trapped in the wild." McCandless has been criticized for being selfish and unprepared for his trip.
Is it free to live in Slab City?
While Slab City has package delivery and there is no charge to live here, there is no running water, sewage, plumbing or electricity, unless you are creative and savvy enough to create your own, which some have done.
Are there kids in Slab City?
At peak season, about 40 kids live in Slab City.
Can you visit Slab City?
It's up to you when you want to visit the Slabs, but if you choose to try to visit this otherworldly town during the more brutal summer months, you will have to be especially prepared for the devastating heat and the fact that the city does not have electricity, sewage, or any other public utilities.
When did Chris McCandless go to Alaska?
April 25, 1992He lived for a time in Salton City, California, and then reappeared in Carthage, where he planned out his Alaskan adventure. McCandless hitchhiked through Canada and reached Fairbanks via the Alaska Highway on April 25, 1992.
Where was the Into the Wild bus?
The abandoned Fairbanks city bus became a shelter for hunters and others using the backcountry near Denali National Park and Preserve, but it became a beacon for those wishing to retrace the steps of Christopher McCandless, who hiked to the bus in 1992.
Where did Into the Wild take place?
AlaskaIn April 1992, Christopher McCandless arrives in a remote area called Healy, just north of Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Noting his unpreparedness, his driver gives him gumboots. McCandless sets up camp in an abandoned city bus that he calls "The Magic Bus".
When did Chris McCandless go Into the Wild?
1992Chris McCandless Went Into The Alaskan Wilderness In 1992 And Never Came Out.
How long was Chris McCandless dead before found?
They found McCandless’s decomposing remains in the sleeping bag. It is theorized that he died from starvation approximately two weeks before his body was found.
How did the Chris McCandless bus get there?
Later on, the Yutan Construction Company purchased the bus, removed its engine, and turned it into a shelt er.
Where is Chris McCandless bus location?
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — An infamous bus appears headed to a new home at a museum in Fairbanks after being removed from Alaska’s backcountry to deter people from making dangerous, sometimes deadly treks to visit the site where a young man documented his demise in 1992.
When his body was found how much did Chris McCandless weigh?
His body, which weighed only 67 pounds (30.4 kg), was discovered by hunters on September 6. The cause of death was officially reported as starvation.
Who is the last person to see McCandless alive?
The last person to see Christopher McCandless alive was Jim Gallien, an electrician who gave him a lift to Alaska’s Stampede Trail on April 28, 1992.
How long did Chris McCandless survive in the wild?
McCandless took shelter in an abandoned city bus for 114 days.
Where is the Into the Wild bus now?
Historic Bus 142 has returned to Fairbanks where it first served as part of the city’s public transit system in the 1940s. Backdropped by the derelict bus on a flatbed trailer outside the UA Museum of the North in Fairbanks , Director Pat Druckenmiller explained the idea of the future exhibit.
Where does McCandless go after a week?
After a week, McCandless decides to leave the Slabs. Jan drives him to Salton City , California so that he can pick up his last McDonald’s paycheck. She attempts to give Chris some money, but he refuses. She finally persuades him to accept some knives and long underwear for Alaska.
Why does McCandless work for money?
He works for money only in order to free himself from having to work from money for a while. McCandless takes a liking for Bullhead City and makes an arrangement with an old man named Charlie to squat in an abandoned trailer on the outskirts of town.
What does Chris tend to gravitate towards?
Chris tends to gravitate towards motherly figures over romantic relationships. While he flees his own family, there is a hint that some part of him is seeking a familial love he can believe in.
Why did Chris refuse Jan's money?
Chris’ refusal of Jan’s money and supplies, not only demonstrates Chris’ unwillingness to accept the aid of others it also suggests that his extreme self-reliance is also extremely self-destructive. Such supplies could aid Chris on his journey, but Chris places his pride above his wellbeing and comfort. Further, his decision to leave indicates that he feels the need to prioritize his independence over making human connections.
Who helps Jan sell secondhand books at the Slab's flea market?
Active Themes. Chris helps Jan sell secondhand books at the Slab’s flea market by recommending books and stories by his favorite author and chronicler of the Klondike, Jack London. He frequently talks about his plans to go on a “great Alaskan odyssey.”.
How did Christopher McCandless die?
Christopher McCandless, in full Christopher Johnson McCandless, byname Alexander Supertramp, (born February 12, 1968, El Segundo, California, U.S.—found dead September 6, 1992, Stampede Trail, Alaska), American adventurer who died from starvation and possibly poisoning, at age 24, while camping alone on a remote trail in Alaska. His death made him a figure of controversy, admired by some as an idealist in the tradition of David Thoreau and Leo Tolstoy but disparaged by others as self-destructive.
When did McCandless return to civilization?
McCandless would have returned to civilization in early July 1992 had he been able to recross the Teklanika, but the river he had easily forded two months earlier was by then swollen with snowmelt, and he returned to the bus. Forced to continue on a substandard diet, he weakened and died in mid-August.
Where was Walt McCandless born?
February 12th, 1968- Born in El Segundo, California (19) Aprox. 1971- Moved with family to Annandale, Virginia, nearby to father's work in Washington, D.C. (20) *Father, Walt McCandless, was an Aerospace Engineer for NASA (19,20)
What did Alex kill in the bus?
Alex made the bus his base of operations. (165) *On June 9th, Alex shot and killed a moose. The moose was on the "small" side, weighing only 600 pounds (166) *Alex frantically tried to preserve the meat by smoking it, but after 3 days, all the meat was full of maggots. Alex remarked in his.
When was Alex caught?
January, 16, 1991- Alex is caught by immigration police at the Tex-Mex border, and is held overnight. Once he explains to the police
Where did McCandless camp?
After leaving Jan Burres in Salton City, California, McCandless hikes into the desert, setting up camp in Anza-Borrego, Calif.
Where does McCandless ride the rails?
Restless, McCandless rides the rails up north to Seattle, where he sends postcards to Jan and Ron, gleefully bragging about his near violent run-in with a railway security guard.
What does Ron do when Chris takes to the road?
By taking to the road, Ron becomes a devotee of Chris’ way of life and idealizes Chris almost as a Christ-like figure, Like a disciple, Ron receives the word and waits upon his Chris’ return. Chris’ devotion and idealism makes him extremely charismatic—even great—to some people.
What does Ron do in April?
In April, Ron receives a long letter from Chris, exhorting him to turn to the road to find life’s great joys and meaning. Ron takes Chris’ advice to heart, moves out of his apartment and camps in the desert, waiting for his friend Chris to return.
What does Franz teach McCandless?
Franz teaches McCandless how to do leatherwork. Chris creates a tooled leather belt, which records his wanderings in pictures, symbols and initials. Bonding over long talks and handiwork, Chris and Ron’s relationship is akin to that between a father and son.
What is Chris' campsite?
Chris’ campsite near Oh-My-God-Hot-Springs represents Chris’ mission to live on the borders of conventional society. That Ron drives Chris out to this remote location signals Ron’s connection to him, and foreshadows that Ron will soon follow in Chris’ footsteps. Active Themes.
Why did Chris leave San Diego?
Yet Chris leaves San Diego soon after arriving because he can’t find work. Chris’ tenacious endurance fails when it comes to conventional jobs and common courtesies, further illustrating his difficulty at meshing with societal norms. Active Themes. Get the entire Into the Wild LitChart as a printable PDF.
Overview
Christopher Johnson McCandless , also known by his pseudonym "Alexander Supertramp", was an American adventurer who sought an increasingly nomadic lifestyle as he grew up. McCandless is the subject of Into the Wild, a nonfiction book by Jon Krakauer that was later made into a full-length feature film.
After graduating from Emory University in Georgia in 1990, McCandless travele…
Early life
Christopher Johnson McCandless was born in Inglewood, California and spent his early childhood in El Segundo, California. He was the eldest child of Wilhelmina Marie "Billie" McCandless (née Johnson) and Walter "Walt" McCandless, and had a younger sister named Carine. McCandless also had six half-siblings from Walt's first marriage, who lived with their mother in California and later in Denver, Colorado. In 1976, the family relocated to Annandale, Virginia, where McCandless'…
Personal life
McCandless held a particular interest in classic literature. According to Krakauer, some of his favorite writers were Jack London, Mark Twain, Leo Tolstoy and H. G. Wells. He was also heavily influenced by 19th-century American writer and naturalist Henry David Thoreau and was engrossed by his essay On the Duty of Civil Disobedience. McCandless highlighted a section on chastity in Thoreau's Walden, which has raised questions regarding his sexuality. There is no indication of …
Travels
McCandless left Virginia in the summer of 1990, driving a Datsun west in an apparent cross country trip to California. His car was not in good condition and suffered numerous breakdowns as he made his way out of the eastern United States. He also carried no car insurance on the vehicle and was driving with expired license plates. By the end of the summer, McCandless had reached the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, where a flash flood disabled his car. Fearful of f…
Death
McCandless's final written journal entry, noted as "Day 107", simply read, "BEAUTIFUL BLUE BERRIES." Days 108 through 112 contained no words and were marked only with slashes, and on Day 113 there was no entry. The exact date and time of his death are unknown. Near the time of his death, McCandless took a picture of himself waving while holding a written note, which read:
I HAVE HAD A HAPPY LIFE AND THANK THE LORD. GOODBYE AND MAY GOD BLESS ALL!
Legacy
The converted green and white bus where McCandless lived and died became a well-known destination for hikers. Known as "The Magic Bus", the 1946 International Harvester was abandoned by road workers in 1961 on the Stampede Trail. A plaque in McCandless's memory was affixed to the interior by his father, Walt McCandless. McCandless's life became the subject of a number of articles, books, films, and documentaries, which helped elevate his life to the status of modern m…
Assessments
McCandless has been a polarizing figure since his story came to widespread public attention with the publication of Krakauer's January 1993 Outside article. While the author and many others have a sympathetic view of the young traveler, others, particularly Alaskans, have expressed negative views about McCandless and those who romanticize his fate.
Alaskan Park Ranger Peter Christian wrote:
In popular culture
Krakauer's approximately 9,000-word article "Death of an Innocent" (January 1993) was published in Outside. Chip Brown's full-length article on McCandless, "I Now Walk Into the Wild" (February 8, 1993), was published in The New Yorker. Jon Krakauer's non-fiction book Into the Wild (1996) expands upon his 1993 Outside article and retraces McCandless's travels leading up to the hiker's eventual death.