How did Alexander Supertramp die?
Written By: 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.
Who is Christopher McCandless in into the wild?
Christopher Johnson McCandless a.k.a. Alexander Supertramp (Alex) Christopher McCandless is the protagonist of Into the Wild. Through anecdotes from those who knew Christopher, from his letters and journal entries, and from an examination of his favorite underlined and annotated books, Jon Krakauer pieces together a vivid portrait...
What happened to McCandless in Alexander Supertramp?
He burns what remains of his cash and assumes a new name: "Alexander Supertramp". In Northern California, McCandless encounters a hippie couple named Jan Burres and Rainey. Rainey tells McCandless about his failing relationship with Jan, which McCandless helps rekindle.
Is Supertramp based on a true story?
It is an adaptation of the 1996 non-fiction book of the same name written by Jon Krakauer and tells the story of Christopher McCandless ("Alexander Supertramp "), a man who hiked across North America into the Alaskan wilderness in the early 1990s.
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Why did Chris McCandless call himself Alexander Supertramp?
McCandless may have chosen "Alexander" to honor Alexander the Great, a conqueror of vast territories previously unknown to him. And although Supertramp is the name of a British rock band from the 1970s, the reference more likely signals McCandless's aspiration to be a super tramp — a great wanderer.
Who is Alex in the book Into the Wild?
Christopher McCandless, a.k.a. “Alexander Supertramp” or “Alex” — The protagonist of Into the Wild and the subject of Jon Krakauer's investigative reporting.
Where in the world is Chris Alexander Supertramp McCandless?
On the eastern bank of the Sushana River, McCandless found an abandoned bus, Fairbanks Bus 142, which he used as a makeshift shelter until his death....Chris McCandlessBornChristopher Johnson McCandlessFebruary 12, 1968 Inglewood, California, U.S.Diedc. August 18, 1992 (aged 24) Stampede Trail, Alaska, U.S.6 more rows
What killed the Into the Wild guy?
In August 1992, Christopher McCandless died in an abandoned bus in the Alaska wilderness after living mostly on squirrels, birds, roots and seeds for 113 days. Hunters found his body weeks later. Alaska state coroners declared starvation as the cause of death.
What is Alex afraid of Into the Wild?
According to Jim Gallien, why was "Alex" afraid of water? He never learned to swim. He almost drowned when a storm swamped his canoe. He was almost drowned by bullies when he was younger.
What does Alex believe in Into the Wild?
Into The Wild Book Analysis He had given all of his savings to charity, abandoned his car and his possessions. Unlike others, he wanted to live a life of independence, free from materialistic pleasures and filled with nature and it's beauty.
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!”
Who drove Chris McCandless to Alaska?
On April 25, Stuckey buys a bag of rice for McCandless and then drives him to the University of Alaska at Fairbanks, where McCandless wants to look up books on edible plants at the library.
What Berry did Chris McCandless eat?
Because the wild potato was universally believed to be safe to eat, in this article I speculated that McCandless had mistakenly consumed the seeds of the wild sweet pea, Hedysarum mackenzii—a plant thought to be toxic, and which is hard to distinguish from Hedysarum alpinum. I attributed his death to this blunder.
How did they identify Chris McCandless?
The key to confirming his identity was a roll of film that was also found at the camp. On it was a self-portrait. State troopers said the hiker was Christopher J. McCandless, a 24-year-old from Annandale, Va., who graduated from Emory University in Atlanta after studying psychology and philosophy.
What poisonous plant did Chris McCandless eat?
Hedysarum alpinumAnd last month, in a blog post at The New Yorker, Krakauer cited a new chemical analysis supporting the idea that McCandless ate poisonous seeds from a wild potato known as Hedysarum alpinum.
Who found the body in Into the Wild?
The Anchorage couple is too upset by the note and the smell of decay to investigate further. They are soon joined, however, by three hunters riding all-terrain vehicles. Looking inside the bus, one of the men, an auto-body shop employee named Gordon Samel, discovers a dead body in a sleeping bag atop a makeshift bunk.
Into The Wild
The unusual life of Alexander Supertramp (originally Christopher McCandless) was adapted into a book – Into The Wild by Jon Krakauker. The book is an expansion of Krauker’s 9000 word article “Death of an Innocent”, which appeared in the January 1993 issue of Outside.
He wanted realization
McCandless is one person. I am sure there are several others. Incidents unknown, untold, not reported. But the spirit of these unheard, unsung heroes are there.
Who was Walt's sister?
He was the eldest child of Wilhelmina "Billie" McCandless (née Johnson) and Walter "Walt" McCandless, and had a younger sister Carine. McCandless also had six half-siblings from Walt's first marriage, who lived with their mother in California and later Denver, Colorado.
When did Krakauer publish his book into the Wild?
In January 1993 , Krakauer published an article about McCandless in that month's issue of Outside magazine. He had been assigned the story and had written it under a tight deadline. Inspired by the details of McCandless's story, Krakauer wrote the biographical book Into the Wild.
What is the poison in McCandless?
Krakauer also speculated that McCandless might have been poisoned by a toxic alkaloid called swainsonine, by ingesting seeds (from Hedysarum alpinum or Hedysarum mackenzii) containing the toxin, or possibly by a mold that grows on them ( Rhizoctonia leguminicola) when he put them damp into a plastic bag. Swainsonine inhibits metabolism of glycoproteins, which causes starvation despite ample caloric intake.
Where was Christopher McCandless's bus 142?
Born. Christopher Johnson McCandless. ( 1968-02-12) February 12, 1968. El Segundo, California, U.S. Died. c. August 1992 (aged 24) Stampede Trail, Alaska, U.S.
Who is Christopher McCandless?
Emory University. Christopher Johnson McCandless ( / məˈkændlɪs /; February 12, 1968 – c. August 1992), also known by his nickname 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 ...
Who played McCandless in the movie?
An eponymous 2007 film adaptation of Into the Wild, directed by Sean Penn with Emile Hirsch portraying McCandless, received a number of awards, including Best Picture from the American Film Institute. Ron Lamothe 's documentary The Call of the Wild (2007) also covers McCandless's life story.
What is the poisonous substance in McCandless?
Krakauer also speculated that McCandless might have been poisoned by a toxic alkaloid called swainsonine, by ingesting seeds (from Hedysarum alpinum or Hedysarum mackenzii) containing the toxin, or possibly by a mold that grows on them ( Rhizoctonia leguminicola) when he put them damp into a plastic bag. Swainsonine inhibits metabolism of glycoproteins, which causes starvation despite ample caloric intake.
Who is Wayne Westerberg?
Wayne Westerberg. A grain elevator operator who befriends McCandless on the road in Montana. He offers Chris a ride, food, shelter, and later a job working at his grain elevator in Carthage, South Dakota. Wayne receives Chris’s last postcard .
Who is Chris McCandless?
Chris McCandless. a.ka. Alex /Alexander McCandless/ Alexander Supertramp, McCandless is an idealistic young man from a well-to-do D.C. family, who gives away all his worldly possessions, hitchhikes his way through the U.S. between 1990 and 1992, and… read analysis of Chris McCandless.
Who is Wayne Westerberg?
Wayne Westerberg. — A well-intentioned operator of a grain outfit who assists McCandless early in his wanderings and becomes a close friend. Westerberg is a convicted felon who served a short sentence for a victimless crime involving the piracy of television signals.
Who is Christopher McCandless?
Christopher McCandless, a.k.a. “Alexander Supertramp” or “Alex”. — The protagonist of Into the Wild and the subject of Jon Krakauer’s investigative reporting. Compact, athletic, and serious, McCandless has a high IQ and reads voraciously. When he is young, he takes his father’s advice to excel in all his activities seriously, ...
What happened to Billie and Carine after Christopher's death?
After his death, Billie is overcome with grief, but maintains a strength that Krakauer describes in the book’s epilogue.
What does McCandless's authoritative streak show?
He has an authoritative streak best evidenced by his tendency to lecture even his parents and other adults about their lives. From time to time, McCandless also evidences nervousness with other people, especially authorities, and a decided absentmindedness or lack of common sense.
Where does Christopher meet Jan?
— A woman Christopher meets when she gives him a ride in Arizona. Later, Christopher shows up at Jan’s trailer in the itinerant community, the Slabs, where she lives with her boyfriend, Bob. Christopher lives with the couple and helps Jan with her bookselling business.
Is Walt McCandless taciturn?
Walt is somewhat taciturn, and when he does communicate he is straightforward in a manner that leaves little room for politeness. Before he legally married Billie McCandless, Christopher’s mother, Walt McCandless maintained a relationship with his first wife, acting as the father and head of two families at once.
Who sang the song "Into the Wild"?
Main article: Into the Wild (soundtrack) The songs on the soundtrack were performed by Eddie Vedder, lead singer of Pearl Jam, and Jerry Hannan. Vedder won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song for the song " Guaranteed ". The score was written and performed by Michael Brook and Kaki King.
When was Into the Wild released?
Into the Wild was released on March 4, 2008, on standard DVD, Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition DVD, and standard HD DVD. The special edition DVD and HD DVD contain two special features entitled The Story, The Characters and The Experience. The Blu-ray Disc edition was released in France on July 16, 2008. The Blu-ray edition for the US was released on December 16, 2008.
Where is the bus that killed the Stampede?
The abandoned and decaying bus on the Stampede Trail where McCandless died became a pilgrimage destination for fans. It was located in Denali Borough, Alaska , 30 miles (50 km) from the nearest town. The bus was taken to the remote trail in the 1940s by a road crew, according to Denali Borough Mayor, Clay Walker. Visitors to the site had to cross the dangerous Teklanika River. In 2019 a newlywed Belarusian woman drowned trying to cross the swollen river on her way to the site. Another drowning took place in 2010. Five Italians were rescued in February 2020, with one suffering from severe frostbite, and a stranded Brazilian had to be rescued in April 2020. In total, 15 bus-related search and rescue operations for visitors were carried out between 2009 and 2017.
What is the name of the documentary about McCandless?
See also. The Call of the Wild , a 2007 documentary about McCandless made by Ron Lamothe. Grizzly Man, a 2005 documentary about a man who perished in the Alaskan wilderness at the mouth of a bear. Wild, 2014 film about a woman's trek across the Pacific Crest Trail.
What did Franz teach McCandless?
Franz teaches McCandless the craft of leatherwork, resulting in the making of a belt that details McCandless' travels. After spending two months with Franz, McCandless decides to leave for Alaska, despite this upsetting Franz, who has become quite close to McCandless.
What is the average rating of Into the Wild?
The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 83% of 200 reviews of the film were positive, with an average rating of 7.50/10. The site's critics consensus reads: "With his sturdy cast and confident direction, Sean Penn has turned a complex work of nonfiction like Into the Wild into an accessible and poignant character study." Metacritic assigned the film an average score of 73 out of 100 based on 38 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Where does McCandless go?
McCandless then travels on the Colorado River and, though told by park rangers that he may not kayak down the river without a license, ignores their warnings and paddles downriver until he eventually arrives in Mexico. There, his kayak is lost in a dust storm, and he crosses back into the United States on foot.
What is the book into the wild about?
The book and film inspired numerous people from various countries to attempt visits to the bus, and many of the would-be pilgrims required rescue. After the deaths of two such seekers (2010 and 2019), Alaska state authorities had the bus removed in 2020 and taken to the Museum of the North in Fairbanks.
Who is Henry David Thoreau?
Henry David Thoreau, American essayist, poet, and practical philosopher renowned for having lived the doctrines of Transcendentalism as recorded in his masterwork, Walden (1854), and for having been a vigorous advocate of civil liberties, as evidenced in the essay…
Where does Alex camp in the movie?
Jan and Bob take Alex under their wing and take him with them to Orick Beach, where he camps with them for a week. Over the course of the next two years, Alex would send the couple a postcard every couple of months, which initially surprised them, because they weren’t expecting to ever hear from him again.
Where did Jan and Bob live in Into the Wild?
Jan and Bob in Into the Wild were a couple who befriended Chris McCandless in California. They kept in touch with Chris, and Chris spent some time with them in a desert community called the Slabs. They were part of the counter cultural world McCandless came to know, and they provide a window into some of the ways Chris spent his time on the road.
Why did Bob and Jan pull over?
Jan and Bob notice McCandless picking berries on the side of the road and pull over because the boy looks hungry. They offer him a ride into town, and a friendship begins between them. McCandless later returns to help Jan sell books at a market.
Did McCandless reveal his real name?
Jan and Bob were drifters, and clearly McCandless felt a bond with them. He did not reveal his real name, but this was more significant in forgetting his past than misguiding those he chose as part of his future. When they met up again he helped out with their book stall and was sociable. However, he discarded the long underwear Jan gave him for hisAlaskatrip: he still did not want to take direction from others.
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.