One of my Favorite Outdoor Books
I read this book in 2007 and it quickly became one of my favorites. The story is about Christopher McCandless a very smart, college grad who decided to drop out of society. Right after graduating from College, McCandless abandoned his possessions, burned his cash and gave his entire $24,000 savings account to charity.
For several years McCandless wandered the United States without ID or a steady supply of cash. McCandless partially survived by working odd jobs but mainly by scavenging and accepting the goodwill of the people he met.
He hiked all over the west, floated down the Colorado River into Mexico and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. After crossing back into the US without ID and being hassled by border officials, McCandless traveled for several years throughout the West and Midwest before hitchhiking to Alaska.
McCandless survived for 112 days in the Alaska bush before succumbing to an unknown injury and starvation. For some people it is hard to understand why he decided to live his life this way without the comforts of civilized society. But for me I completely understand what he was looking for.
McCandless was a free spirit, a true Outdoor Adventurer, and wandered the world seeking what we all seek at one time or another. Peace….
The book was also made into a Major Motion Picture. Check out the trailer:
The movie closely follows the book but of course it has been optimized for a Hollywood audience. But it is still a good watch.
