@@HermunthrudaWaldheimyou can easily tell by the antlers. While both are massive caribou antlers are skinny and spindly while mose antlers are flat and wide. Also caribou have light patches on their chest and butt while mose are much darker all over
@@HermunthrudaWaldheimlate reply, more recently, the skeleton has been identified as a moose and it was not a caribou as the others claimed. I am an alaskan and studied the book and its my favorite book.
I feel like Chris was definitely “ignorance is bliss” personified. It seems like it wasn’t his intent to be a nature survivalist, it was his intent to live life how he wanted.
i kinda get the idea he didn't like his life at all, no one would pack light to live in the alaska wilderness if they cared about their life at all. it seemed like he wanted out of this world, but had trouble doing it with his own hand. i know from personal experience. the trooper who called his attempt a suicide mission wasn't far off at all. he grew up playing in the woods, and wanted to return to the woods to die in them. i can imagine those last couple weeks were the best times of his life though, he essentially was just a child wandering around the forest doing things that he wanted to do, no direction, no one telling him what to do, or how to do it. just satisfying his own basic needs, and wants. he knew what was gonna happen, he knew he wasn't going to survive in the bus forever, and he didn't want to. basically, he wanted to go out on his own terms, away from the world, and society that he hated so much. he travelled as far away from it as possible, just to make his statement.
i feel like this is more a projection of your own personal experience like you said lol i mean i don't think anyone should be speculating this hard and acting like they really know the motivation for this like for me idk i see a weird dude who jus didn't find what he wanted in day to day life like there are so many people i think who have this kind of vibe and it has nothing to do with suicidal ideation or a death wish.
ntm straight up said he had a happy life. i mean if he was really that upset and pondering existence and death his journals would have reflected it im sure
@@orabyss why would you reflect upon something if you've already come to terms with it? and death isn't necessarily a sad thing. maybe for others around you, but once you come to terms with your own morality, you realize it's just the final flourish of the life you've lived. he didn't need to ponder what he already knew. sure i'll never know what he was thinking, but chris wasn't stupid, he knew he wasn't going to survive out there, and his goal was never to survive. if he wanted to survive, he would've prepared, but he simply did not. this isn't even a debate, because everyone knows you have to be prepared to deal with nature. chris went hiking as a child. he, if anybody else, would understand that being unprepared at the mercy of nature is just a death sentence. people can lead happy lives and still be sad, no one is immune to human emotions. no one wants to mope about all day and complain about how much life sucks and everything is stupid. you can pretend to be happy, just to make others happy, a lot of people do it, and i'm certain chris was one of these people.
Yeah i also only saw the movie, watched it with my parents and i wanted to watch it again (sometime later) but they removed it from netflix :(( but they recently added it back, and im happy for that, more people need to know his story, definitely changed alot of lives this man did
@@AmandaVieiraMamaesouCult Darwin awards were/are an actual thing, at least in a publication sense. It's my experience that stating this incident was included in a collection of Darwin awards is not edgy; it's a statement of fact. 🤷🏻♀️
This just teaches me about a nuanced young man trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life and in the end I’d like to think when he died he was satisfied enough. I think people like this and anyone at that fact always have something to learn from. It’s the glory of history in which I hope Chris is remembered somewhat in.
I loved the movie, it was really touching Still kind of stupid how he died just a couple of miles away from civilization because he didn't want to walk them but I can empathize with his wish of just leaving everything behind and living a peaceful life
@pyropulse I think your taking this a bit too far, also whats with the hostile attitude? Chill, saw your reply on another comment and was just straight up toxic. Take a chill pill.
@pyropulse Also I think he meant that there was a hand crank chairlift, only a half a mile away from where he had originally crossed that had saved his life.
Glad to see you finally got that milk dad, I was starting to get withdrawals. As always it’s fantastic to get to enjoy yet another unsurprisingly great installment to wendigoons library. Please never quit creating, your channel has become so integral in my daily life that nothing, including youtube, would be the same without it!
Honestly: I absolutely love the topics you chose. They are always interesting and you do your research so incredibly well and with respect for the matter at hand. I especially come back to the longer videos again and again bc they help me get household chores done. And your voice is so soothing. It is but a treat for the ears. Thank you for your hard work.
I think he lived a good life. There are too many people on earth and some of us are just destined to die with nothing because everyone else is just a better version of us, making us unnecessary. His decision to go out his own way is inspiring, and I hope more people are able to go out on their own terms like he did instead of resigning themselves to dying miserably out on the streets
I have always found inspiration and a longing to do exactly what Chris did, I also loved White Fang by Jack London. However I do find what Chris did to be stupid and slightly inconsiderate, but I would understand it if he was suffering from abuse in the home. Especially if the abuse, like that of which you discuss happend, I can firmly see how such a thing could cause trauma. It would not suprise me if his father had been abusive (with or without knowledge), and he would have used material possessions and accomplishments in order to diminish or even threaten Chris with. Here's the worst part about that sort of abuse, his father might have wanted to give those material possessions in order to keep Chris closer, however whenever the father felt like he was losing Chris he would use those possessions to "anchor" Chris. So I can also understand how the father and mother did not see or understand the abuse they were causing.
I'm gonna walk into the wilderness, with little food, a shirt on my back, no survival skills, no knowledge of the surroundings, .. to find myself, to find the meaning of life, or just to see what kind of troubles i will get into... Then I will go home when I'm good and ready! And I don't need a plan B!
Great breakdown. Fascinating individual regardless of how he lived his life it was his. people are so disconnected from the basics of life. The most interesting individuals I've ever met are ones that have overcome large adversities.
I don't think he's a failure as an outdoorsman but I do feel he was extremely foolish for doing what he did. His inexperience was going to kill him regardless and it just happened to be in Alaska. He died miserable, alone,and in agony.
Also remember that one day you will die, your loved ones will die and every aspect of the world you knew will be dust. Why treat life with such mystical reverence but be so afraid to claim what's yours? Chris Supertramp is the only modern human I have ever looked up to, A man who staked his claim and paid his price.
Nature is terrifying, grand and beautiful. And it is no less fantastical merely because it can be cruel. Likewise, humans are infinitely capable to survive in almost any enviroment due to ingenuity, tools, and problem solving. Thing is, you actually have to know what you're doing to take advantage of what is, more or less, all our species has going for it.
I understand why Chris did what he did. I’ve always had the inner urge to just drop everything and go road tripping, abandon all my ties to society. And I’ve had a happy childhood. Chris had grown up in an abusive and materialistic environment; it’s no surprise he left. I just hope he died feeling happy and free.
@@jamsjars9505dude he left a note where he said he was happy and prepared to die. he said goodbye. wtf are you talking about, did you even watch the video?
@@mystoxxiide9043 Did you? The author of of that first book about him described him as a bum and thief. Rangers were right to criticize him for being ill-prepared and putting himself in a dangerous situation. What this man wrote could easily have been him trying to justify his adventure with words of wonderlust, artifically injecting it with meaning. This same wonderlust grew into others attempting the same journey and dying or having to be rescued.
yooooo I just did a project about this guy in high school like a year ago lol. I remember his name “alexander supertramp” was made that way because Supertramp was his favorite band
Just amazing how Patreon doesn't have any specific requirements with what name you donate. You could use your real name, just part of it, or something absolutely ridiculous. The choice to have the name you want.
Some people may relate to the sentiment of not really wanting to kill themselves but not wanting to exist so wishing that they could just die some other way. I get those vibes from Chris. Like he didn’t want to actively end his life but he didn’t really care if he did in fact die. That’s why he didn’t want to spend time with gear and maps, he just wanted to get away immediately.
that is exactly what i wanted to say. there's a lot of peeps in the comments like "oh, he's careless and stupid and could've prepared" i don't think he gave a single shit about surviving, just about living what he had left his own way, at least at the start
I disagree with both of you for the sole reason of what we wrote down. you can clearly see that once he realized he was starting to die, he got afraid. he didn‘t want to die, he wanted to get out to recollect, he even wrote that sos note in hopes of rescue. while he accepted his death in the end, he definitely didn‘t actively welcome it
„I don‘t want to die. I just don‘t want to be alive anymore.“ Those two are distinctly different, though most people might not see it that way. But the problem is that Chris arrived at the point of no return, and that‘s when he realized he actually DID want to stay alive. But he was out in the middle of nowhere, so sick he couldn‘t leave, no way to call for help. Trapped. So his last days were basically torture. He made many mistakes, but he deserved better than to die like that.
@@justsaying6341 there’s several stories of survivors who had attempted suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge who said that the moment they jumped they regretted it. i think for many there’s a difference in wanting to die and then actually being confronted with your imminent death.
You're missing the most important research on the starvation issue. Krakauer himself wrote an addendum to Into the Wild about research into ODAP and canavanine poisoning from wild potato seeds when eaten as a major part of one's diet. This type of seed was not known to be poisonous at the time and he had a guidebook on him that said they were safe to eat. ODAP poisoning leads to loss of motor function in the legs and canavanine makes your body unable to synthesize proteins properly. It's possible his poisoning was not due to his own ignorance or mistaken identification of a plant, but due to a gap in the scientific literature that was only closed in the last ten years.
@@spearfisherman308 yes he starved to death but the poison inhibited him to where he could no longer properly care for himself thus led to the starvation.
@@spearfisherman308 the cells of the human body use many proteins, one of which is arginine. The danger of canavanine is that the body mistakes it for arginine and tries to use it instead, leading to a lack of actual arginine. There are scientific papers about this, I found one through a minute of searching Google about canavanine and arginine. If that documentary is saying it’s just a simple lack of food, it’s using outdated information.
My brother did similar thing as Chris. He travelled all over the US with just himself and few possessions, hitchhiking and relying on the kindness of strangers. He struggles a lot with addiction and mental health issues and we have tried to help him to no avail. My brother has been through many US states. He has friends everywhere. We have gone years with no contact with him because he was living on farms or in forests. He comes back to my hometown every few years, stays awhile with our relatives, then leaves again. We worry for him but he is happier this way than when he stays in one place and tries to live “normally”
Oh shit my brother too, though he does stuff to go to jail when he can't take walking or biking or hitching any more. "A bed, a roof, 3 square meals a day, and some roommates" as he says.
I have a friend who is exactly how you've described Chris. He killed himself a few years ago. I'm still processing it and watching this turned out to be helpful.
So I actually went to Woodson, the same high school Chris went to. We didn't read the book about him as a class, but I remember one student had done a project on the book and made a video where they went around to teachers who had known Chris and asked them about him. From what I remember, they all said he was kind, funny, and had a lot of friends. It's crazy seeing you make a video about him.
@@TooMosey I think it's pretty tragic, honestly. A lot of people are calling him stupid, as if he deserved to die for that, but I think that's unfair. Young adults make dumb decisions sometimes, but it doesn't mean that they're stupid overall. It's sad that he didn't have more of a chance to grow and learn from his mistakes, because he seemed like a good guy with some unique views on the world.
His sister claimed his father was a violent drunk, her half siblings also have said he was a violent drunk, even Chris said he was a violent drunk. Gee, I wonder if the father was a violent drunk?
For some context, Supertramp is also a band that was popular when McCandless was young, which I'm sure had something to do with his clever little alias for himself.
I don't think Chris was an idiot, but he was definitely ignorant of the reality of the Alaskan wilderness. It seems like he had a lot of magical thinking about his journey which caused him to ignore the advice of those more experienced than him (like refusing to pack cold weather gear). He was so focused on the spiritual nature of his journey that he just ignored the physical realities of what he was up against. In reality, had he not found "the magic bus", he would have most likely die much sooner.
Most information spread about him is from the book and movie, however, local Alaskans said he broke into their cabins (which is actually okay there, they understand some need the cabins for survival) and left the cabins trashed (this is not seen as okay) Edit: th-cam.com/video/gNyav9g6BJY/w-d-xo.html
Do you have a good source for that? To be clear, I've read up on all of the burglary accusations and they're all credible, but I think it'd be a good resource for people looking at your comment.
@@TheRealADHDavid it was from a documentary I watched on it a long time ago. A few locals were interviewed and thats what they said. Its been so long I have no clue what it was called tbh
@@TheRealADHDavid while I personally haven't seen this documentary or seen other sources, is it possible that these people already just did not like Chris for is ignorance about the wilderness and decided to fabricate these tales to further lessen the idea that Chris was a hero? Just an idea. Not sure how much weight one should put into it.
I don't see anything wrong with a man finding fulfillment in his struggle to live, and I empathize with the idea that Chris was a man out of his time. That being said, even frontiersmen knew to be prepared and learned from the mistakes of the ones that came before them. I'm not saying Chris needed to do everything he could to make his journey easy for him, but his carelessness borders on suicidal arrogance.
I think we all get depressed and decide to go wherever life takes us sometimes. Wether you're mad or whatever mix of emotions you have. When i was going through a tough time coping with alot of deaths in the family i would often beat on myself. Id find myself going places i never would had i been in the right state of mind. But it makes you think differently. Just always know what you're worth. Don't let other people bring you down. My cousin chris couldn't handle what was going on. And i dont blame him. Ive been to the point where i just wanna leave.
If you havent read the book, I recommend it. From the comments of his family members and those that knew him, he was a good natured person, but also kind of immature and an idealist. He romanticized life in the wilderness and thought of it more as something out of a Jack London novel than a real life or death situation. I think he fell pray to his own spontaneity and lack of forethought. He represents the commonly held dream of "leaving it all beyond and living in the woods" but without realizing just how difficult that reality is to attain, even with the necessary skills.
I don't think he was suicidal, he just didn't like the busy and materialistic life of people like his parents. While he definitely should've researched more, I think that's just one flaw. His attitude is pretty great other than that.
Argon Drolf -- exactly. I've been far more prepared just to go deer hunting and camp out for a week. You say arrogant, I say he idealized the idea of "living free of money". Whether case or trading furs, a personal still needs a way to legally acquire the tools to make it.
If an accused abuser says the victim is “exaggerating” …….. that means the abuse DEFINITELY happened and the aggressor just doesn’t consider it “abuse” lol. What a pos
I mean the half-siblings backing it up sold me solid, because getting kids from separate marriages to agree on anything is a rarity. Unsurprised the parents would downplay the abuse.
My MIL likes to say "you'd call it abuse...." about her husband beating mine throughout his childhood. Abusers and those who act like it didn't happen or it "wasn't like that" are the worst.
Had to read this book during senior year of high school last year. Felt like a drag at first but learning about someone willingly abandoning everything to explore a life in the wilderness definitely makes you imagine yourself in a situation and I enjoyed it after a while.
If you decide to try this make sure you take YEARS of survival training for the area you're going and be close enough to civilization that you can get help. Even the pioneers and mountain men didn't do it alone and had ties to civilization.
As someone who loves the woods and grew up camping and hunting this story blows my mind. It seems like he was very stubborn and didn’t take things very serious. The thought of going out in the wilderness of Alaska with such little gear and provisions and a map a simple map! just blows my mind.
He's an idiot, but an idiot i wouldn't laugh at, for sure. He had a pretty good run, travelling, meeting people, living in the wilds completely unprepared for a good amount of time. While i'm not shrugging away the fact that he died due to his idiocy. This idiot we're talking about probably has lived his life with more color and memories than what i probably could've gained throughout my lifetime.
I know right? So many people here praised him for being so open and free, when they clearly gloss over the fact they're just looking at a passive suicide and say "That's so cool"
I personally think he sought out a path of little preparation, and calling him a fool for making a point to avoid key luxuries and extremely helpful things is silly to me. Because he didn't accidentally come ill prepared, he wasnt walking with wool over his eyes, he came as prepared as he wished to. Assuming that he'd take every opportunity of many to purposefully make things harder for himself, but also would take a map of an unfamiliar area if he knew it existed, I believe is a foolish assumption.
When I was a senior in high school, my English teacher had us read "Into the Wild." We were supposed to compare Chris's life to the Heroes Journey and it was one of the worst lessons I've ever experienced. We weren't allowed to be critical and it felt like our teacher was trying to say "hey when you graduate high school you should be like Chris!' which is a HARD YIKES. Ironically enough I was also in a Wildlife Sciences class at the time and my teacher did his field work with bears in Alaska. He summed up Chris best for me, "It's easy for me to be critical of his entire approach, but what good is there in chastising a man who paid the ultimate price for his folly? When you are surrounded by nature, completely removed from the outside world, you walk the thin line between life and death. But you are also free, in the truest sense of the word. He wasn't seeking fame or book deals or any of the attention his story has since received. He just wanted to be free."
I remember how much it sucked to be forced to choose between honest expression and a grade you needed for your future. Fie... a pox on your old English teacher! A pox I say!!!
I hate how much people hold them up as something romantic or ideal. Those people are idiots. He was an extremely selfish, idealistic and spoiled person. He had to be nagged to take proper footwear, he turned down a map which literally would have saved his life. Lots of people tried to help him, but he was too arrogant. Anybody who admires this loser is just a moron. He didn't return triumphant people, he died because he was stupid and ill prepared
@@themudpit621 I agree. Animal farm , Hatchet , Of Mice and Men , and so many others all get contempt for them when they've been pushed on the kids that way... gotta have a link for a better more heartfelt connection.
I believe Chris was simply trying to find himself, he didn’t want to die, he wanted LIVE, he died because he was not properly prepared no other reason.
Then he should maybe have accepted help, a map, etc. The universe put helpful people in his path and he was like 'nah, I'm good'. So he WAS incredibly stupid in that regard. But only in that he didn't accept help when it was offered, otherwise who can fault a man for wanting freedom within nature?
He made bad choices out of impulse. I have seen many young and old people make the same mistakes in the wilderness, you don’t know what you’re not prepared for, if you have no idea to be prepared for it. He simply wanted to see if he could do something on his own with no free passes from anyone.
Yeah, I don't think he was trying to die or completely apathetic to living, but he was very naive. I also think he also really lucky in his past travels and I don't think he really recognized that fact.
The point people walk away with: Wow, the human condition and the evils we as a society create can lead innocent people down the road of insanity and self-destruction, but nature itself is far greater a challenge to overcome The actual point of this story: Naming your child "christmas candles" will lead to inevitable derangement
It really confuses me how people see Chris as an inspiration. Yes, he wanted to live a life free from society's constrains, however he over romanticized nature and under prepared for the journey ahead. I also doubt he died happy, if anything it seems like a cope from people who resonate with his story. He died weak, malnourished, and with the realization that he screwed up big time. Chances are he wrote "Thank God." as a way to cope with his current situation. His life is a cautionary tale, plain and simple.
What I got from Chris' story is that he never intended to be seen as someone daring, he didn't commit himself to the wilderness to prove something of himself, I think he just genuinely wanted some sort of escape that he believed he would find in the immersion of nature, and I think that is a perspective that is lost to so many people and "critics"
One does not simply wander into the bush and expect it to be an escape. The entire reason he stayed at the bus is because he realized at least partially he was in over his head
@Demonslayer20111 okay? Why does that matter, the point was that he was running away from the tiredness of his life. What's the point of being a dick about it when he was just exasperated and trying to escape? If he was dumb then whatever, he was trying his best to be happy stop being so rude
Seriously. Some people just love to be horribly judgemental of an ignorant kid because it makes their tiny, shattered egos feel a little bit better. "Look at me, I'm an author, I'm a newspaper sensationalist, I'm punching down at this dead kid! Give me attention! I need attention!" A ton of cowards.
Chris is not an example of survival, his intent wasn't to show how well he could survive in the wild, he just wanted to live his way. Living our life, the way we desire. Even when he was about to die he didn't fill himself with hatred and resentment, he thanked God for his life. He was a good person, innocent, not blinded by material stuff. He was an example of life, may he rest in peace.
His writings consisting of how hungry, scared, and lonely he was, as well as the famous quote “Happiness is only real when shared” vastly disproves ALL of that. He knew he screwed up and he died painfully and filled with regret.
One of the saddest parts is if he had been honest with the people he met about wanting to live off the land and what his life before was like, he very well could have been taught how to actually do that. Ive lived in communities similar to the ones Chris went through, and just about everyone I know would have sympathized with him and showed him what they know
But he wouldn't have done that. He wanted to do everything on his own without anyone else's help. He could've done the same thing in Colorado or Montana and would still be alive today probably.
I don't "live off the land" or have any interest in doing so. If I met someone who intended to go on a backcountry trail with the supplies that he took, though, I would definitely give them advice and try to help them pick out adequate resources for their intended trip. People who choose to actually live in the wilderness could have also helped him by showing him better ways to accomplish what he hoped with his life. I don't share his goals, but there are many thousands of people who do, and reaching out to them could have made the tragic ending of this story into something much happier. It's a tragedy that he didn't accept either kind of guidance, or reach out to others who would have been able to understand and give him a community to belong to. McCandles was on a popular, if difficult, trail. As this video notes, there was an easy way for him to get back across the river if he'd had a proper map (he had one, I think, but it wasn't detailed enough). If he'd left an itinerary, someone could have gone out to find him. I have no interest in mocking him, but he was grossly unprepared, and was unwilling to listen to people who could have gladly and easily helped him. There was no reason for this man to die.
I love the story of Chris McCandless. As a young adult I spent the summer working in Yellowstone National Park and even though it was less dangerous then venturing into the Alaskan Wilderness alone there was still wild animals and unfamiliar terrain. I think most of us when we're just barely adults need to find ourselves and sometimes a few months in the woods can help. I know it was helpful to me and all of the friends I made working in Yellowstone.
@@KeepiTCawl We are the product of millions of years of evolution and adaptation. There's no other species that has managed to overcome and conquer nature like we have.
I did something like this once. Decided I had enough of society and sold off everything and lived in the woods for 3 months or so making my way through Northern California to Seattle. I'm by no means a survivalist but have decent instincts. So by the end I was also near death and almost lost my leg. Probably not the smartest thing I ever did but I definitely cherish the experience.
@@genarosepulveda9260 do it in the summer, most importantly inform yourself, read books on the topic. Think of everything that can go wrong and prepare yourself for every SHTF scenario. Its gonna be a blast! :)
that line: "Happiness is only real when shared," has stuck with me so hard since seeing the movie. Chris' story is so complex but something about that line cuts straight through and gets to the point of what life is about in such a concise way. Feels so much more tangible than platitudes like 'no man is an island.' Also a hard truth to wrestle with as somebody who struggles with socialization and isolationism.
“No man is an island” is taken from John Donne’s Meditation 17. It’s much more meaningful if you read it in context, as it was before it was repeated everywhere and reduced to a mere platitude. Also just a beautiful, reassuring read. It basically says, “No matter how isolated you might feel, your death would be experienced by the whole world.”
Honestly, there’s peace in isolation too. I’m not saying being void of human interaction is healthy, but the best way to share happiness is to learn how to be happy yourself. (Just adding on to what you’re saying, not being argumentative, just to be clear.)
This really hit me like a brick to the gut. I'm financially well-off, but very isolated. People always ask me why I don't just up and move to some tropical island. "Because I'd be there alone" They tell me to go buy my dream car. "I have no one to enjoy it with" They tell me to go on adventure in some foreign place. "So I can wander around by myself?" They don't understand that I've already done every single I wanted to do in life, alone, and those experiences were all tainted by the fact that I had no one to share them with. Put simply, I no longer care about perusing anything or achieving anything while I'm alone. I can't continue to live life as a one-man show with a single audience member, myself. This isn't life.
I need to get this off my chest. Chris' story is one of those that absolutely crush my heart. I'm not sure why, perhaps because of how profoundly his desire to escape current society resonates with me. I admire his bravery. The isolation we feel at a time when communication with the world is easier than ever is deafening and I believe he saw that happening, especially studying Anthropology. Where I see the problem is that it's not living isolated that's the solution or perhaps even what Chris craved. I think what would suit him best would be living in a small community. I don't know anything about Alaska but from what I've seen, there is no shortage of smaller communities spread scarcely around the area. By living with such people, learning about nature around him and ways to co-exist with other beings, I think he would thrive. He seemed happy living his nomadic lifestyle while within in the mainland US borders and there he had contact with people, he wasn't in isolation. The tragedy of his final days strikes me the most. Thinking about how cold, scared and in pain he must have been is just haunting, as well as imagining him thinking that probably no one will come to his rescue but still remaining hopeful. He seems like a thoroughly kind and thoughtful person and I hope he is able to rest in peace.
Yeah, I just clicked through about 30 seconds of this video and don't care if you or anyone else lives or dies. That's the other extreme to make you feel awkward.
I live in Alaska and this guys kind of a local legend, in a way. There’s even a restaurant with a replica of the bus he stayed in. The army ended up having to remove the bus because of a bunch of crazies trying to copy him. Honestly, he’s more of a martyr of what not to do. He did every single thing wrong he could’ve, and didn’t know what he was doing. Once you get out of the towns Alaska can be a harsh as hell place to be and he wasn’t ready at all. I respect him trying to follow his dreams, but now he just serves as a way for parents to tell their kids “don’t do this or you’ll die like the guy on the bus.” It’s a sad story, and I wish he had done more research, and maybe could’ve followed his dreams for more than a few months. Still, respect to him for somehow killing a caribou.
raised and living in alaska here! idk which area you're in but in fairbanks we had to read into the wild in high school and good god it was so frustrating reading his story. I don't think he's a worthless dipshit but he basically committed suicide. in this area at least, people definitely regard him more as a cautionary tale than anything positive. still definitely respect him for sticking to his beliefs and surviving out there for so long but goddamn, how unprepared and foolish can you be also it could be me being native alaskan but every time I talk about it to other eskimo people it always leads back to "white people don't know what they're getting into when it comes to alaskan wilderness"
@@jasperlee1025 Aye fairbanks too! I haven't ever had to read it, and yeah I don't think he was a worthless dipshit, he somehow managed to survive as long as he did. And yeah, I'm white and I can tell you with full confidence that there's precious few of us I've met who know what they're doing out there, and I'm certainly not one. Fortunately, most people I've met are aware they don't know shit, and don't risk their lives and the lives of others by trying to live in the wilderness.
I love that you said surviving wasn't the goal because i came to think so too. There was never an ending or an achievement to be made.. it was just a maan living the way that made him happiest. Despite all the suferring and starvation and the desperation for help in the end all of it made him happy and he was gratefull for it till his very last breath. Not once in his journal did he got mad at God or fate or regret his decision and he finally return to God with nothing less of absolute gratefulness for all the good and the bad through out his life because that is what makes him feel full even as he was dying (yes he wanted to turn back for supplies but he didn't resent the fact that he can't. Reading the words he wrote it was more of a "living life as it is". If it happens than that's how it should be and he is content with it)
He thought to himself, "Well, I did pretty damn well hitchhiking around the Lower 48... I think I'm ready to take on Alaskan bear country by myself with no provisions!" These are two radically different things, Chris!
Born and raised in Alaska, we were actually taught in school how to survive certain situations you are likely to encounter in Alaska. This is a sad story and a reminder Alaska and nature in general are not something you can take lightly, its not very forgiving.
live how you want to live. Go out and do what you want to do. You don't need some person or piece of paper saying you're capable. Go out, and be capable.
I've seen many people miss the point of the movie: his story isn't inspiring because in the end, he realized how cruel nature was and wanted to return to civilization, but resigned when he could not.
And let’s call a spade a spade, he acted like a total fool. He went out into some of the most harsh and unforgiving terrain with barely any supplies, little to no experience, and refused the warnings that were given to him. He seemed to be an intelligent man but by arrogance or perhaps something else, he just couldn’t be dissuaded until it was too late.
In high school we read the book Into the Wild and watched the movie about McCandless. I didn't ever expect you to cover this, but the story about him is so fascinating. I'm glad more people will learn about him for the first time just like we all did!
This is such a sad story. As someone with a sister very close in age who is obsessed with the idea of nature and transcendentalism, I think Chris was trying to find meaning like so many of us are. I don’t think he took into account the pain it caused his younger sister by leaving and passing,as my sister has done something similar but has not passed,. and obviously their family environment was not a good one to stay in. It’s just a messy, painful situation all around. I also think he may have been passively suicidal. Not necessarily being prepared and not really caring either because it didn’t seem to matter to him until it got too bad to go back. ❤ To this day my heart breaks for Chris and Carine. I think in a different world and different upbringing he may have been able to travel safely and be able to tell some cool stories late in life.
I don’t think it’s quite fair to put things like that on him, he lived how was best for him. He didn’t intend for his sister to be hurt by that, but it’s not necessarily his fault
@@jannaswanson271 that is a useless waste of life. Jesus didn't sit around and judge people for not conforming, he spread goodness and did something with his life, unlike his later followers, who spread nothing but misery.
@@vonbeedle554 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:10. Those who truly follow Christ will walk in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.
@@jannaswanson271 Would it not be better to appear before Christ after making the most of your life and making a positive impact? Piety only gets you so far.
I remember reading Into the Wild when I was in highschool and it changed my life, my teacher even let me keep the book. I started hiking and backpacking, and I learned how much nature makes me happy. But what really resonated with me was a quote they found in one of his books that read “happiness is only real when shared”. I think Chris had loved his life, but that he had been lonely. Everything I learned about Chris are things I still focus on today when I think about how I want to live my life
I've been neglected in my up bringing and I've fantasised about running off into the woods just to 'survive' the way Chris did. Looking at Chris, i can see myself and it makes me so depressed. He wasn't stupid, he was alone & in pain.
Me too. I was actually kind of suicidal at the time. I fantasized escaping to the woods, having almost nothing and intending to die out there. I'm in a better place now and am glad I didn't go through with it. I feel for Chris.
Its absolutely despicable how some of the park rangers talked about Chris. I understand working in that field, you get tired of having to rescue the inexperienced, but to completely minimize his life, and his death really rubbed me the wrong way.
Bruh it’s more like him leaving was starting a new game plus mode on someone else’s account with the pendant gift and dropping all his gear from the start
875 thousand in this video to 4 million! My husband is always telling me I need to get into your channel, took me probably a year, and now I’ve been binging for a week now 😂😂
I knew someone who ended up similar to him. He was a guy who was great in school, friend to every classmate and our class president for a year (all in college). One day he just decided to leave and roam around the country and then even ended up living in a native community in an extremely remote country. He ended up back in the states where I saw him one time seemingly in good spirits until a few weeks later he took his own life. It seems like Chris was going down the same road. All that is left are the memories and one song recorded on a phone around a fire. They were never dumb, just guys finding their own way to live and die.
Really makes me wonder what does ties this lifestyle together with the suicidal tendencies, because all things considered it seems like a fulfilling lifestyle
@@squirtbrainz1219i think the suddenness is why it’s linked. Wanting to live out in the wild while relying on only yourself isn’t a sign of mental distress on its own, but dropping everything one day to go out into an unknown area without any knowledge on how to survive there, or supplies to do so, is not something that someone who wants to live would typically do. I’m sure there are some psychologists who would call what Chris did a suicidal tendency as well, since he didn’t go into it with seemingly any plan at all, let alone one where he isn’t putting himself in harms way.
@@Elle... Was mainly referring to the roaming around and living in different towns around the country and making so many different bonds rather than the Alaska portion, since that part of the story seemed more similar to OP’s story
@@squirtbrainz1219 roaming around like that kind of falls in the same category since it is still putting yourself in an unknown area without much thought for your own safety.
As someone who grew up in rural Alaska, I can confirm that the majority of Alaskans I know think of Chris as an idiot. On the one hand, I also believe that Chris was an idiot who made extremely poor decisions. On the other hand, I can see why so many people respect and revere his journey, especially since leaving Alaska myself and having lived in the lower 48 for almost a decade now. This society we live in can be so stifling and inauthentic to the true reaches of human experience. Materialism, capitalism, pavement in all directions, and living in boxes that we construct to block out the outside world... It's no wonder that so many people feel alienated from the human experience, and that Chris's story of leaving it all behind and walking into the wilderness resonates with so many people. As human being, I can understand why his journey is found to be beautiful. As a kid who grew up in the Alaskan wilderness, I still think he's an idiot though. It's not just that he did EVERYTHING wrong, but his rejection of nearly all aid and advice from the locals along the way is frustrating for me to hear about. I see why he's called selfish. He's an example of the outsider who walks into nature focused only on his own personal journey, but then the consequences of his actions are a drain on the time and resources of people who actually live there and know better. You wanna know how Alaskans survive in the extreme wild, in the middle of nowhere? They rely on each other. You don't shovel only your own driveway after a snowstorm. Even with snow 4ft deep, everyone grabs a shovel and helps to dig out their neighbors. You don't just wander out into the woods unprepared with 10lbs of rice, because the burden of rescuing you (and the others who later mimic your behavior) falls on the communities who actually live there.
I think this shows a dark part of society. The reliance on comunity and on other people, should come as natural instict to every human. The fact that someone would go way out of their way to get away from all other people, either means humans cannot keep up with the demandas of modern society or that there is something fundamentaly wrong with modern society. To willingly walk into life threatening situations, might just mean that modern life feels somehow worse than death. Just saying, this story might just give us a glimpse of something more profound happening with humanity as of lately.
It's not on him what others do. That's on them. And obviously he wasn't rescued so he was not a drain on anyone's time or resources. Yes he was an idiot for not being prepared and maybe that could be called selfish in that he didn't think about the people who loved him and how his being hurt or dying would affect them. But how else was it selfish? He asked no one for anything and he didn't hurt anyone but himself. Again what others did in his name isn't on him, he didn't call for people to follow in his footsteps.
Chris I believe dealt with passive suicidal ideation. He wanted to seclude himself and find peace but didn’t want to actively kill himself. I get this idea because of the fact he didn’t research the area and that he packed light. Also the traumatic childhood.
That makes a lot of sense. He kinda did what a lot of people probably fantasize about. Mine is moving to Ireland and become a goat farmer/poet, but I wouldn't actually walk out of my life. It's quite a romantic way to commit suicide tbh - romantic in the 18/19th century definition
Chris literally run off into the woods instead of going to therapy, but this is in no way his fault. People raised in abusive families will often reject any kind of help and show distrust up until they are in their absolute worst. This is the kind of shit trauma does to you. His parents gaslighting him even it death would explain a lot.
Alot of the people who have experienced physical or mental trauma don’t go out in the wilderness away from everything. I feel like to Chris, this was much more than escapism.
@@Damaardk Mental illness especially manifests itself differently from person to person. There is no way for us to know why Chris did what he did, but I don't think it was on accident or due to negligence. He had chances to go on these journeys more prepared and chose not to. Some say he was arrogant or stupid, some say he was suicidal. My personal take on it is that he was disillusioned by the world around him and wanted to get down to the bare essentials on his own terms, even if it was not the most intelligent thing to do by most people's standards. Even if his mental health was a factor, it doesn't seem like Chris would have wanted that to define him or his decision (if he was aware of his mental wellness to begin with).
@@Damaardk I mean... False... I experienced mental/physical trauma (and still experience it, to a lesser extent) and I think about running away into the wilderness very, very often. Its a mixture of "I will never be able to escape this and running away is my best bet" and "Starving to death out in the woods wouldn't be that bad of a way to go"
@@Damaardk As someone who currently trying to go to therapy and was abused as a kid to adulthood. When I had the chance as a kid, I constantly ran into the woods to hid or just stayed there until my family cooled down. I even learn what I could eat by my cousin who did the same (How the hell we didn't died or accidentally kill my siblings, I have no idea and we are very lucky.) Even as an adult, I have thought of running away into the wood and never coming back. However, I have a lot of people relying on me (emotional and financial) and I'm aware that part of it is suicidal. So I can't help but wonder if it was mental illness or abuse, or a mix of both.
Always found this guy interesting. He was very book smart but seemed very very very naive when it came to actually surviving. There isn't any "winging it" when it comes to survival Ina a very rugged and inhospitable cold land with terrible bouts of rough weather. The book on plants and the .22 were good choices but everything else this man did or didn't bring was for lack of a better word dumb. At the very least he should have brought resealable bags. A flint stick. Several layers and changes of clothes. A small multi tool. A small shovel. Some kind of pot to cook in. Soap. Course ground salt. These are just the things that instantly come to mind for someone whose grown up with the woods as his backyard. That by no means I'm an expert and alot of people will probably say the things I think you should bring is dumb too. It takes more than just sheer will to survive in these area of the world.
He could of brought all that stuff but I think he didnt on purpose, the guy that dropped him off tried to help him and get more stuff but he kept turning it down, imo all that stuff would be like bringing everything he seeked to leave behind.
I think he did it on purpose, so that he could complete his goal in the most deficit way possible, don’t know why honestly, but i guess he was the type of guy who really wanted to seek purpose in his life despite its stupidity, he may be stupid but he was a very wise man in heart.
@@nutbuster4204 He was that way until it became all to real that he was going to die. His notes begging and emploring for rescue left at his camp, show that he wanted to approach things in that way but also believed foolishly that he could just walk out. When it became evident that he couldn't, he wanted to be saved. Thing is growing up in an area very similar to that one... once you realize you are in a bad situation if you didn't take things with your, it's too late. When I go to travel in the woods before I leave I text / call someone to tell them where I'm going and when I think I'll be back at. If he had taken the precaution of checking in with someone anyone in town to say I plan on being back in town by ____ day then people would know to come looking.
@@BType13X2 He went through stages of grief, he finally arrived at enlightment and he couldn't be any happier. He didn't die suffering and pleading for his life, he died thinking he has lived a good life.
I did somewhat similar thing once. I bought an old mazda and just drove. I felt i needed alot of distance from my abusive parents. Drove 1000 km to the Arctic ocean. From there i drove through Sweden to Denmark. From Denmark to Germany etc. I drove to Lissabon. After i reached Croatia i decided i want to go back home. Felt like Forrest Gump in the running scene. The trip took me 3 months and very stressfull nights waiting for the mechanics to fix my car without understanding a word of what i needed. Slept in my car most nights. But im glad i did it. It was soothing just to have an escape.
I just finished doing something similar. I was tired of my life in North Carolina. I sold almost everything I owned, drove to the outer banks, and slept on my Toyota Corolla for months this year, just traveling gradually west and then north. I don’t know why I did it. I just had to get out. I wound up going from the outer banks of North Carolina to San Francisco, and then northward, finally turning around in Prince George, British Columbia. The Canadian border people didn’t trust me at all. Didn’t know what to tell them, that I was just traveling, but they did let me through. I think I needed to get it out of my system. I ended my travels at the end of august and started a new life in Chicago. I’ll see if it works for me.
I wouldnt go as far to say he was dumb, or a folklore hero, he's just a young guy who did what he wanted, and slipped up. Sad, sure, but one hell of a story.
A lot of people seem to romanticize this guy, but I think he and his journey was just tragic. He was still very much a kid and his young dreams and ideals ultimately came up hard against the realities of an adventure in the wilderness.
@pyropulse I think living in the wilderness and surviving can be interpreted as different tbh. He wasn't pretty much living, in a sense of trying to survive, and I mean really trying to survive, his death was by in large was pretty much tragic. But I'm just glad he had accepted death in the end, and died happily with an enjoyment of life.
People are quick to both romanticize and demonize him. His tale is both inspiring to people who feel wanderlust, and one of caution about the importance of being prepared. In the end, Chris realized that you have to find balance in life and ultimately wished to return to society in some form, and was remiss to discover that he could not.
I think the most bizarre thing about the whole McCandless saga is that they had to remove the bus he lived out of during his demise from its original site because fans of his were constantly making pilgrimages to it and getting stranded in the process.
Fun fact: You can avoid rabbit starvation by eating the organ meats and eyes of the rabbit, it has enough fats and carbohydrates to stave off starvation long enough to survive to find other things
You'll probably still starve. It usually takes more calories to hunt small game than small game can provide. The old timers killed small game only when it was convenient, they expended energy to hunt large game that was worth the work.
As someone who grew up in an abusive and neglectful household doing exactly this had been my dream since I was a little kid, I think it will be a thought that will be in the back of my mind for the rest of my life in a way. I see myself a lot in Chris and it makes me incredibly sad that he’s mostly just remembered as an idiot with no idea what he was doing because while I think what he did was executed terribly it really seems like he was just desperate to feel alive and get away from everything which is something I think a lot of people can relate to. His plan really didn’t seem to be becoming a survivalist as much as it was to just get away from everything which is really not a stupid desire, he just didn’t really know the right way to go about it.
I have no idea how old you are, but speaking from the point of over 40, yes that desire to crawl off somewhere & be left in peace never goes away. Abusive parents don't just hurt children, they create fractured adults
I actually did it. I lasted about 6momths before I was pulled back to safety before I killed myself. It was one of the best times of my life but so so lonely. I think I only survived so long was because I had a companion in the way of a dog. She died just before the end of my travels and at the start of my downfall. I still dream of going back to this day
It doesn't take an abusive household to want to be left the hell alone lol I'm 23 and just bought land out in the woods that I'm going to put a mobile home on. Eventually I'll have solar panels and a well and get off public utilities. I think every human being has an innate desire to get away from all this crap we've built and go back to nature where we belong
I come from a similar background but he wasn’t an idiot just ignorant on how the wild works. I love the quote from Forrest Gump from Jenny when she says “I wish I could be a bird, a bird that can fly far far away.” I’ve felt that but still I would plan it out, even going to visit family I get prepared just in case someone is trying to rob me and what not. Now going into the wilderness you have to know what you’re doing and if not then good luck. I know other people’s experience differ but that’s just me.
It's crazy to me that in 11th grade, my english class was assigned to read Into the Wild and I thought it was SOOOO boring. Literally didn't even bother to finish it. But now here i am, 6 years later and 22 years old, and I'm realizing that the book/story wasn't boring at all, I just hate reading lmao
My class read it in either 8th/9th grade. I loved reading but nonfiction wasn’t my thing back then so I thought it was super boring too. Looking back it’s a super interesting story-just not necessarily to a 12 year old. It probably didn’t help that any assigned ready always kind of sucked no matter how good a book was.
Just five minutes in and I already completely understand why the guy decided to leave everything behind and live in the wild. Growing up with emotionally unstable parents who would unpredictably lash out at you one second and act like nothing is wrong the next, with lots of gaslighting and blackmailing mixed in, is an experience that is hard to describe to others that hasn't gone through the same. You don't just get "disillusioned" to your family ties, but dissociated to all other relationships you'll ever have in your life and even to your own mind. Eventually you could never tell if what you think or feel are real, and you can't form any real connection with people anymore. And since the "family" is so put together on the surface, you get dismissed by anyone you try to vent to, because "you get it much better than other people in life so you don't get to complain". It's messed up that the first 18 years of your life determines how you'll live the rest. Good on the guy for finding the life he loved to live, wish I could say the same
As someone who farms, hunts, fishes and writes/makes music. I'm conflicted on Chris. I don't think he's an idiot at all. He had a genuine lack of concern, caring or preparation. I don't think that's because he was an idiot, I think it was intentional. Anyone seriously concerned with living and not ultimately dying in the Alaskan wilderness would've done a lot more preparation. When he went to the magic bus, he clearly wasn't very concerned on how that story would end. Did he regret it when he was starving? I'll bet money he did. Was it worth it? maybe. People are still talking about him decades later. If he didn't die, would that be the case? also Wendingoon killing it love the content and the conversations sparked in the comment section
I'm pretty sure the lack of preparation, arrogance etc is what makes him an idiot. Wanting to live in the wild without any idea how to is idiotic. Realizing the faults of society of his home life doesn't automatically make him smart
While his death is sad and tragic, he was also privileged, arrogant, and ignorant. He didn't understand what a hard life means. For him, it was like playing dress-up. A fun, romantic idea instead of a serious, difficult, precarious existence. It may seem noble for him to give up his family money and comfort, but he also didn't really know what this meant.. and unlike most of us, he always had the option of going home to mom & dad. He died because of his naive, romantic view of nature and wilderness living. He did not respect it or the people who live that way every day because they have to. It never occurred to him that he might need to learn survival skills and knowledge. He just assumed he could easily figure it out, all by himself. Arrogance. Privilege. Hubris. The danger of these are his true legacy.
I strongly disagree with the notion that he was an idiot. Was he careless? Yes, but I am sure he *knew* the dangers, he just didn't *care*. He wanted to experience life and that is what he did. He seemed happy until his last days, he didn't regret doing what he did, he never disrespected other people or put them in danger. He lived life in his fullest. Some people may think he wasted his life but I am sure Chris would say the same about us, just because he experienced happiness in his own ways, doesn't mean he wasn't happy. Who is the real fool, the man who died happy or those who live only to stay mad about him?
a lot of Alaskans probably don't like Chris because they are the ones who have to deal with these hundreds of random people from the US who want to "live in nature" in Alaska then die horrifically from the cold, starvation, or poisoning.
@@reptilesurpreme841 the rangers and ems have to dedicate time to looking for these people who needlessly endanger themselves and others while also putting an emotional burden on others who worry themselves sick over their relatives or neighbors. I don’t think cruel is the right word, but I do think it is irresponsible.
@@reptilesurpreme841 The rangers have to dedicate far more time and resources to rescuing these people (or their bodies) and they disrupt the local environment (both the residential areas and the wildlife). Also just because you wouldn't care that a bunch of people are flocking to your city to drop dead in the woods doesn't mean other people aren't concerned.
Chris is not a genius, he’s not an idiot. He’s just his own man. He lives for his own self. He wasn’t trying to survive, he wasn’t trying to die, he was on a pilgrimage. To find himself, to find nature, to find fun… it doesn’t matter. He’s a lesson to us all about finding our own path, and our own consequences.
@akh he died appreciating life. Whether or not that’s what he was looking for we will never know. It’s what I’m looking for, so he’s certainly some sort of hero? Not so much hero, but kind of like a myth, like a man who actually did it. Inspiration maybe. I’m not gonna go die in the woods ofc, but there might be some point in my life where I just let whoever blows the wind take the reigns. He truly is a Rorschach test, since we don’t really know his values and his aspirations, we can only judge his accomplishment based on what we want for our own life, so to someone who wants to succeed, he’s a fool, but to someone who wants to live, he’s visionary.
I really hated the book (never saw the movie) but imo he really threw his life away. He seemed spoiled and idealistic. The only thing that could have explained his behavior is if his dad was as bad as Sister says.
I respect his journey and personal philosophy, but he was a fool to be so unprepared on his journey. He should’ve had maps, a greater amount of canned goods, heavier clothes, and a survival guide. However, I don’t think Chris didn’t realize this. His goal wasn’t to survive in the woods. He wanted to live away from civilization as much as he could and experience life to its fullest before his inevitable demise.
I don't quite agree. Didn't his journal mention that he tried to go back but couldnt cross the river? Plus, he was clearly not having a good time those last few weeks.
He tried to go back, which doesn't align with the narrative of not expecting to survive. He tried to get the attention of anyone who passed by the bus, which is not what someone with a death wish would do.
I just love the note "MOOSE!" on his journal, that felt so wholesome even though he was probably scared of it RIP Chris Edit: I've never had this many likes, thanks guys it's crazy that over 1000 people saw my one dumb comment :D
Chris obviously didn't know how difficult it can be to process 100's of pounds of game. I've never hunted moose alone for good reason. Just whitetail. Dragging 200+ lbs of dressed deer 2 miles out of the bush makes you appreciate every mouthful of meat!
@@shrimpguy6900 they are! a moose once fell down on top of my cousin's car! They were driving near a cliff and then it happened. What are the chances of that happening, moose are weird
I have always admired Chris’s passion and wanderlust, as well as the absolute tenacity with which he lived his life. That changed a bit when I got lost trying to summit a mountain by myself. I was so underprepared I had neither a map nor a lighter, and I honestly thought I was going to die. That experience shed a lot of light on the kind of things the Alaskan Park Ranger have said. The carefree way Chris approached the wilderness was very, very ignorant. It makes me so sad - with the right knowledge and skill set, Chris McCandless’s journey could have continued on, perhaps leading him to even more wonderful, profound places. He died a bit of a fool. But it’s still hard not to see him as, in some way, a hero.
Is it truly foolish to struggle? To choose the harder way and just go towards your passion with all your heart? I find it foolish to work just to survive, so demeaning and pointless. We are the authors pf our own stories, so why not fill the pages with adventure instead of drudgery?
@@boobalooba5786 it is foolish to struggle when you don't have to. If he wanted to live in the woods he should've been smart enough to know you can't just walk out into the wild and survive with no equipment or survivalist skills. It's ignorance and hubris imo
Maybe being in Scouting, and having proper training before my wanderlust really kicked in keeps me from understanding? I don't understand people that think they can climb a mountain without a topo map and compass. Like what is the thinking there? You just keep walking up until you get to the top then you just walk back the way you came? What was the water situation like? Did you have a 2 liters? Do you have a way to make more if you needed too?
honestly i feel that was the point, he wanted to be underprepared, he wanted to chart new territory, he wanted to live off the land and not rely on society i dont know if i would consider that a fool, because its more than most of us could do
I think the reason he went out there was to struggle though. Similar to how he said life was "too easy" when he had a job and money. I admire him in a way honestly
I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for people who decide to live life on their terms. The kind of people who look at the world as it is and say “No, I don’t want to be a part of this, I WON’T be a part of this, so I’m going to forge my own path regardless of what anyone thinks.” Society as it is isn’t for everyone, and honestly I have the same notions constantly as to whether or not I even want to be a part of it. These days I think a lot of people do. Say whatever you will about Chris, his story is inspiring, and his journey was one of a kind. I hope wherever he is he’s finally found what he was looking for.
As an abuse victim, I have always been told that my version of events were exaggerated to garner attention and sympathy and to get out of a situation or frame my abusers for my own gain. Meanwhile, I was trying to advocate for myself and ensure my own safety and my sister's safety. When an abuser said that the abused's version of events are exaggerated, it's them saying "it happened but I'm going to play victim because I am stuck in my ways and what I did wasn't wrong." It's a form of gaslighting and isolating the victim so that the abuse can continue.
@@GoggleDumbactually Chris and Carine’s half siblings have all cut ties with their father. Abuse not being “that bad” is such a loaded statement to me.
@@lukew6725 People who lie about being abused definitely exist and have even been caught doing so in some cases but they are the exception, not the rule. Most of the time the abuse actually happened whether it was somewhat exaggerated or understated by the victim, but it still happened more often than not in some form. Also consider the fact that there are people who will lie and say they were not abused out of fear or some warped loyalty/love towards their abuser.
sure, but i don't think he WANTED to die weak, hungry, and poisoned in a secluded old bus leaving desperate signs for rescue, so i don't think he actually achieved what he intended. people need to stop romanticizing an idiot's death as anything else
@@cronfmeat7880 yeah. the real tragedy is that he died looking out there for something he held the key to the whole time. that's the tragedy of most of us. it didn't have to end that way rip to chris, but i would never romanticize the path he took as anything other than being completely lost
Moral of the story: Abandoning material needs and living like a vagabond is cool. Not knowing anything about the area you are in and not preparing properly is not cool.
I don't think he was stupid (as in: "I'm convinced that I know stuff but I get it wrong") but he was somehow careless (the chicken grease in the microwave incident from the book is quite relevant). He did planned ahead (in a minimalistic way) but: - he did not care about the topology because [ I guess he thought that ] a forest is a forest and a river is a river - he put his absolute trust in foraging by the book (which was not so reliable) You compare him with the earlier explorers and you're absolutely right. The difference is that they seldom (if ever) travelled alone. Most of the times not all of them reached the destination but the ship or the party sometimes did. You can hang in you hammoc being consumed by scurvy and as long as there are still hands able to man the sails you still have a chance to see the shore. But when you're alone you have to be extra resourceful.
Chris McCandles wasn't an explorer. He was taking shelter in a bus left by locals, decided against bringing existing maps, didn't listen to a local offering to educate him, and was unaware of both river patterns and a lift half a mile from where he was trapped. Chris was on a journey for no one but himself. And in the end, it cost him his life, the locals resources & time, and his loved ones somebody they cared for. That's not martyr. That's suicide.
I feel the need to throw out there that Emory is in the top 25 colleges in the US, and he double majored. So while objectively he wasn’t stupid, I’d say he was remarkably ignorant.
Yeah, while I wholeheartedly respect Chris's wishes to live a life in the wilderness and commend him for lasting as long as he did, I just really wish he was better prepared for it. He seemed like a swell guy and didn't deserve to go the way he did.
that last photo and message really got me. regardless of how people see him, he was happy and he lived a good life. he wasn’t a perfect man, he certainly wasn’t an idol, but he did the things he did so he could write that note.
I think this was an elaborate suicide. His actions describe someone disillusioned with society with no way to reconcile his beliefs, and so decided to leave the earth in a way in line with those beliefs. Because seriously; even if you are ignorant of how to survive in the wilderness, you have to be either rock stupid or have a death wish to think ten pounds of rice a few bullets is enough for ALASKA. His single focus on getting out there and deliberate disregarding of offers of gear and expertise point to a man with an objective.
Well then either you didn't watch the end or it went right over your head. Hundreds of years ago we couldn't just go to the store, pick up survival gear, a map, basically everything we need not only survive, but thrive basically anywhere on earth. He wanted to experience what it was like to be human for 99.99% of human history, to just be an animal out in the wild.
@@nodros1 100s of years ago we didn't do that alone. Humans are community based creatures. 100s of years ago entire family's would of been exploring together with many people there to do all the tasks of surviving.
You don't hike into bear country with a bag of rice and a .22 peashooter rifle unless, somewhere deep in your mind, you don't plan on actually coming back.
@@nodros1 Except that's not have human society has ever worked. Hundreds of years ago, we did absolutely "go to stores" for supplies. We traded regularly with other people. We also didn't go into those locations unprepared. Surviving in the wildness was actually common knowledge then, and you were looked down upon for not having that common knowledge. Nearly everyone knew how to survive off the land. People routinely bought maps or had maps made if they could, for those journeys. They routinely went with a lot of survival gear or the intention to hunt and forage each day, and the knowledge of what to eat and what not to eat... as well as how to make their food last very long times. Only the stupid, even in colonial times that were pre-industrial era, ever did what this man did. Which means... almost nobody did, because everyone universally agreed you shouldn't do that as it was suicide. It alarms me how many people have no concept of human history and have never even looked into it. Then go, "Nah man, people did what this guy did all the time back in the bygone age!". No, no they didn't. They NEVER did that. Because it was STUPID. Because it WAS SUCIDE to do it. Those people routinely hired experts in the area to guide them. They bought maps. They took supplies. They had the common survival skills of the time, which told them to how to hunt, forage, build homes, and even preserve their food for long periods of time. They had the foresight to buy, trade for, or make the survival gear they would need on any trek they made. He didn't want to experience anything. He just wanted to run away from obligations and responsibility. Those were his only motivations. Something he makes painfully obvious by pretty much every interaction and decision he made along the journey. He wanted no permanent human connections. He wanted no obligations to society. He wanted to shoulder no responsibilities. He was simply a lost soul looking to die, or live the approximation of death without being dead. He was running away from life. Running away from living. It's amusing that there are people who idolize a man running away from living... and then claim he was doing the opposite. People who gaslight themselves. They do it just because they want to escape whatever their life is too. And, hey, I can relate to that. I want to escape as well. But, I don't want to give up human connections. I don't want to give up responsibilities. I'd love to give up obligations and to have a lot less nonsense on my plate, but that's about it. I used to deal with it by walking around in the pitch black of the night outside of town at 2 a.m.. You know, take my soul out and take a look at it for a while. Now that I live in a city, there's not really anywhere to do that. So, the only real option is just to take "mental health days" from work every now and again. A day where I sit around in my apartment doing nothing, thinking nothing, staring at the ceiling, and dealing with things. It isn't the cure like the darkness walks. But, it helps. The issue is simply that we are asked to shoulder too much and for too long. Some people simply break under the strain and seek to die in the wilderness away from people and responsibility and obligations. Others, seek to find ways to make it work or to unload their burdens to something far more manageable. All while trying to remain human, with human connections, with our responsibilities towards others being met.
From what I remember from reading Into the Wild, a sub theory about the potato seeds is that it wasn't the actual seeds that killed him, but rather a type of mold that can grow on the seeds. This mold produced a toxin that basically made it so your body cannot absorb nutrients from your food. It's fat soluble and can be removed from the body by consuming excess fat, but someone in Chris' situation obviously did not have access to extra fat, and he starved to death at an accelerated rate, even though he had access to food. The book also covers a couple of other people who seemed to share Chris' mindset and cast aside their earthly possessions to live in the wild. All of them also have heartbreaking endings. I highly recommend the movie based on his story. It definitely glamorizes certain aspects of his journey, but once he gets to the bus it seems to accurately portray what he might have been feeling/ experiencing. There are scenes that will just break your heart.
Litteraly never understood people who want to live in the wild. I mean I might be biased cuz I work in IT but technology is by far the best thing humanity has ever invented. If you want to live off the land build a freaking farm and grow your own food..
@@FroggyHopScotch30 Except there's a reason we don't do that anymore. Barely surviving isn't "simple". Not to mention humans are pack animals in the wild. If he wanted to be a crazy mountain man he should form a commune or join one as humans simply aren't made to survive in the wild alone. We aren't cats that solo hunt. We are primates that hunt in teams. And even then what does it prove? That he can do what humans already did for 10s of thousands of years successfully?? He wants to prove himself then be the first person to do something entirely new. Fucking perfect fission power or immortality or something. Rather than die of a disease we probably cured 2000 years ago due to sheer arrogance.
@@jorencice Right on. Part of the problem is the incessant romanticizing of the wilderness in books and movies that ignorant, gullible, clueless city folk gobble up. Life, especially in the wilderness, is just NOT like that. Another aspect is when reading first person accounts of the old mountain men we see they had decades of experience, hundreds of pounds of supplies and equipment yet STILL went out in groups from 35 to 300. The concept of the "lone mountain man" is ENTIRELY a modern FICTION.
While I find his story to be really interesting, I also understand the anger a lot of park rangers feel towards him. He became almost a Marty for people and like you said 50 people died and countless others had to be rescued while taking the pilgrimage and for a park ranger I see how that's really frustrating. Their whole job is keeping people safe and educating folks on the wilderness and seeing one guy who walked out into the woods under prepared inspiring a bunch of other people to walk into the woods under prepared could be pretty enraging. Edit: it was four people who died, my brain did a fucky wucky
@@alexj-t2331 if you aren’t prepared to see/deal with human remains then you shouldn’t be working in that industry. it’s inevitable you will come across a dead person in that line of work.
You're one of my anxiety go to channels. Whenever I'm having a terrible panic attack and hiding in my room your videos always help calm me down so thank you!
@pyropulse things are stressful and we’re also able to better diagnose mental illnesses people may be experiencing thanks to advancements in our understanding of them
My best friends dad is Chris's brother and man some of the stories he has of their youth are absolutely mind blowing. The family dynamic with their parents was something nobody should have to experience and honestly, I completely understand why Chris left.
@@msicat At 1:21 Wendigoon says that Chris has a younger sister, but he has six older half-siblings because his father had children from a previous marriage.
I don't think of Chris as an amazing hero or a stupid idiot, I just feel sad for him. I kind of get that he wanted to have a bit of a struggle in life but you can live simply and have knowledge and skills to live in the wild! I kind of feel like he must have expected that he might die as he was so under prepared and people warned him but he wanted to anyway.
This is an old comment but it's the closest one I've seen to my own personal opinion. Based on the info of how he grew up (and the parallels to my own experience) and the fact that he outright refused the extra supplies from the driver, I think chris went into that experience expecting if not outright intending to die. Obviously just my own view of the Rorschach text nature of this case, but one that I think has merit.
@@devanh686 I have similar thoughts but I think there was some sense of pride. He could have at least got some advice on plants and stuff from the locals. I could respect that more than using the excuse of a book. Either way it's known well or should be humans have to prepare food to last and he really didn't seem to have that go by his head. Even if he didn't want to die I don't think he cared much for living. I still think he wanted deep in his heart the glory of the feat though in particular it being his own way.
When I read Walden in high school- and later Into the Wild in the same class- the way I looked at the world changed a lot. I used to daydream about attempting to go on a comparable adventure and "live off the land". In my mind it felt like it would be the only way to experience life to the fullest, for lack of a better phrase. I reaaaally loved your comparison of Chris' story to a Rorscach blot. What someone takes away from the story probably reveals some traits, values, about that person. For example the 'Happiness only real when shared'. Such a fascinatingly ambiguous quote, especially in the context with Chris. Im so happy that you made this standalone video. Thank You!! Maybe a video about Tarrare, the French dude who ate everything would be a good topic !
![[UNCUT] “บอสณวัฒน์” ลากไส้!! ใครหนุนหลัง "แม่ตั๊ก ป๋าเบียร์" I คนดังนั่งเคลียร์ I 30 ก.ย. 67](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QlD7mU2KKRk/mqdefault.jpg)
Him writing MOOSE! is so wholesome to me you can tell how excited and happy he was to see a moose and honestly I can't blame him
For my Life I could Not distinguish between a Moose and a Caribou.
@Lola Lander
Caribou are way smaller than moose
@@HermunthrudaWaldheimyou can easily tell by the antlers. While both are massive caribou antlers are skinny and spindly while mose antlers are flat and wide. Also caribou have light patches on their chest and butt while mose are much darker all over
@@HermunthrudaWaldheim moose are way fucking bigger😭
@@HermunthrudaWaldheimlate reply, more recently, the skeleton has been identified as a moose and it was not a caribou as the others claimed. I am an alaskan and studied the book and its my favorite book.
I feel like Chris was definitely “ignorance is bliss” personified. It seems like it wasn’t his intent to be a nature survivalist, it was his intent to live life how he wanted.
i kinda get the idea he didn't like his life at all, no one would pack light to live in the alaska wilderness if they cared about their life at all. it seemed like he wanted out of this world, but had trouble doing it with his own hand. i know from personal experience. the trooper who called his attempt a suicide mission wasn't far off at all. he grew up playing in the woods, and wanted to return to the woods to die in them.
i can imagine those last couple weeks were the best times of his life though, he essentially was just a child wandering around the forest doing things that he wanted to do, no direction, no one telling him what to do, or how to do it. just satisfying his own basic needs, and wants. he knew what was gonna happen, he knew he wasn't going to survive in the bus forever, and he didn't want to.
basically, he wanted to go out on his own terms, away from the world, and society that he hated so much. he travelled as far away from it as possible, just to make his statement.
i feel like this is more a projection of your own personal experience like you said lol i mean i don't think anyone should be speculating this hard and acting like they really know the motivation for this like for me idk i see a weird dude who jus didn't find what he wanted in day to day life like there are so many people i think who have this kind of vibe and it has nothing to do with suicidal ideation or a death wish.
ntm straight up said he had a happy life. i mean if he was really that upset and pondering existence and death his journals would have reflected it im sure
@@orabyss why would you reflect upon something if you've already come to terms with it? and death isn't necessarily a sad thing. maybe for others around you, but once you come to terms with your own morality, you realize it's just the final flourish of the life you've lived. he didn't need to ponder what he already knew.
sure i'll never know what he was thinking, but chris wasn't stupid, he knew he wasn't going to survive out there, and his goal was never to survive. if he wanted to survive, he would've prepared, but he simply did not. this isn't even a debate, because everyone knows you have to be prepared to deal with nature. chris went hiking as a child. he, if anybody else, would understand that being unprepared at the mercy of nature is just a death sentence.
people can lead happy lives and still be sad, no one is immune to human emotions. no one wants to mope about all day and complain about how much life sucks and everything is stupid. you can pretend to be happy, just to make others happy, a lot of people do it, and i'm certain chris was one of these people.
"Ignorance is bliss" and not being happy with the status quo and doing something about it are two totally different things
I've only seen the "Into the Wild" movie, I had NO IDEA there was a lift across the river so close to him. Absolutely heartbreaking.
Yeah i also only saw the movie, watched it with my parents and i wanted to watch it again (sometime later) but they removed it from netflix :(( but they recently added it back, and im happy for that, more people need to know his story, definitely changed alot of lives this man did
it was a Darwin Award which inspired others to seek their own Darwin Awards rawrding them with demise
@@R3TR0J4N you don't have to be so edgy and unempathetic all the time
@@AmandaVieiraMamaesouCult Darwin awards were/are an actual thing, at least in a publication sense. It's my experience that stating this incident was included in a collection of Darwin awards is not edgy; it's a statement of fact. 🤷🏻♀️
This just teaches me about a nuanced young man trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life and in the end I’d like to think when he died he was satisfied enough. I think people like this and anyone at that fact always have something to learn from. It’s the glory of history in which I hope Chris is remembered somewhat in.
Chris McCandless is the personification of the whole "last seen online 5 years ago" meme
I loved the movie, it was really touching
Still kind of stupid how he died just a couple of miles away from civilization because he didn't want to walk them but I can empathize with his wish of just leaving everything behind and living a peaceful life
@pyropulse I think your taking this a bit too far, also whats with the hostile attitude? Chill, saw your reply on another comment and was just straight up toxic. Take a chill pill.
@pyropulse Also I think he meant that there was a hand crank chairlift, only a half a mile away from where he had originally crossed that had saved his life.
@pyropulse chill
Glad to see you finally got that milk dad, I was starting to get withdrawals. As always it’s fantastic to get to enjoy yet another unsurprisingly great installment to wendigoons library. Please never quit creating, your channel has become so integral in my daily life that nothing, including youtube, would be the same without it!
Honestly: I absolutely love the topics you chose. They are always interesting and you do your research so incredibly well and with respect for the matter at hand. I especially come back to the longer videos again and again bc they help me get household chores done. And your voice is so soothing. It is but a treat for the ears. Thank you for your hard work.
Fun fact. That’s my second cousin in real life. It’s pronounced Mc Cand Less
I think he lived a good life. There are too many people on earth and some of us are just destined to die with nothing because everyone else is just a better version of us, making us unnecessary. His decision to go out his own way is inspiring, and I hope more people are able to go out on their own terms like he did instead of resigning themselves to dying miserably out on the streets
I have always found inspiration and a longing to do exactly what Chris did, I also loved White Fang by Jack London.
However I do find what Chris did to be stupid and slightly inconsiderate, but I would understand it if he was suffering from abuse in the home. Especially if the abuse, like that of which you discuss happend, I can firmly see how such a thing could cause trauma.
It would not suprise me if his father had been abusive (with or without knowledge), and he would have used material possessions and accomplishments in order to diminish or even threaten Chris with.
Here's the worst part about that sort of abuse, his father might have wanted to give those material possessions in order to keep Chris closer, however whenever the father felt like he was losing Chris he would use those possessions to "anchor" Chris. So I can also understand how the father and mother did not see or understand the abuse they were causing.
I like how you can see his notes for the monument mythos in the background (on the whiteboard).
I'm gonna walk into the wilderness, with little food, a shirt on my back, no survival skills, no knowledge of the surroundings, .. to find myself, to find the meaning of life, or just to see what kind of troubles i will get into... Then I will go home when I'm good and ready!
And I don't need a plan B!
Great breakdown. Fascinating individual regardless of how he lived his life it was his. people are so disconnected from the basics of life. The most interesting individuals I've ever met are ones that have overcome large adversities.
I don't think he's a failure as an outdoorsman but I do feel he was extremely foolish for doing what he did. His inexperience was going to kill him regardless and it just happened to be in Alaska. He died miserable, alone,and in agony.
Remember: no matter how much you love nature, nature is a harsh mistress and you must always be ready for the worst.
@@ricac.h8717 what the hell
@@bigidot it cant hear you, its a bot. If you would, please take the time to report it though, they are a plague.
Also remember that one day you will die, your loved ones will die and every aspect of the world you knew will be dust. Why treat life with such mystical reverence but be so afraid to claim what's yours? Chris Supertramp is the only modern human I have ever looked up to, A man who staked his claim and paid his price.
@@krehnah7541 Done, fuck TH-cam for allowing this kind of shit to exist
Nature is terrifying, grand and beautiful. And it is no less fantastical merely because it can be cruel.
Likewise, humans are infinitely capable to survive in almost any enviroment due to ingenuity, tools, and problem solving.
Thing is, you actually have to know what you're doing to take advantage of what is, more or less, all our species has going for it.
I understand why Chris did what he did.
I’ve always had the inner urge to just drop everything and go road tripping, abandon all my ties to society. And I’ve had a happy childhood.
Chris had grown up in an abusive and materialistic environment; it’s no surprise he left. I just hope he died feeling happy and free.
He definitely died feeling cold sad and lonely. His last breath probably cursed at his stupidity..
@@jamsjars9505dude he left a note where he said he was happy and prepared to die. he said goodbye. wtf are you talking about, did you even watch the video?
@@jamsjars9505what are you on?
@@mystoxxiide9043 Did you? The author of of that first book about him described him as a bum and thief. Rangers were right to criticize him for being ill-prepared and putting himself in a dangerous situation.
What this man wrote could easily have been him trying to justify his adventure with words of wonderlust, artifically injecting it with meaning. This same wonderlust grew into others attempting the same journey and dying or having to be rescued.
@@jamsjars9505did you ride the shirt bus as a kid?
yooooo I just did a project about this guy in high school like a year ago lol. I remember his name “alexander supertramp” was made that way because Supertramp was his favorite band
Where is the [Redacted] Angel in present day?
Your work is fantastic for someone so young!
GOODBYE STRANGER, ITS BEEN NICE...
also yo its the mandela project guy. keep up the good work!
When season 2
Yeah, when is it Alex?
Knowing nothing about this man, I clicked on the thumbnail thinking it was about a flat earther who claimed he had fallen off the side of the earth
lmao that's priceless TT I had no idea who Chris was until this video, and I thought he was a hippie kinda guy who just... disappeared?
i did too, but i knew about the man tho, just had to recall his name lol
thats why im here as well kinda annoyed I got click baited
LMFAO
sounds like a sick ARG
I love these patreon names, like"Stephen, Marcy, Kebin, Cody, CUMRANGER, Xavier..."
😭
The Super Sentai version was better.
Just amazing how Patreon doesn't have any specific requirements with what name you donate. You could use your real name, just part of it, or something absolutely ridiculous. The choice to have the name you want.
Some people may relate to the sentiment of not really wanting to kill themselves but not wanting to exist so wishing that they could just die some other way. I get those vibes from Chris. Like he didn’t want to actively end his life but he didn’t really care if he did in fact die. That’s why he didn’t want to spend time with gear and maps, he just wanted to get away immediately.
that is exactly what i wanted to say.
there's a lot of peeps in the comments like "oh, he's careless and stupid and could've prepared"
i don't think he gave a single shit about surviving, just about living what he had left his own way, at least at the start
I disagree with both of you for the sole reason of what we wrote down. you can clearly see that once he realized he was starting to die, he got afraid. he didn‘t want to die, he wanted to get out to recollect, he even wrote that sos note in hopes of rescue. while he accepted his death in the end, he definitely didn‘t actively welcome it
„I don‘t want to die. I just don‘t want to be alive anymore.“
Those two are distinctly different, though most people might not see it that way. But the problem is that Chris arrived at the point of no return, and that‘s when he realized he actually DID want to stay alive. But he was out in the middle of nowhere, so sick he couldn‘t leave, no way to call for help. Trapped.
So his last days were basically torture. He made many mistakes, but he deserved better than to die like that.
That's what I felt, too. And I'm glad he got to enjoy what he did while he did. Most of us just have to suffer through that feeling..
@@justsaying6341 there’s several stories of survivors who had attempted suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge who said that the moment they jumped they regretted it. i think for many there’s a difference in wanting to die and then actually being confronted with your imminent death.
You're missing the most important research on the starvation issue. Krakauer himself wrote an addendum to Into the Wild about research into ODAP and canavanine poisoning from wild potato seeds when eaten as a major part of one's diet. This type of seed was not known to be poisonous at the time and he had a guidebook on him that said they were safe to eat. ODAP poisoning leads to loss of motor function in the legs and canavanine makes your body unable to synthesize proteins properly. It's possible his poisoning was not due to his own ignorance or mistaken identification of a plant, but due to a gap in the scientific literature that was only closed in the last ten years.
Nope he starved to death a documentary about him called call of the wild.
wow
@@spearfisherman308 yes he starved to death but the poison inhibited him to where he could no longer properly care for himself thus led to the starvation.
@@BalrogUdun except that doesn't affect humans.
@@spearfisherman308 the cells of the human body use many proteins, one of which is arginine. The danger of canavanine is that the body mistakes it for arginine and tries to use it instead, leading to a lack of actual arginine. There are scientific papers about this, I found one through a minute of searching Google about canavanine and arginine. If that documentary is saying it’s just a simple lack of food, it’s using outdated information.
My brother did similar thing as Chris. He travelled all over the US with just himself and few possessions, hitchhiking and relying on the kindness of strangers. He struggles a lot with addiction and mental health issues and we have tried to help him to no avail. My brother has been through many US states. He has friends everywhere. We have gone years with no contact with him because he was living on farms or in forests. He comes back to my hometown every few years, stays awhile with our relatives, then leaves again. We worry for him but he is happier this way than when he stays in one place and tries to live “normally”
I hope your brother stays safe ♥️
Oh shit my brother too, though he does stuff to go to jail when he can't take walking or biking or hitching any more. "A bed, a roof, 3 square meals a day, and some roommates" as he says.
@@renaissanceman4054 fuck you my brother would never hurt a soul.
Living 'normally' just doesn't work for some people
@@thrandompug2254 yeah, like lechers and bumps
Chris died seemingly smiling, he died happy and that's more than most can say
I have a friend who is exactly how you've described Chris. He killed himself a few years ago. I'm still processing it and watching this turned out to be helpful.
I pray to God the Father that in time you'll find peace. ❤️
@@abbysapples1225 thank you :) I appreciate it.
@@CarayMay You're very welcome. 🙂
Hopefully he got reincarnated into a simpler and less dystopian time
What he do?
So I actually went to Woodson, the same high school Chris went to. We didn't read the book about him as a class, but I remember one student had done a project on the book and made a video where they went around to teachers who had known Chris and asked them about him. From what I remember, they all said he was kind, funny, and had a lot of friends. It's crazy seeing you make a video about him.
He’s famous
@@TooMosey I know, I just don't hear about him often and have never heard him mentioned on TH-cam before so it was cool to see Wendigoon covering him
@@maggiedk what do you think about his decision?
@@TooMosey I think it's pretty tragic, honestly. A lot of people are calling him stupid, as if he deserved to die for that, but I think that's unfair. Young adults make dumb decisions sometimes, but it doesn't mean that they're stupid overall. It's sad that he didn't have more of a chance to grow and learn from his mistakes, because he seemed like a good guy with some unique views on the world.
@@maggiedk you’re right the world is a beautiful place but there’s so many dangers too 🙏
His sister claimed his father was a violent drunk, her half siblings also have said he was a violent drunk, even Chris said he was a violent drunk.
Gee, I wonder if the father was a violent drunk?
Clearly not, he said he wasn’t a violent drunk so he must not be a violent drunk!!
@@ninetoedlizard6650 I mean I know why he didn't say he WAS a violent drunk. That's slander and he could get sued
@@theheadofrichardnixon7252 Which part don't you get?
I know right? He was probably a violent drunk.
@@nekad2000 sorry but wtf are you talking about
For some context, Supertramp is also a band that was popular when McCandless was young, which I'm sure had something to do with his clever little alias for himself.
For even MORE context, check out the 1908 book AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SUPER-TRAMP by WH Davies, my fellow Welshman.
I don't think Chris was an idiot, but he was definitely ignorant of the reality of the Alaskan wilderness. It seems like he had a lot of magical thinking about his journey which caused him to ignore the advice of those more experienced than him (like refusing to pack cold weather gear). He was so focused on the spiritual nature of his journey that he just ignored the physical realities of what he was up against.
In reality, had he not found "the magic bus", he would have most likely die much sooner.
Most information spread about him is from the book and movie, however, local Alaskans said he broke into their cabins (which is actually okay there, they understand some need the cabins for survival) and left the cabins trashed (this is not seen as okay)
Edit: th-cam.com/video/gNyav9g6BJY/w-d-xo.html
Do you have a good source for that? To be clear, I've read up on all of the burglary accusations and they're all credible, but I think it'd be a good resource for people looking at your comment.
@@TheRealADHDavid it was from a documentary I watched on it a long time ago. A few locals were interviewed and thats what they said. Its been so long I have no clue what it was called tbh
@@TheRealADHDavid while I personally haven't seen this documentary or seen other sources, is it possible that these people already just did not like Chris for is ignorance about the wilderness and decided to fabricate these tales to further lessen the idea that Chris was a hero? Just an idea. Not sure how much weight one should put into it.
@@dylanfarnham5164 Seems a bit disingenuous to doubt the local’s firsthand experience with a man known to be ignorant of his environment
I don't see anything wrong with a man finding fulfillment in his struggle to live, and I empathize with the idea that Chris was a man out of his time. That being said, even frontiersmen knew to be prepared and learned from the mistakes of the ones that came before them. I'm not saying Chris needed to do everything he could to make his journey easy for him, but his carelessness borders on suicidal arrogance.
I think we all get depressed and decide to go wherever life takes us sometimes. Wether you're mad or whatever mix of emotions you have. When i was going through a tough time coping with alot of deaths in the family i would often beat on myself. Id find myself going places i never would had i been in the right state of mind. But it makes you think differently. Just always know what you're worth. Don't let other people bring you down. My cousin chris couldn't handle what was going on. And i dont blame him. Ive been to the point where i just wanna leave.
@@sezuawn3861 cousin?
If you havent read the book, I recommend it. From the comments of his family members and those that knew him, he was a good natured person, but also kind of immature and an idealist. He romanticized life in the wilderness and thought of it more as something out of a Jack London novel than a real life or death situation. I think he fell pray to his own spontaneity and lack of forethought. He represents the commonly held dream of "leaving it all beyond and living in the woods" but without realizing just how difficult that reality is to attain, even with the necessary skills.
I don't think he was suicidal, he just didn't like the busy and materialistic life of people like his parents.
While he definitely should've researched more, I think that's just one flaw. His attitude is pretty great other than that.
Argon Drolf -- exactly. I've been far more prepared just to go deer hunting and camp out for a week. You say arrogant, I say he idealized the idea of "living free of money". Whether case or trading furs, a personal still needs a way to legally acquire the tools to make it.
If an accused abuser says the victim is “exaggerating” …….. that means the abuse DEFINITELY happened and the aggressor just doesn’t consider it “abuse” lol. What a pos
I mean the half-siblings backing it up sold me solid, because getting kids from separate marriages to agree on anything is a rarity. Unsurprised the parents would downplay the abuse.
@@FreyaEinde plus the back and forth of letters between brother and sister being about their shitty parents, that backs it up for me too.
@@Hikarixhikarixhikari and, I mean, the fact that he ran all the way to Alaska to get away from them.
Yeah, it really sounds like the parents are resentful of their children, especially behind closed doors.
My MIL likes to say "you'd call it abuse...." about her husband beating mine throughout his childhood. Abusers and those who act like it didn't happen or it "wasn't like that" are the worst.
As a mother this story broke my heart. As I read the book all I could think about was how lost this poor child was and no one was there for him.
Had to read this book during senior year of high school last year. Felt like a drag at first but learning about someone willingly abandoning everything to explore a life in the wilderness definitely makes you imagine yourself in a situation and I enjoyed it after a while.
If you decide to try this make sure you take YEARS of survival training for the area you're going and be close enough to civilization that you can get help.
Even the pioneers and mountain men didn't do it alone and had ties to civilization.
ME TOO. It was amazing!!
Nice pfp 😳
He was pretty cool until he was really stupid.
I live in Alaska and this guy is a legend to some and an idiot to most. We read a book about him in high school and his story always stuck with me.
i think lil bit of both.
@@totalkatastrophelot more idiot though
As someone who loves the woods and grew up camping and hunting this story blows my mind. It seems like he was very stubborn and didn’t take things very serious. The thought of going out in the wilderness of Alaska with such little gear and provisions and a map a simple map! just blows my mind.
He's an idiot, but an idiot i wouldn't laugh at, for sure. He had a pretty good run, travelling, meeting people, living in the wilds completely unprepared for a good amount of time.
While i'm not shrugging away the fact that he died due to his idiocy. This idiot we're talking about probably has lived his life with more color and memories than what i probably could've gained throughout my lifetime.
Legend to me
Chris wasn't a fool for wanting to live his own way. He was a fool for not being prepared to do so.
Unfortunately I think he wanted his life to end this way
I know right? So many people here praised him for being so open and free, when they clearly gloss over the fact they're just looking at a passive suicide and say "That's so cool"
@@theotv5522 and uh whats wrong with living that way?
@@theotv5522 guy founds out suicidal people empathize with other suicidal people
I personally think he sought out a path of little preparation, and calling him a fool for making a point to avoid key luxuries and extremely helpful things is silly to me. Because he didn't accidentally come ill prepared, he wasnt walking with wool over his eyes, he came as prepared as he wished to.
Assuming that he'd take every opportunity of many to purposefully make things harder for himself, but also would take a map of an unfamiliar area if he knew it existed, I believe is a foolish assumption.
Jumpscare at 35:21
When I was a senior in high school, my English teacher had us read "Into the Wild." We were supposed to compare Chris's life to the Heroes Journey and it was one of the worst lessons I've ever experienced. We weren't allowed to be critical and it felt like our teacher was trying to say "hey when you graduate high school you should be like Chris!' which is a HARD YIKES. Ironically enough I was also in a Wildlife Sciences class at the time and my teacher did his field work with bears in Alaska. He summed up Chris best for me, "It's easy for me to be critical of his entire approach, but what good is there in chastising a man who paid the ultimate price for his folly? When you are surrounded by nature, completely removed from the outside world, you walk the thin line between life and death. But you are also free, in the truest sense of the word. He wasn't seeking fame or book deals or any of the attention his story has since received. He just wanted to be free."
I remember how much it sucked to be forced to choose between honest expression and a grade you needed for your future.
Fie... a pox on your old English teacher! A pox I say!!!
I hate how much people hold them up as something romantic or ideal. Those people are idiots. He was an extremely selfish, idealistic and spoiled person. He had to be nagged to take proper footwear, he turned down a map which literally would have saved his life.
Lots of people tried to help him, but he was too arrogant. Anybody who admires this loser is just a moron. He didn't return triumphant people, he died because he was stupid and ill prepared
Now imagine growing up as George Milton from Of Mice An Men And Holding Into The Wild as a Future Goal to an extent...
@@themudpit621 I agree. Animal farm , Hatchet , Of Mice and Men , and so many others all get contempt for them when they've been pushed on the kids that way... gotta have a link for a better more heartfelt connection.
god damn thats a long quote to remember, what do you take for your memory?
I believe Chris was simply trying to find himself, he didn’t want to die, he wanted LIVE, he died because he was not properly prepared no other reason.
well he did live until he died
Then he should maybe have accepted help, a map, etc. The universe put helpful people in his path and he was like 'nah, I'm good'. So he WAS incredibly stupid in that regard. But only in that he didn't accept help when it was offered, otherwise who can fault a man for wanting freedom within nature?
He made bad choices out of impulse. I have seen many young and old people make the same mistakes in the wilderness, you don’t know what you’re not prepared for, if you have no idea to be prepared for it. He simply wanted to see if he could do something on his own with no free passes from anyone.
Yeah, I don't think he was trying to die or completely apathetic to living, but he was very naive. I also think he also really lucky in his past travels and I don't think he really recognized that fact.
The dunning-kruger effect in full effect ladies and gentlemen
The point people walk away with: Wow, the human condition and the evils we as a society create can lead innocent people down the road of insanity and self-destruction, but nature itself is far greater a challenge to overcome
The actual point of this story: Naming your child "christmas candles" will lead to inevitable derangement
Facts
Came to the comments for this kind of scholarly response *tips tophat while caressing neck beard*
😂
Stands to reason, seeing as how G.G. Allin’s legal name is “Jesus Christ Allin”
@@b3dubbs72 As in G-sus Grist? Sounds like a very bad rapper
It really confuses me how people see Chris as an inspiration. Yes, he wanted to live a life free from society's constrains, however he over romanticized nature and under prepared for the journey ahead. I also doubt he died happy, if anything it seems like a cope from people who resonate with his story. He died weak, malnourished, and with the realization that he screwed up big time. Chances are he wrote "Thank God." as a way to cope with his current situation. His life is a cautionary tale, plain and simple.
It's copium for those seeking copium.
Dude clearly wanted to get out. Dude clearly wanted to be saved. But simply no help came in time.
So many people are inspired by him. Personally, he inspired me to pack extra survival stuff when I'm gonna be away from civilization. YMMV
What I got from Chris' story is that he never intended to be seen as someone daring, he didn't commit himself to the wilderness to prove something of himself, I think he just genuinely wanted some sort of escape that he believed he would find in the immersion of nature, and I think that is a perspective that is lost to so many people and "critics"
One does not simply wander into the bush and expect it to be an escape. The entire reason he stayed at the bus is because he realized at least partially he was in over his head
@Demonslayer20111 okay? Why does that matter, the point was that he was running away from the tiredness of his life. What's the point of being a dick about it when he was just exasperated and trying to escape? If he was dumb then whatever, he was trying his best to be happy stop being so rude
no just really dumb, living in fantasy land.
Seriously. Some people just love to be horribly judgemental of an ignorant kid because it makes their tiny, shattered egos feel a little bit better. "Look at me, I'm an author, I'm a newspaper sensationalist, I'm punching down at this dead kid! Give me attention! I need attention!" A ton of cowards.
Chris is not an example of survival, his intent wasn't to show how well he could survive in the wild, he just wanted to live his way. Living our life, the way we desire. Even when he was about to die he didn't fill himself with hatred and resentment, he thanked God for his life. He was a good person, innocent, not blinded by material stuff. He was an example of life, may he rest in peace.
That's how I viewed it
Chris McCandless was an idealistic idiot
Exactly!!
His writings consisting of how hungry, scared, and lonely he was, as well as the famous quote “Happiness is only real when shared” vastly disproves ALL of that. He knew he screwed up and he died painfully and filled with regret.
@@rallytonight8491 guess you didnt read the part where he thanked "god" for his life
One of the saddest parts is if he had been honest with the people he met about wanting to live off the land and what his life before was like, he very well could have been taught how to actually do that. Ive lived in communities similar to the ones Chris went through, and just about everyone I know would have sympathized with him and showed him what they know
Stop it Tomar
But he wouldn't have done that. He wanted to do everything on his own without anyone else's help. He could've done the same thing in Colorado or Montana and would still be alive today probably.
OK Tomie
Look it's tomar
I don't "live off the land" or have any interest in doing so. If I met someone who intended to go on a backcountry trail with the supplies that he took, though, I would definitely give them advice and try to help them pick out adequate resources for their intended trip. People who choose to actually live in the wilderness could have also helped him by showing him better ways to accomplish what he hoped with his life. I don't share his goals, but there are many thousands of people who do, and reaching out to them could have made the tragic ending of this story into something much happier.
It's a tragedy that he didn't accept either kind of guidance, or reach out to others who would have been able to understand and give him a community to belong to. McCandles was on a popular, if difficult, trail. As this video notes, there was an easy way for him to get back across the river if he'd had a proper map (he had one, I think, but it wasn't detailed enough). If he'd left an itinerary, someone could have gone out to find him. I have no interest in mocking him, but he was grossly unprepared, and was unwilling to listen to people who could have gladly and easily helped him. There was no reason for this man to die.
I love the story of Chris McCandless. As a young adult I spent the summer working in Yellowstone National Park and even though it was less dangerous then venturing into the Alaskan Wilderness alone there was still wild animals and unfamiliar terrain.
I think most of us when we're just barely adults need to find ourselves and sometimes a few months in the woods can help.
I know it was helpful to me and all of the friends I made working in Yellowstone.
You explaining the lean meat diet death made me realize how fragile we are, honestly I'm impressed we made it this far man
We aren’t meant to for this planet, we were placed here
We’re fragile in so many ways but also incredibly tough and robust in just as many
@@KeepiTCawl disagree our ancestors overcame so much
@@KeepiTCawl We are if we actually use any common sense
@@KeepiTCawl We are the product of millions of years of evolution and adaptation. There's no other species that has managed to overcome and conquer nature like we have.
I did something like this once. Decided I had enough of society and sold off everything and lived in the woods for 3 months or so making my way through Northern California to Seattle. I'm by no means a survivalist but have decent instincts. So by the end I was also near death and almost lost my leg. Probably not the smartest thing I ever did but I definitely cherish the experience.
That’s crazy what was it like being out in the wilderness all alone?
Oh wow, glad to have you still with us
I have had urges to do just that with my gf and dog for weeks now
@@genarosepulveda9260 do it in the summer, most importantly inform yourself, read books on the topic. Think of everything that can go wrong and prepare yourself for every SHTF scenario. Its gonna be a blast! :)
Very cool
Wendigoon is like a best friend telling you things that normally you wouldn’t be interested in but the way he tells it makes you interested
True. But he’s also got an eye for picking great topics to talk about
I feel like this didn’t need the “best friend” analogy part lol.
Parasocial andy
How is that parasocial
@@ephin3242 yea lol it just describes literally what he does.
that line: "Happiness is only real when shared," has stuck with me so hard since seeing the movie. Chris' story is so complex but something about that line cuts straight through and gets to the point of what life is about in such a concise way. Feels so much more tangible than platitudes like 'no man is an island.' Also a hard truth to wrestle with as somebody who struggles with socialization and isolationism.
Very true.
Thank you for sharing that. I feel the exact same way. 👍👍
“No man is an island” is taken from John Donne’s Meditation 17. It’s much more meaningful if you read it in context, as it was before it was repeated everywhere and reduced to a mere platitude. Also just a beautiful, reassuring read. It basically says, “No matter how isolated you might feel, your death would be experienced by the whole world.”
Honestly, there’s peace in isolation too. I’m not saying being void of human interaction is healthy, but the best way to share happiness is to learn how to be happy yourself.
(Just adding on to what you’re saying, not being argumentative, just to be clear.)
This really hit me like a brick to the gut. I'm financially well-off, but very isolated.
People always ask me why I don't just up and move to some tropical island.
"Because I'd be there alone"
They tell me to go buy my dream car.
"I have no one to enjoy it with"
They tell me to go on adventure in some foreign place.
"So I can wander around by myself?"
They don't understand that I've already done every single I wanted to do in life, alone, and those experiences were all tainted by the fact that I had no one to share them with.
Put simply, I no longer care about perusing anything or achieving anything while I'm alone. I can't continue to live life as a one-man show with a single audience member, myself.
This isn't life.
I need to get this off my chest. Chris' story is one of those that absolutely crush my heart. I'm not sure why, perhaps because of how profoundly his desire to escape current society resonates with me. I admire his bravery. The isolation we feel at a time when communication with the world is easier than ever is deafening and I believe he saw that happening, especially studying Anthropology. Where I see the problem is that it's not living isolated that's the solution or perhaps even what Chris craved. I think what would suit him best would be living in a small community. I don't know anything about Alaska but from what I've seen, there is no shortage of smaller communities spread scarcely around the area. By living with such people, learning about nature around him and ways to co-exist with other beings, I think he would thrive. He seemed happy living his nomadic lifestyle while within in the mainland US borders and there he had contact with people, he wasn't in isolation.
The tragedy of his final days strikes me the most. Thinking about how cold, scared and in pain he must have been is just haunting, as well as imagining him thinking that probably no one will come to his rescue but still remaining hopeful.
He seems like a thoroughly kind and thoughtful person and I hope he is able to rest in peace.
Industrial society and it's future by Theodore John Cyzinsky (or something)
Starving to death is painless. Other than his poisoning he would have actually been feeling a type of euphoria as the body feeds on itself.
@@jusa297 kaczynski
Yeah, I just clicked through about 30 seconds of this video and don't care if you or anyone else lives or dies. That's the other extreme to make you feel awkward.
Quality comment, much respect 🙏
I live in Alaska and this guys kind of a local legend, in a way. There’s even a restaurant with a replica of the bus he stayed in. The army ended up having to remove the bus because of a bunch of crazies trying to copy him. Honestly, he’s more of a martyr of what not to do. He did every single thing wrong he could’ve, and didn’t know what he was doing. Once you get out of the towns Alaska can be a harsh as hell place to be and he wasn’t ready at all. I respect him trying to follow his dreams, but now he just serves as a way for parents to tell their kids “don’t do this or you’ll die like the guy on the bus.” It’s a sad story, and I wish he had done more research, and maybe could’ve followed his dreams for more than a few months.
Still, respect to him for somehow killing a caribou.
raised and living in alaska here! idk which area you're in but in fairbanks we had to read into the wild in high school and good god it was so frustrating reading his story. I don't think he's a worthless dipshit but he basically committed suicide. in this area at least, people definitely regard him more as a cautionary tale than anything positive. still definitely respect him for sticking to his beliefs and surviving out there for so long but goddamn, how unprepared and foolish can you be
also it could be me being native alaskan but every time I talk about it to other eskimo people it always leads back to "white people don't know what they're getting into when it comes to alaskan wilderness"
Oh
Lol. *urban people of every race
@@jasperlee1025 Aye fairbanks too! I haven't ever had to read it, and yeah I don't think he was a worthless dipshit, he somehow managed to survive as long as he did. And yeah, I'm white and I can tell you with full confidence that there's precious few of us I've met who know what they're doing out there, and I'm certainly not one.
Fortunately, most people I've met are aware they don't know shit, and don't risk their lives and the lives of others by trying to live in the wilderness.
Moose.
I love that you said surviving wasn't the goal because i came to think so too. There was never an ending or an achievement to be made.. it was just a maan living the way that made him happiest. Despite all the suferring and starvation and the desperation for help in the end all of it made him happy and he was gratefull for it till his very last breath. Not once in his journal did he got mad at God or fate or regret his decision and he finally return to God with nothing less of absolute gratefulness for all the good and the bad through out his life because that is what makes him feel full even as he was dying (yes he wanted to turn back for supplies but he didn't resent the fact that he can't. Reading the words he wrote it was more of a "living life as it is". If it happens than that's how it should be and he is content with it)
I find it humbling and endearing that Chris wanted to live this life, but my boy was a newbie going into hardcore survival mode in Minecraft
He thought to himself, "Well, I did pretty damn well hitchhiking around the Lower 48... I think I'm ready to take on Alaskan bear country by myself with no provisions!"
These are two radically different things, Chris!
Born and raised in Alaska, we were actually taught in school how to survive certain situations you are likely to encounter in Alaska. This is a sad story and a reminder Alaska and nature in general are not something you can take lightly, its not very forgiving.
live how you want to live. Go out and do what you want to do. You don't need some person or piece of paper saying you're capable. Go out, and be capable.
I've seen many people miss the point of the movie: his story isn't inspiring because in the end, he realized how cruel nature was and wanted to return to civilization, but resigned when he could not.
I’m glad someone understands
@Weni Xerja 👇💘 TH-cam won't fix this but hey Let's get rid of the dislike button.
And let’s call a spade a spade, he acted like a total fool. He went out into some of the most harsh and unforgiving terrain with barely any supplies, little to no experience, and refused the warnings that were given to him. He seemed to be an intelligent man but by arrogance or perhaps something else, he just couldn’t be dissuaded until it was too late.
@@DD-kc6hg They invaded the sanctuary of Wendigoon. God save us all.
The movie was far too kind to him. He was a trust fund kid who thought he could take on nature and lost because of his arrogant ignorance.
In high school we read the book Into the Wild and watched the movie about McCandless. I didn't ever expect you to cover this, but the story about him is so fascinating. I'm glad more people will learn about him for the first time just like we all did!
lol me too
ditto
Me too!
I didn't have to watch it in school, but my parents made me watch it when I was a little kid and said I was going to run away from home.
Same over here lol
This is such a sad story. As someone with a sister very close in age who is obsessed with the idea of nature and transcendentalism, I think Chris was trying to find meaning like so many of us are. I don’t think he took into account the pain it caused his younger sister by leaving and passing,as my sister has done something similar but has not passed,. and obviously their family environment was not a good one to stay in. It’s just a messy, painful situation all around. I also think he may have been passively suicidal. Not necessarily being prepared and not really caring either because it didn’t seem to matter to him until it got too bad to go back. ❤ To this day my heart breaks for Chris and Carine. I think in a different world and different upbringing he may have been able to travel safely and be able to tell some cool stories late in life.
I don’t think it’s quite fair to put things like that on him, he lived how was best for him. He didn’t intend for his sister to be hurt by that, but it’s not necessarily his fault
The meaning of life is either to embrace or reject God. That is it.
@@jannaswanson271 that is a useless waste of life. Jesus didn't sit around and judge people for not conforming, he spread goodness and did something with his life, unlike his later followers, who spread nothing but misery.
@@vonbeedle554 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:10.
Those who truly follow Christ will walk in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.
@@jannaswanson271 Would it not be better to appear before Christ after making the most of your life and making a positive impact? Piety only gets you so far.
I remember reading Into the Wild when I was in highschool and it changed my life, my teacher even let me keep the book. I started hiking and backpacking, and I learned how much nature makes me happy. But what really resonated with me was a quote they found in one of his books that read “happiness is only real when shared”. I think Chris had loved his life, but that he had been lonely. Everything I learned about Chris are things I still focus on today when I think about how I want to live my life
0:25 this could be taken out of context very easily...
I've been neglected in my up bringing and I've fantasised about running off into the woods just to 'survive' the way Chris did. Looking at Chris, i can see myself and it makes me so depressed. He wasn't stupid, he was alone & in pain.
Me too. I was actually kind of suicidal at the time. I fantasized escaping to the woods, having almost nothing and intending to die out there. I'm in a better place now and am glad I didn't go through with it. I feel for Chris.
Your not alone brother !! Love u
Me too. And we are the only ones who can truly understand why he did what he did.
He was an hero
Its absolutely despicable how some of the park rangers talked about Chris. I understand working in that field, you get tired of having to rescue the inexperienced, but to completely minimize his life, and his death really rubbed me the wrong way.
Starts game
Creates character
Difficulty level: Dark Souls
Oh hey, it's ShortHax
Fell off
Bruh it’s more like him leaving was starting a new game plus mode on someone else’s account with the pendant gift and dropping all his gear from the start
Nature is so much worse than that lol.
And like Dark Souls, it's much easier if you call someone for help.
875 thousand in this video to 4 million! My husband is always telling me I need to get into your channel, took me probably a year, and now I’ve been binging for a week now 😂😂
I knew someone who ended up similar to him. He was a guy who was great in school, friend to every classmate and our class president for a year (all in college). One day he just decided to leave and roam around the country and then even ended up living in a native community in an extremely remote country. He ended up back in the states where I saw him one time seemingly in good spirits until a few weeks later he took his own life. It seems like Chris was going down the same road. All that is left are the memories and one song recorded on a phone around a fire. They were never dumb, just guys finding their own way to live and die.
Really makes me wonder what does ties this lifestyle together with the suicidal tendencies, because all things considered it seems like a fulfilling lifestyle
@@squirtbrainz1219i think the suddenness is why it’s linked. Wanting to live out in the wild while relying on only yourself isn’t a sign of mental distress on its own, but dropping everything one day to go out into an unknown area without any knowledge on how to survive there, or supplies to do so, is not something that someone who wants to live would typically do. I’m sure there are some psychologists who would call what Chris did a suicidal tendency as well, since he didn’t go into it with seemingly any plan at all, let alone one where he isn’t putting himself in harms way.
@@Elle... Was mainly referring to the roaming around and living in different towns around the country and making so many different bonds rather than the Alaska portion, since that part of the story seemed more similar to OP’s story
@@squirtbrainz1219 roaming around like that kind of falls in the same category since it is still putting yourself in an unknown area without much thought for your own safety.
Clearly dumb
As someone who grew up in rural Alaska, I can confirm that the majority of Alaskans I know think of Chris as an idiot. On the one hand, I also believe that Chris was an idiot who made extremely poor decisions. On the other hand, I can see why so many people respect and revere his journey, especially since leaving Alaska myself and having lived in the lower 48 for almost a decade now. This society we live in can be so stifling and inauthentic to the true reaches of human experience. Materialism, capitalism, pavement in all directions, and living in boxes that we construct to block out the outside world... It's no wonder that so many people feel alienated from the human experience, and that Chris's story of leaving it all behind and walking into the wilderness resonates with so many people. As human being, I can understand why his journey is found to be beautiful.
As a kid who grew up in the Alaskan wilderness, I still think he's an idiot though. It's not just that he did EVERYTHING wrong, but his rejection of nearly all aid and advice from the locals along the way is frustrating for me to hear about. I see why he's called selfish. He's an example of the outsider who walks into nature focused only on his own personal journey, but then the consequences of his actions are a drain on the time and resources of people who actually live there and know better.
You wanna know how Alaskans survive in the extreme wild, in the middle of nowhere? They rely on each other. You don't shovel only your own driveway after a snowstorm. Even with snow 4ft deep, everyone grabs a shovel and helps to dig out their neighbors. You don't just wander out into the woods unprepared with 10lbs of rice, because the burden of rescuing you (and the others who later mimic your behavior) falls on the communities who actually live there.
I think this shows a dark part of society. The reliance on comunity and on other people, should come as natural instict to every human.
The fact that someone would go way out of their way to get away from all other people, either means humans cannot keep up with the demandas of modern society or that there is something fundamentaly wrong with modern society.
To willingly walk into life threatening situations, might just mean that modern life feels somehow worse than death.
Just saying, this story might just give us a glimpse of something more profound happening with humanity as of lately.
Thanks for the insight!
What an entitled prick. Yes he was underprepared, yes he was stubborn. The focus has always been and should remain on the spiritual aspect.
You’re acting sus, bud
It's not on him what others do. That's on them. And obviously he wasn't rescued so he was not a drain on anyone's time or resources. Yes he was an idiot for not being prepared and maybe that could be called selfish in that he didn't think about the people who loved him and how his being hurt or dying would affect them. But how else was it selfish? He asked no one for anything and he didn't hurt anyone but himself. Again what others did in his name isn't on him, he didn't call for people to follow in his footsteps.
Chris I believe dealt with passive suicidal ideation. He wanted to seclude himself and find peace but didn’t want to actively kill himself. I get this idea because of the fact he didn’t research the area and that he packed light. Also the traumatic childhood.
exactly
That makes a lot of sense. He kinda did what a lot of people probably fantasize about. Mine is moving to Ireland and become a goat farmer/poet, but I wouldn't actually walk out of my life.
It's quite a romantic way to commit suicide tbh - romantic in the 18/19th century definition
@@Roozyj when romantic meant drinking absinthe while your lungs collapse due to tuberculosis, the good old times
@@Roozyjwe have a similar dream. I fantasize about petting highland cows in Scotland on overcast days….
@@KR-vu9mo that sounds great
Learned about this guy in a high school class
His decisions confuse me to this day
Chris literally run off into the woods instead of going to therapy, but this is in no way his fault. People raised in abusive families will often reject any kind of help and show distrust up until they are in their absolute worst. This is the kind of shit trauma does to you. His parents gaslighting him even it death would explain a lot.
Alot of the people who have experienced physical or mental trauma don’t go out in the wilderness away from everything. I feel like to Chris, this was much more than escapism.
@@Damaardk Mental illness especially manifests itself differently from person to person. There is no way for us to know why Chris did what he did, but I don't think it was on accident or due to negligence. He had chances to go on these journeys more prepared and chose not to. Some say he was arrogant or stupid, some say he was suicidal.
My personal take on it is that he was disillusioned by the world around him and wanted to get down to the bare essentials on his own terms, even if it was not the most intelligent thing to do by most people's standards. Even if his mental health was a factor, it doesn't seem like Chris would have wanted that to define him or his decision (if he was aware of his mental wellness to begin with).
"In no way" is a dangerous precedent to set. Adults MUST bear responsibility for their own actions to some degree.
@@Damaardk I mean... False... I experienced mental/physical trauma (and still experience it, to a lesser extent) and I think about running away into the wilderness very, very often. Its a mixture of "I will never be able to escape this and running away is my best bet" and "Starving to death out in the woods wouldn't be that bad of a way to go"
@@Damaardk
As someone who currently trying to go to therapy and was abused as a kid to adulthood. When I had the chance as a kid, I constantly ran into the woods to hid or just stayed there until my family cooled down. I even learn what I could eat by my cousin who did the same (How the hell we didn't died or accidentally kill my siblings, I have no idea and we are very lucky.) Even as an adult, I have thought of running away into the wood and never coming back. However, I have a lot of people relying on me (emotional and financial) and I'm aware that part of it is suicidal.
So I can't help but wonder if it was mental illness or abuse, or a mix of both.
Always found this guy interesting. He was very book smart but seemed very very very naive when it came to actually surviving. There isn't any "winging it" when it comes to survival Ina a very rugged and inhospitable cold land with terrible bouts of rough weather. The book on plants and the .22 were good choices but everything else this man did or didn't bring was for lack of a better word dumb. At the very least he should have brought resealable bags. A flint stick. Several layers and changes of clothes. A small multi tool. A small shovel. Some kind of pot to cook in. Soap. Course ground salt. These are just the things that instantly come to mind for someone whose grown up with the woods as his backyard. That by no means I'm an expert and alot of people will probably say the things I think you should bring is dumb too. It takes more than just sheer will to survive in these area of the world.
He could of brought all that stuff but I think he didnt on purpose, the guy that dropped him off tried to help him and get more stuff but he kept turning it down, imo all that stuff would be like bringing everything he seeked to leave behind.
I think he did it on purpose, so that he could complete his goal in the most deficit way possible, don’t know why honestly, but i guess he was the type of guy who really wanted to seek purpose in his life despite its stupidity, he may be stupid but he was a very wise man in heart.
@@nutbuster4204 He was that way until it became all to real that he was going to die. His notes begging and emploring for rescue left at his camp, show that he wanted to approach things in that way but also believed foolishly that he could just walk out. When it became evident that he couldn't, he wanted to be saved. Thing is growing up in an area very similar to that one... once you realize you are in a bad situation if you didn't take things with your, it's too late. When I go to travel in the woods before I leave I text / call someone to tell them where I'm going and when I think I'll be back at. If he had taken the precaution of checking in with someone anyone in town to say I plan on being back in town by ____ day then people would know to come looking.
@@BType13X2 He went through stages of grief, he finally arrived at enlightment and he couldn't be any happier. He didn't die suffering and pleading for his life, he died thinking he has lived a good life.
the point wasn’t to *survive* it was just to live while it lasted
I did somewhat similar thing once. I bought an old mazda and just drove. I felt i needed alot of distance from my abusive parents. Drove 1000 km to the Arctic ocean. From there i drove through Sweden to Denmark. From Denmark to Germany etc. I drove to Lissabon. After i reached Croatia i decided i want to go back home. Felt like Forrest Gump in the running scene. The trip took me 3 months and very stressfull nights waiting for the mechanics to fix my car without understanding a word of what i needed. Slept in my car most nights. But im glad i did it. It was soothing just to have an escape.
Hell of an experience, hope you’re in a good place now
hopefully you found what you needed in that trip, hopefully you're safe now.
I just finished doing something similar. I was tired of my life in North Carolina. I sold almost everything I owned, drove to the outer banks, and slept on my Toyota Corolla for months this year, just traveling gradually west and then north. I don’t know why I did it. I just had to get out.
I wound up going from the outer banks of North Carolina to San Francisco, and then northward, finally turning around in Prince George, British Columbia. The Canadian border people didn’t trust me at all. Didn’t know what to tell them, that I was just traveling, but they did let me through.
I think I needed to get it out of my system. I ended my travels at the end of august and started a new life in Chicago. I’ll see if it works for me.
Take me with you next time 😭😭😭😭😭
@@HickoryJ super brave of you Jobey! I hope everything works out for you and you found what you needed.
I wouldnt go as far to say he was dumb, or a folklore hero, he's just a young guy who did what he wanted, and slipped up. Sad, sure, but one hell of a story.
Did anyone else tear up right after he said the entry was just “beautiful blueberries” or was that just me
Just you I think
Sobbing bro
I cried my eyes out! But to be fair, I punch myself in the face anytime I hear the word 'blueberries'.
A lot of people seem to romanticize this guy, but I think he and his journey was just tragic. He was still very much a kid and his young dreams and ideals ultimately came up hard against the realities of an adventure in the wilderness.
Agreed.
Nah, he was dead set on what he wanted to do, many men would dream of his death.
I just saw your pic and name and can conclude that you, sir, are a man of culture
@pyropulse I think living in the wilderness and surviving can be interpreted as different tbh. He wasn't pretty much living, in a sense of trying to survive, and I mean really trying to survive, his death was by in large was pretty much tragic. But I'm just glad he had accepted death in the end, and died happily with an enjoyment of life.
People are quick to both romanticize and demonize him. His tale is both inspiring to people who feel wanderlust, and one of caution about the importance of being prepared. In the end, Chris realized that you have to find balance in life and ultimately wished to return to society in some form, and was remiss to discover that he could not.
I think the most bizarre thing about the whole McCandless saga is that they had to remove the bus he lived out of during his demise from its original site because fans of his were constantly making pilgrimages to it and getting stranded in the process.
And dying
Not just stranded, a bunch of them died
F him for that.
@@Diremagic you clearly have a warped sense of reality lmao
@@No_Feelings his story led to people dying unless you think that's dandy then ok
Fun fact: You can avoid rabbit starvation by eating the organ meats and eyes of the rabbit, it has enough fats and carbohydrates to stave off starvation long enough to survive to find other things
I think starvation sounds preferable
@@zektor1530 fair enough tbh
@@zektor1530 pack some salt and pepper, you'll be fine. a little paprika maybe~
@@zektor1530 Organs are kinda tasty ngl, i actually preffer them to actual meat
You'll probably still starve. It usually takes more calories to hunt small game than small game can provide. The old timers killed small game only when it was convenient, they expended energy to hunt large game that was worth the work.
As someone who grew up in an abusive and neglectful household doing exactly this had been my dream since I was a little kid, I think it will be a thought that will be in the back of my mind for the rest of my life in a way. I see myself a lot in Chris and it makes me incredibly sad that he’s mostly just remembered as an idiot with no idea what he was doing because while I think what he did was executed terribly it really seems like he was just desperate to feel alive and get away from everything which is something I think a lot of people can relate to. His plan really didn’t seem to be becoming a survivalist as much as it was to just get away from everything which is really not a stupid desire, he just didn’t really know the right way to go about it.
I have no idea how old you are, but speaking from the point of over 40, yes that desire to crawl off somewhere & be left in peace never goes away. Abusive parents don't just hurt children, they create fractured adults
I actually did it. I lasted about 6momths before I was pulled back to safety before I killed myself. It was one of the best times of my life but so so lonely. I think I only survived so long was because I had a companion in the way of a dog. She died just before the end of my travels and at the start of my downfall. I still dream of going back to this day
It doesn't take an abusive household to want to be left the hell alone lol I'm 23 and just bought land out in the woods that I'm going to put a mobile home on. Eventually I'll have solar panels and a well and get off public utilities. I think every human being has an innate desire to get away from all this crap we've built and go back to nature where we belong
Beautifully worded
I come from a similar background but he wasn’t an idiot just ignorant on how the wild works. I love the quote from Forrest Gump from Jenny when she says “I wish I could be a bird, a bird that can fly far far away.” I’ve felt that but still I would plan it out, even going to visit family I get prepared just in case someone is trying to rob me and what not. Now going into the wilderness you have to know what you’re doing and if not then good luck. I know other people’s experience differ but that’s just me.
It's crazy to me that in 11th grade, my english class was assigned to read Into the Wild and I thought it was SOOOO boring. Literally didn't even bother to finish it. But now here i am, 6 years later and 22 years old, and I'm realizing that the book/story wasn't boring at all, I just hate reading lmao
My class read it in either 8th/9th grade. I loved reading but nonfiction wasn’t my thing back then so I thought it was super boring too. Looking back it’s a super interesting story-just not necessarily to a 12 year old. It probably didn’t help that any assigned ready always kind of sucked no matter how good a book was.
its probably just being *made* to read it, also the classroom setting. i only ever liked books when i chose to read them.
I hate reading too, but some fiction novels really tickle my whistle
@@ghostlycircaea1049 it is fictional?
Literally me too.
Just five minutes in and I already completely understand why the guy decided to leave everything behind and live in the wild. Growing up with emotionally unstable parents who would unpredictably lash out at you one second and act like nothing is wrong the next, with lots of gaslighting and blackmailing mixed in, is an experience that is hard to describe to others that hasn't gone through the same. You don't just get "disillusioned" to your family ties, but dissociated to all other relationships you'll ever have in your life and even to your own mind. Eventually you could never tell if what you think or feel are real, and you can't form any real connection with people anymore. And since the "family" is so put together on the surface, you get dismissed by anyone you try to vent to, because "you get it much better than other people in life so you don't get to complain". It's messed up that the first 18 years of your life determines how you'll live the rest.
Good on the guy for finding the life he loved to live, wish I could say the same
As someone who farms, hunts, fishes and writes/makes music. I'm conflicted on Chris. I don't think he's an idiot at all. He had a genuine lack of concern, caring or preparation. I don't think that's because he was an idiot, I think it was intentional. Anyone seriously concerned with living and not ultimately dying in the Alaskan wilderness would've done a lot more preparation. When he went to the magic bus, he clearly wasn't very concerned on how that story would end. Did he regret it when he was starving? I'll bet money he did. Was it worth it? maybe. People are still talking about him decades later. If he didn't die, would that be the case? also Wendingoon killing it love the content and the conversations sparked in the comment section
My guess is he was ignorant in regards to surviving in the wild, assuming game would be everywhere
I'm pretty sure the lack of preparation, arrogance etc is what makes him an idiot. Wanting to live in the wild without any idea how to is idiotic. Realizing the faults of society of his home life doesn't automatically make him smart
While his death is sad and tragic, he was also privileged, arrogant, and ignorant. He didn't understand what a hard life means. For him, it was like playing dress-up. A fun, romantic idea instead of a serious, difficult, precarious existence. It may seem noble for him to give up his family money and comfort, but he also didn't really know what this meant.. and unlike most of us, he always had the option of going home to mom & dad. He died because of his naive, romantic view of nature and wilderness living. He did not respect it or the people who live that way every day because they have to. It never occurred to him that he might need to learn survival skills and knowledge. He just assumed he could easily figure it out, all by himself. Arrogance. Privilege. Hubris. The danger of these are his true legacy.
Makes you think of life before the internet and vast distribution of education
I strongly disagree with the notion that he was an idiot. Was he careless? Yes, but I am sure he *knew* the dangers, he just didn't *care*. He wanted to experience life and that is what he did. He seemed happy until his last days, he didn't regret doing what he did, he never disrespected other people or put them in danger. He lived life in his fullest. Some people may think he wasted his life but I am sure Chris would say the same about us, just because he experienced happiness in his own ways, doesn't mean he wasn't happy.
Who is the real fool, the man who died happy or those who live only to stay mad about him?
a lot of Alaskans probably don't like Chris because they are the ones who have to deal with these hundreds of random people from the US who want to "live in nature" in Alaska then die horrifically from the cold, starvation, or poisoning.
Yeah it shows their ignorance for the place. And in a way, it's cruel to the people living there.
What does that have to do with them?
@@monbub how is it cruel to them?? Lol they’re literally not impacted by a strangers death
@@reptilesurpreme841 the rangers and ems have to dedicate time to looking for these people who needlessly endanger themselves and others while also putting an emotional burden on others who worry themselves sick over their relatives or neighbors. I don’t think cruel is the right word, but I do think it is irresponsible.
@@reptilesurpreme841 The rangers have to dedicate far more time and resources to rescuing these people (or their bodies) and they disrupt the local environment (both the residential areas and the wildlife). Also just because you wouldn't care that a bunch of people are flocking to your city to drop dead in the woods doesn't mean other people aren't concerned.
Chris is not a genius, he’s not an idiot. He’s just his own man. He lives for his own self. He wasn’t trying to survive, he wasn’t trying to die, he was on a pilgrimage. To find himself, to find nature, to find fun… it doesn’t matter. He’s a lesson to us all about finding our own path, and our own consequences.
@akh he died appreciating life. Whether or not that’s what he was looking for we will never know. It’s what I’m looking for, so he’s certainly some sort of hero? Not so much hero, but kind of like a myth, like a man who actually did it. Inspiration maybe. I’m not gonna go die in the woods ofc, but there might be some point in my life where I just let whoever blows the wind take the reigns. He truly is a Rorschach test, since we don’t really know his values and his aspirations, we can only judge his accomplishment based on what we want for our own life, so to someone who wants to succeed, he’s a fool, but to someone who wants to live, he’s visionary.
Well said, mate.
I really hated the book (never saw the movie) but imo he really threw his life away. He seemed spoiled and idealistic. The only thing that could have explained his behavior is if his dad was as bad as Sister says.
He was going to find himself, even if it meant dying
@@zelinamarks5397 would someone spoiled really just throw away everything like he did?
I respect his journey and personal philosophy, but he was a fool to be so unprepared on his journey. He should’ve had maps, a greater amount of canned goods, heavier clothes, and a survival guide. However, I don’t think Chris didn’t realize this. His goal wasn’t to survive in the woods. He wanted to live away from civilization as much as he could and experience life to its fullest before his inevitable demise.
I don't quite agree. Didn't his journal mention that he tried to go back but couldnt cross the river? Plus, he was clearly not having a good time those last few weeks.
He tried to go back, which doesn't align with the narrative of not expecting to survive. He tried to get the attention of anyone who passed by the bus, which is not what someone with a death wish would do.
I just love the note "MOOSE!" on his journal, that felt so wholesome even though he was probably scared of it
RIP Chris
Edit: I've never had this many likes, thanks guys it's crazy that over 1000 people saw my one dumb comment :D
Chris obviously didn't know how difficult it can be to process 100's of pounds of game.
I've never hunted moose alone for good reason. Just whitetail. Dragging 200+ lbs of dressed deer 2 miles out of the bush makes you appreciate every mouthful of meat!
Moose are fucking terrifying.
@@shrimpguy6900 they are! a moose once fell down on top of my cousin's car! They were driving near a cliff and then it happened. What are the chances of that happening, moose are weird
@@JurgenWindcaller what the hell! I don't know why the image of that creeps me out so much but it does lol
@@ItsNessaTho yeah it's a true story! i don't know how my cousin was just laughing about it, i would be scared shitless
I have always admired Chris’s passion and wanderlust, as well as the absolute tenacity with which he lived his life. That changed a bit when I got lost trying to summit a mountain by myself. I was so underprepared I had neither a map nor a lighter, and I honestly thought I was going to die. That experience shed a lot of light on the kind of things the Alaskan Park Ranger have said. The carefree way Chris approached the wilderness was very, very ignorant. It makes me so sad - with the right knowledge and skill set, Chris McCandless’s journey could have continued on, perhaps leading him to even more wonderful, profound places. He died a bit of a fool. But it’s still hard not to see him as, in some way, a hero.
Is it truly foolish to struggle? To choose the harder way and just go towards your passion with all your heart? I find it foolish to work just to survive, so demeaning and pointless. We are the authors pf our own stories, so why not fill the pages with adventure instead of drudgery?
@@boobalooba5786 it is foolish to struggle when you don't have to. If he wanted to live in the woods he should've been smart enough to know you can't just walk out into the wild and survive with no equipment or survivalist skills. It's ignorance and hubris imo
Maybe being in Scouting, and having proper training before my wanderlust really kicked in keeps me from understanding?
I don't understand people that think they can climb a mountain without a topo map and compass. Like what is the thinking there? You just keep walking up until you get to the top then you just walk back the way you came?
What was the water situation like? Did you have a 2 liters? Do you have a way to make more if you needed too?
honestly i feel that was the point, he wanted to be underprepared, he wanted to chart new territory, he wanted to live off the land and not rely on society
i dont know if i would consider that a fool, because its more than most of us could do
I think the reason he went out there was to struggle though. Similar to how he said life was "too easy" when he had a job and money. I admire him in a way honestly
I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for people who decide to live life on their terms. The kind of people who look at the world as it is and say “No, I don’t want to be a part of this, I WON’T be a part of this, so I’m going to forge my own path regardless of what anyone thinks.” Society as it is isn’t for everyone, and honestly I have the same notions constantly as to whether or not I even want to be a part of it. These days I think a lot of people do. Say whatever you will about Chris, his story is inspiring, and his journey was one of a kind. I hope wherever he is he’s finally found what he was looking for.
As an abuse victim, I have always been told that my version of events were exaggerated to garner attention and sympathy and to get out of a situation or frame my abusers for my own gain. Meanwhile, I was trying to advocate for myself and ensure my own safety and my sister's safety. When an abuser said that the abused's version of events are exaggerated, it's them saying "it happened but I'm going to play victim because I am stuck in my ways and what I did wasn't wrong." It's a form of gaslighting and isolating the victim so that the abuse can continue.
So sorry that you were a victim to that. No one deserves that. I really hope you’re doing better now and you’re away from your abusers
@@GoggleDumbactually Chris and Carine’s half siblings have all cut ties with their father.
Abuse not being “that bad” is such a loaded statement to me.
Or it actually was exaggerated because that does happen.
@@lukew6725 People who lie about being abused definitely exist and have even been caught doing so in some cases but they are the exception, not the rule. Most of the time the abuse actually happened whether it was somewhat exaggerated or understated by the victim, but it still happened more often than not in some form. Also consider the fact that there are people who will lie and say they were not abused out of fear or some warped loyalty/love towards their abuser.
@@lukew6725what a strange comment to make to someone who says they weren’t believed. Sounds awfully gaslighty
As tragic as his end was. I still admire that he was able to live his life like he WANTED to and that's more than what most people could ever do.
sure, but i don't think he WANTED to die weak, hungry, and poisoned in a secluded old bus leaving desperate signs for rescue, so i don't think he actually achieved what he intended. people need to stop romanticizing an idiot's death as anything else
Don't think he wanted to become so weak the he could lead the wilderness. He uses the word "trapped" in his journal entry on day 100.
Death by starvation was probably one of the most painful ways to go out.
@@360.Tapestryyou do realize they already acknowledged how the way he died was tragic, right?
@@cronfmeat7880 yeah. the real tragedy is that he died looking out there for something he held the key to the whole time. that's the tragedy of most of us. it didn't have to end that way rip to chris, but i would never romanticize the path he took as anything other than being completely lost
Moral of the story:
Abandoning material needs and living like a vagabond is cool.
Not knowing anything about the area you are in and not preparing properly is not cool.
Thanks Dimitri lol
I don't think he was stupid (as in: "I'm convinced that I know stuff but I get it wrong") but he was somehow careless (the chicken grease in the microwave incident from the book is quite relevant). He did planned ahead (in a minimalistic way) but:
- he did not care about the topology because [ I guess he thought that ] a forest is a forest and a river is a river
- he put his absolute trust in foraging by the book (which was not so reliable)
You compare him with the earlier explorers and you're absolutely right. The difference is that they seldom (if ever) travelled alone. Most of the times not all of them reached the destination but the ship or the party sometimes did. You can hang in you hammoc being consumed by scurvy and as long as there are still hands able to man the sails you still have a chance to see the shore. But when you're alone you have to be extra resourceful.
He was pretty stupid lol but god forgives ignorance RIP Christmas Candles
Chris McCandles wasn't an explorer. He was taking shelter in a bus left by locals, decided against bringing existing maps, didn't listen to a local offering to educate him, and was unaware of both river patterns and a lift half a mile from where he was trapped.
Chris was on a journey for no one but himself. And in the end, it cost him his life, the locals resources & time, and his loved ones somebody they cared for.
That's not martyr. That's suicide.
I feel the need to throw out there that Emory is in the top 25 colleges in the US, and he double majored. So while objectively he wasn’t stupid, I’d say he was remarkably ignorant.
@@lauracocroft3116 Sometimes the smartest people are the dumbest people
@@lauracocroft3116 having college degrees does not equate to being smart, it just makes him an educated idiot.
Yeah, while I wholeheartedly respect Chris's wishes to live a life in the wilderness and commend him for lasting as long as he did, I just really wish he was better prepared for it. He seemed like a swell guy and didn't deserve to go the way he did.
Yeah, it’s hard to defend how he did things but I get what he was trying to do if that makes sense.
that last photo and message really got me. regardless of how people see him, he was happy and he lived a good life. he wasn’t a perfect man, he certainly wasn’t an idol, but he did the things he did so he could write that note.
This is probably the best explanation I've heard so far.
Ya he lived a good life until this😂😂
@@user-oh4kt4sv8x "He lived before he died" _Laugh emojis_
I feel like this is just a case of privileged ignorance
I think this was an elaborate suicide. His actions describe someone disillusioned with society with no way to reconcile his beliefs, and so decided to leave the earth in a way in line with those beliefs. Because seriously; even if you are ignorant of how to survive in the wilderness, you have to be either rock stupid or have a death wish to think ten pounds of rice a few bullets is enough for ALASKA. His single focus on getting out there and deliberate disregarding of offers of gear and expertise point to a man with an objective.
Well then either you didn't watch the end or it went right over your head. Hundreds of years ago we couldn't just go to the store, pick up survival gear, a map, basically everything we need not only survive, but thrive basically anywhere on earth. He wanted to experience what it was like to be human for 99.99% of human history, to just be an animal out in the wild.
@@nodros1 I love how being an animal out in the wild also for some reason includes having a book on edible plants with you?
@@nodros1 100s of years ago we didn't do that alone. Humans are community based creatures. 100s of years ago entire family's would of been exploring together with many people there to do all the tasks of surviving.
You don't hike into bear country with a bag of rice and a .22 peashooter rifle unless, somewhere deep in your mind, you don't plan on actually coming back.
@@nodros1 Except that's not have human society has ever worked. Hundreds of years ago, we did absolutely "go to stores" for supplies. We traded regularly with other people. We also didn't go into those locations unprepared. Surviving in the wildness was actually common knowledge then, and you were looked down upon for not having that common knowledge. Nearly everyone knew how to survive off the land. People routinely bought maps or had maps made if they could, for those journeys. They routinely went with a lot of survival gear or the intention to hunt and forage each day, and the knowledge of what to eat and what not to eat... as well as how to make their food last very long times.
Only the stupid, even in colonial times that were pre-industrial era, ever did what this man did. Which means... almost nobody did, because everyone universally agreed you shouldn't do that as it was suicide.
It alarms me how many people have no concept of human history and have never even looked into it. Then go, "Nah man, people did what this guy did all the time back in the bygone age!". No, no they didn't. They NEVER did that. Because it was STUPID. Because it WAS SUCIDE to do it. Those people routinely hired experts in the area to guide them. They bought maps. They took supplies. They had the common survival skills of the time, which told them to how to hunt, forage, build homes, and even preserve their food for long periods of time. They had the foresight to buy, trade for, or make the survival gear they would need on any trek they made.
He didn't want to experience anything. He just wanted to run away from obligations and responsibility. Those were his only motivations. Something he makes painfully obvious by pretty much every interaction and decision he made along the journey. He wanted no permanent human connections. He wanted no obligations to society. He wanted to shoulder no responsibilities. He was simply a lost soul looking to die, or live the approximation of death without being dead.
He was running away from life. Running away from living.
It's amusing that there are people who idolize a man running away from living... and then claim he was doing the opposite. People who gaslight themselves. They do it just because they want to escape whatever their life is too.
And, hey, I can relate to that. I want to escape as well. But, I don't want to give up human connections. I don't want to give up responsibilities. I'd love to give up obligations and to have a lot less nonsense on my plate, but that's about it. I used to deal with it by walking around in the pitch black of the night outside of town at 2 a.m.. You know, take my soul out and take a look at it for a while. Now that I live in a city, there's not really anywhere to do that. So, the only real option is just to take "mental health days" from work every now and again. A day where I sit around in my apartment doing nothing, thinking nothing, staring at the ceiling, and dealing with things. It isn't the cure like the darkness walks. But, it helps.
The issue is simply that we are asked to shoulder too much and for too long. Some people simply break under the strain and seek to die in the wilderness away from people and responsibility and obligations. Others, seek to find ways to make it work or to unload their burdens to something far more manageable. All while trying to remain human, with human connections, with our responsibilities towards others being met.
From what I remember from reading Into the Wild, a sub theory about the potato seeds is that it wasn't the actual seeds that killed him, but rather a type of mold that can grow on the seeds. This mold produced a toxin that basically made it so your body cannot absorb nutrients from your food. It's fat soluble and can be removed from the body by consuming excess fat, but someone in Chris' situation obviously did not have access to extra fat, and he starved to death at an accelerated rate, even though he had access to food.
The book also covers a couple of other people who seemed to share Chris' mindset and cast aside their earthly possessions to live in the wild. All of them also have heartbreaking endings.
I highly recommend the movie based on his story. It definitely glamorizes certain aspects of his journey, but once he gets to the bus it seems to accurately portray what he might have been feeling/ experiencing. There are scenes that will just break your heart.
Litteraly never understood people who want to live in the wild.
I mean I might be biased cuz I work in IT but technology is by far the best thing humanity has ever invented.
If you want to live off the land build a freaking farm and grow your own food..
@@FroggyHopScotch30 Except there's a reason we don't do that anymore. Barely surviving isn't "simple". Not to mention humans are pack animals in the wild.
If he wanted to be a crazy mountain man he should form a commune or join one as humans simply aren't made to survive in the wild alone. We aren't cats that solo hunt. We are primates that hunt in teams.
And even then what does it prove? That he can do what humans already did for 10s of thousands of years successfully??
He wants to prove himself then be the first person to do something entirely new.
Fucking perfect fission power or immortality or something. Rather than die of a disease we probably cured 2000 years ago due to sheer arrogance.
@@jorencice You missed the point entirely. He never wanted to prove himself, just to get away from civilization and an abusive family. He was selfish.
@@jorencice
Right on.
Part of the problem is the incessant romanticizing of the wilderness in books and movies that ignorant, gullible, clueless city folk gobble up. Life, especially in the wilderness, is just NOT like that.
Another aspect is when reading first person accounts of the old mountain men we see they had decades of experience, hundreds of pounds of supplies and equipment yet STILL went out in groups from 35 to 300. The concept of the "lone mountain man" is ENTIRELY a modern FICTION.
While I find his story to be really interesting, I also understand the anger a lot of park rangers feel towards him. He became almost a Marty for people and like you said 50 people died and countless others had to be rescued while taking the pilgrimage and for a park ranger I see how that's really frustrating. Their whole job is keeping people safe and educating folks on the wilderness and seeing one guy who walked out into the woods under prepared inspiring a bunch of other people to walk into the woods under prepared could be pretty enraging.
Edit: it was four people who died, my brain did a fucky wucky
Where did you get that 50 number? Four people have died. Two in 1992, one in 2010, and one in 2019.
That's my bad, I wrote this at the end of the video and must've gotten numbers mixed up
Being empathetic to park staff is important they see many people who choose to die in the woods and they are the ones to have to clean up
i mean if that's a problem to them then maybe they should change profession. it's part of the job imo.
@@alexj-t2331 if you aren’t prepared to see/deal with human remains then you shouldn’t be working in that industry. it’s inevitable you will come across a dead person in that line of work.
I love how he casually pulled out a box of bullets
You're one of my anxiety go to channels. Whenever I'm having a terrible panic attack and hiding in my room your videos always help calm me down so thank you!
dad cares about his children.
Same
Me too! I hope you're having a good day 💓
@pyropulse things are stressful and we’re also able to better diagnose mental illnesses people may be experiencing thanks to advancements in our understanding of them
I have pretty intense anxiety too lol, so I know what you mean. I hope you are doing well!
My best friends dad is Chris's brother and man some of the stories he has of their youth are absolutely mind blowing. The family dynamic with their parents was something nobody should have to experience and honestly, I completely understand why Chris left.
chris mcandless didn't have a brother, wendigoon even mentioned he only had a sister at the beginning of the video-
@@msicat At 1:21 Wendigoon says that Chris has a younger sister, but he has six older half-siblings because his father had children from a previous marriage.
@@msicat sorry, half-brother
@@NotAGreatGamer1981 my dad is the president of microsoft
I am the 2nd heir to the Macedonian kingdom
I don't think of Chris as an amazing hero or a stupid idiot, I just feel sad for him. I kind of get that he wanted to have a bit of a struggle in life but you can live simply and have knowledge and skills to live in the wild! I kind of feel like he must have expected that he might die as he was so under prepared and people warned him but he wanted to anyway.
Your take is the best I have read in the comments so far.
He ain’t no hero
Bipolars are egomaniacs try teling them otherwise they are habitual at NOT LISTENING to people.
This is an old comment but it's the closest one I've seen to my own personal opinion. Based on the info of how he grew up (and the parallels to my own experience) and the fact that he outright refused the extra supplies from the driver, I think chris went into that experience expecting if not outright intending to die. Obviously just my own view of the Rorschach text nature of this case, but one that I think has merit.
@@devanh686 I have similar thoughts but I think there was some sense of pride. He could have at least got some advice on plants and stuff from the locals. I could respect that more than using the excuse of a book.
Either way it's known well or should be humans have to prepare food to last and he really didn't seem to have that go by his head. Even if he didn't want to die I don't think he cared much for living.
I still think he wanted deep in his heart the glory of the feat though in particular it being his own way.
Who is here after Instagram reel
Me
Whats the name of that guys channel? The guy who made the reel.
I’ve been searching for his channel for the longest time lol!
When I read Walden in high school- and later Into the Wild in the same class- the way I looked at the world changed a lot. I used to daydream about attempting to go on a comparable adventure and "live off the land". In my mind it felt like it would be the only way to experience life to the fullest, for lack of a better phrase. I reaaaally loved your comparison of Chris' story to a Rorscach blot. What someone takes away from the story probably reveals some traits, values, about that person. For example the 'Happiness only real when shared'. Such a fascinatingly ambiguous quote, especially in the context with Chris.
Im so happy that you made this standalone video. Thank You!!
Maybe a video about Tarrare, the French dude who ate everything would be a good topic !
Seconding Tarrare as a topic.
@@jss638 yes please
Tarrare? Man, I miss Sam O'Nella :(