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Chris McCandless Road Map
7
A Hero's Journey of Chris McCandless
(Chris McCandless was a 24 year old man who grew up in Annadale, Virginia. who passed away due consuming poisonous potato seeds and would become globabally known for his positive attitude and journey towards living with/in nature.)
Ordinary World
Chris McCandless, a 24 year old man grew up in Washington, D.C. More specifically Annadale, Virginia, a suburb. Chris' dad was an aerospace engineer and his second wife, Chris' mother was a successful entrepreneur. Chris found out his father also had a child with his first wife while living with Chris, Billie McCandless (Chris's mother), and Carine McCandless (Chris's Sister). Chris eventually felt discontent and unhappy with the way he was living. He left home and changed his name. ""No longer would he answer to Chris McCandless; he was now Alexander Super-tramp, master of his own destiny" (Krakauer, 23)
Childhood - Leaving Home
(June 1, 1990)
Chris as well as Carine McCandless were abused physically and verbally by their father (The Wild Truth). Chris learned to be more independent with his living as he aged. Walt McCandless (Chris' father) was an alcoholic, escalating his rage and moods toward his family (The Wild Truth). Due to Chris finding out of his fathers second family, he became enraged and finally felt the urge to leave society and live by his own terms. Other things that played into account of his departure was him going on wilderness adventures during university as well as him hiking and doing other sorts of outdoor activities as a young child.
Call To Adventure
Chris' Call To Adventure
Chris' Post Secondary Living
Refusal of the Call
Chris' parents wanted him to go to University. Chris disagreed with the idea and thought it was a waste of money as well as time. Chris wanted to live his life in the wilderness but after being told multiple times, he finally went to University. Chris attended Emory College where he studied history and anthropology. He excelled academically and wrote his campuses newspaper. During a summer break while he was attending University, he drove out towards Fairbanks, Alaska. Once he came back and got his bachelors degree, he donated his savings towards charity and refused a new car from his parents. "He had a perfectely good car; he insisted: a beloved 1982 Datsun B210, slightly dented but mechanically sounds, with 128,000 miles on the odometer" (Krakauer, 21)
Chris' Adventure to Carthage (June 1 - August 1, 1990)
Adventure to/in Carthage
Once Chris departed and headed towards Carthage, he would use his car to travel west. He comes towards a stop when he sets up camp in the Mojave desert where a flash flood desert would occur. His car along with his belongings would be wiped out. Chris' first interaction would be with a man named Crazy Ernie. Chris would work for Crazy Ernie but soon realized he had no intention of actually giving Chris money. Based around his assumption, he fled and stole his bike to help him on his journey. He eventually ditched the bike and was obligated to hitchike for the rest of his journey. "He was a nice kid. Said his name was Alex. And he was big time hungry. But real happy" (Krakauer, 30). This was said by Jan Burres , Chris' first strong connection with another human since departing from his home. Jan and Bob Burres treated Chris as if he was their own child. Jan Burres especially, had a very strong connection with the young man for the short period of time they spent together.
Hitchiking (August 1, 1990)
Hitchhiking
"Then he resumed a life of constant motion, riding his thumb north and west through Red Bluff, Weaverville, and Willow Creek" (Krakauer, 30). Along Chris' journey, he came across multiples towns and places while heading west towards Carthage, South Dakota. In order to get to where he needed, he would hitchhike throughout these multiple cities in order to reach his destination. Chris hitchhiking plays a major role towards his developoment and experience.
Meeting Wayne Westerberg (September 10, 1990)
Assistance Towards Alaska
After entering Carthage, and trying to make some money, he comes across Wayne Westerberg. Wayne Westerberg works and is the operator of the Grain Elevator. Chris McCandless and Wayne grew an immediate friendship with eachother and Wayne gave a job to Chris working at the Grain Elevator. This helped Chris' goal of earning a sum of money to help his journey towards Alaska. But there interactions were cut short after Wayne Westerberg was arrested for illegaly selling blackboxes which would give free access towards all cable connections. Chris left the Grain Elevator and kept his journey going towards Bullhead City but would come back after Wayne would be released from jail.
Chris' time spent in Bullhead City
(May 1, 1991 - December 31, 1991)
Bullhead City
After coming back from a canoeing trip from Mexico. Chris would enter Bullhead City. "McCandless took a strong liking to Bullhead...He simply fell in love with the stark desert landscape that encircles the town" (Krakauer, 39). Bullhead City would be significant point in Chris' story as it is the one of the first territories he felt he could live an ordinary life in. Chris gets a job at McDonalds and works among others. This is the first time since leaving his home, he went by the identity of Chris McCandless, not Alexander Supertramp. Chris thought it would be his knew place of living but would eventually quit his job, and leave Bullhead City.
Chris' Relationship with Ronald Franz (January, 1992)
Ronald Franz
"I asked Alex if I could adopt him, if he could be my Grandson (55)." Ronald Franz was dissapointed to hear the answer to his question. Chris would evade the question telling Ronald that they would discuss it once Chris would return. McCandless later writes a long letter to Ronald during his trip towards Alaska. The letter states "Ron, you must lose your inclination for monotonous security and adopt a helter-skelter style of life that will at first appear to you to be crazy. But once you become accustomed to such a life you will see its full meaning and its incredible beuty" (Krakauer, 57). This would be the last time Ronald hears from Chris.
Crossing the Threshold
As Chris McCandless is dropped off by Jim Gallien, a union electrician. Jim Gallien would drive four miles out of faribanks to find Chris standing on the side of a snowy road. Chris and Jim Gallien would talk troughout their truck ride with Jim offering assistance and tools to help Chris on his journey. As they arrive at the trailhead. Chris requests for Jim to take a photo of Chris for him.
Journey/Entry to the Stampede Trail (April 28, 1992)
Map
Map
Chris' tests and enemies
(May 1, 1992 - August 18, 1992)
Tests and Enemies
Finally reaching the Stampede Trail, Chris feels free and at one with himself. But shortly after the brief peace in his mind, Chris starts to come to reality with the negatives about his environment.
Timeline of Chris' issues and tests
"I am reborn. This is my dawn (168)."
Chris' Realization and Approach to Ordeal
Crossing The River
Timeline
1992
Killing the Moose
Food And Shelter
May 1, 1992
As Chris enters the Stampede Trail, he runs into many challenges, especially finding food and shelter. Chris would eat squirrels, fruits, seeds and other supplements to try and live. The alaskan weather overcomes his senses and he tries to find a warm piece of shelter as soon as possible. As Chris enters the Stampede Trail, he runs into many challenges, especially finding food and shelter. The alaskan weather overcomes his senses and he tries to find a warm piece of shelter as soon as possible. Soon after, he comes across the Fairbanks 142 bus where he would stay.
Between May 1, 1992 - May 5, 1992
While finding a place to sleep, he runs into large issue and test, crossing the Teklanika River. The Teklanika River was a large river which would luckily be frozen as he crossed it for the first time. While crossing the river at one point, Chris would fall through the ice, facing multiples dangers like injuries and hypothermia.
June 9, 1992
After Chris kills his first moose, a feeling of realization overcomes his senses. Chris tries to smoke the large moose but the entire carcass ends up rotting and he feels remorseful towards the moose for his violence.
July 3, 1992
Chris starts believing he has completed everything he every wanted in life, and reflects and ponders wishing to be around others. Chris starts packing up getting prepared to leave the bus. Chris writes in his journal "I have lived through much, and now I think I have what it is needed for happiness" (Krakauer, 169).
Chris' Ordeal
(July - August 19, 1992)
As Chris was ready to head back, he went through the same path as he did to enter the Stampede Trail, leading him back to the Teklanika River. But this time, the river was too high and destroyed his oppurtunity of returning back to society. The thoughts "I am reborn. This is my dawn" (Krakauer, 168) would sworm into his mind.
Ordeal
Chris' Reward
(July 5, 1992)
Reward
Some may think that Chris did not have a reward due to his death, but in this sense his reward would be returning back to the bus. This may not be a reward in the literal sense or fully positive, but he was able to learn more about himself and was able to advance his thoughts.
Chris' Road to Death (July 14, 1992 - August 18, 1992)
As Chris was slowly passing, 2 main components played a exponential part in his eventual death. Him consuming poisonous potato seeds, his SOS note.
The Road To Death
Potato Seeds
July 14, 1992
Chris' cause of death was publishly stated as starvation but his journal said otherwise. The Eskimo potato (Hedysarum alpinum) would become a part of his daily diet. The Eskimo potato would start taking effect and practicaly making him disabled from doing anything. He would become overwhelmed and unable to intake enough energy and food. Chris would state this himself in his journal stating he had become "EXTREMELY WEAK, FAULT OF POTATO SEED. MUCH TROUBLE JUST TO STAND UP. STARVING. GREAT JEAPORDY" (Krakauer, 189).
August, 1992
SOS Note
Chris would know his condition and would be uncapable of helping himself. He was hurt and alone and needed severe help. Chris would state how he needed help and would put his actually name in the note, Chris McCandless and not Alexander Supertramp. Soon after Chris wrote this message, he passed away at the age of 24.
Chris' Impact
Resurrection
“I have had a happy life and thank the Lord. Goodbye and may God bless you all!” (Krakauer 199). These were words said in Chris' journal. Even though this may have been the end of Chris' journey, his legacy would continue to have an impact on many. Chris' story would be so fascinating that others would try to mimic Chris' actions but in there own way to let his legacy and spirit, continue to live on.