Like JK and McCandless, I too had romantic, naive visions of a Thoreau like adventure, some sort of "vision quest" or reconnection with the powerful and rich qualities of nature, like a the stories of monks that would meditate in ice caves. Not just his "Fool's Errand" into the wilds of Alaska, but the real Chris. I will never go on a pilgrimage to the bus, but in my stumbling upon Chris's story, I have been left with the feeling of wanting to know more about him. He definitely had good intentions in the things he did. He was definitely unprepared for survival in the Alaskan wilderness. There is an innocence and idealism about him that has captured my heart and imagination. I think he was just this real, genuine, headstrong.guy. I don't think he's a hero, and on the flip side, I don't think he was an arrogant idiot. I am just a 27 year old wife, mother, and state employee, but something about this "Supertramp" has got a hold of me. I had read it from cover to cover within a few hours. Needless to say, 24 hours later, I had a copy of Into the Wild. The article was ok, but the pictures, and the story "behind the story" captivated me. The picture of this guy standing there grinning with a giant moose head in his arms caught my attention. I was flipping through my husband's mag that night and came across an article about him. I had never heard of Chris McCandless until this past week, when the latest issue of Men's Journal arrived. I have never talked to anyone up here who used him as anything other than a bad example. It doesn't matter how noble your vision might be, it's just not a bright thing to do. Going into the bush up here unprepared is a fool's errand. Going in on the Stampede Trail is not like a back country hike through Virginia or where ever. Regardless of what they are doing, I want them to go into situations prepared. I admire his basic attitude about doing your own thing, but would never use him as a role model for my children. People manage to survive those bitter temps all the time. The bitter cold you mention would have been in the 30s to 40s at night and 50s to 70s, maybe even 80s during the day.
#Supertramp school bus transportation how to#
He knew where the highway was but didn't know how to access it due to the summer depth and current of the Teklanika River. Also, the Stampede Trail is the only way in or out. There is only one road so he must have known where he started hiking. He rode down with someone from Fairbanks. John, you are not quite correct about him not knowing there was a highway 20 miles away.