 |
| Into the Wild (Movie Poster) |
The movie's based on a true life story about a guy (Christopher McCandless) who gave up his life after graduating from college and went hiking to Alaska! The story's about him and his experiences with different people he met en-route his great Alaskan Odyssey!
In June 1990, after graduating from college, he began travelling under the name Alexander Supertramp! Living a nomadic life and doing odd jobs for survival, he traveled through Arizona, California, South Dakota and finally arrives at the Fairbanks, Alaska by the end of April 1992.
He hikes into the Denali National Park, along the STAMPEDE TRAIL and eventually makes an abandoned bus, numbered "142", as his shelter. The bus was apparently one among the three buses which was used by a mining company to shelter workers who were trying to build a road along the Stampede Trail in the 1930s. The project was later dropped and the bus was left behind in the woods to serve as a back-country shelter for hunters and trappers.
 |
| That's Christopher McCandless aka Alexander SuperTramp! They found this self-portrait, undeveloped, inside the camera which he'd taken with himself. |
McCandless lived in the bus for 113 days and died out of starvation as he could no longer find animals to hunt. His decaying body was found two weeks later inside a sleeping bag in that bus by Moose Hunters who'd come along the Stampede Trail. Another interesting fact about this guy's story is that his family had no idea of his whereabouts from the time he started travelling in June 1990, till they found his body in Alaska in August 1992.
I am completely enamored by this guy's story. This guy priorities were totally different! He gave up all luxury... Gave up his family... Gave up his career... But still lived each day of his life to the fullest!
After watching the movie, I googled about him and read up so many articles on McCandless' journey to Alaska. I even went down to the local library and borrowed a copy of the book, INTO THE WILD by John Krakauer. The book actually gives a lot more details about his life as a tramp while he traveled through Arizona, California and South Dakota.
I have now made up my mind that I too must go hiking in Alaska sometime in my life! I definitely want to hike up along the Stampede Trail and check out Bus Number 142!
This guy's story has received different kinds of comments! Some find it fascinating and appreciate his penchant to live a migrant life! Some call him foolish for wandering into Alaska badly prepared! When I told my mother about his story, she immediately dismissed it and called the guy "irresponsible" for putting his family in such a situation! Nevertheless, I completely admire this guy and his story!
You must watch this movie! INTO THE WILD, Directed by Sean Penn, Starring Emile Hirsch. Also check out the book, INTO THE WILD, by John Krakauer, Published in 1996.
