I live in a place where it's just not an option, the place is called reality. I wanted to do this when I was your age, but didn't.
I also now live in reality....I'm surprised we haven't met.
But, back in the day, I thumbed my way from Ohio to Florida, Ohio to Colorado, Ohio to Martha's Vineyard and Ohio to Mexico. Good times, bro. :thumbup:
dont get me wrong, I have done things like that. a friend and myself took off from Ohio to florida in a ford escort that was overheating before we ever got out of ohio. We had 60 bucks between us. we made money along the way, stayed in florida for a few weeks then worked our way back. It was a great time.
I'm all for adventure.
Post edited by the wolf on
Peace, Love.
"To question your government is not unpatriotic --
to not question your government is unpatriotic."
-- Sen. Chuck Hagel
Even his sister, with whom he had a great relationship with?
You don't think Chris worried that his sister would break down and tell his parents where he was? Any idea how embarrassing it is to be out on the razor's edge, surviving hardcore wilderness, only to have your mom show up with a thermos full of soup? It kind of ruins the whole experience.
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Why is this so hard to understand, people? Yes, you're right, but Chris knew this as well. He was looking for a real challenge and that is why he went in under prepared and without all the correct gear. I repeat, CHRIS UNDERSTOOD WHAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING. He wanted to try it the hard way and with the exception of not understanding the power of summer run-off in Alaska, he did just fine. Had he crossed back over, none of us would known his story or given a shit one way or the other. I've been on survival trips with my knife and flint and steel. I guess, now is when some of you should chime in telling me what I really needed to do was read up on camping and take more stuff.
Yeah but don't you already know what you're doing?
Why is this so hard to understand, people? Yes, you're right, but Chris knew this as well. He was looking for a real challenge and that is why he went in under prepared and without all the correct gear. I repeat, CHRIS UNDERSTOOD WHAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING. He wanted to try it the hard way and with the exception of not understanding the power of summer run-off in Alaska, he did just fine. Had he crossed back over, none of us would known his story or given a shit one way or the other. I've been on survival trips with my knife and flint and steel. I guess, now is when some of you should chime in telling me what I really needed to do was read up on camping and take more stuff.
Yeah but don't you already know what you're doing?
To a great degree, yes, but I was still learning when I was doing survival trips. Nothing teaches like doing. Chris knew what he was doing for the most part, but obviously, he didn't know everything. Few of us do. His situation just left little margin for error.
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While I admire Chris McCandless, I think you should do a bit more research and a little bit more training than he did. I understand he was in a hurry to run away from the things he disliked, but he could've used a bit more knowledge of surviving outdoors...
If you're going to do something like this, take the time to catch up on your knowledge and know your shit. When you're alone in the wilderness for extended periods of time, it's not a question of if something life challenging will happen, it's a question of when.
Why is this so hard to understand, people? Yes, you're right, but Chris knew this as well. He was looking for a real challenge and that is why he went in under prepared and without all the correct gear. I repeat, CHRIS UNDERSTOOD WHAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING. He wanted to try it the hard way and with the exception of not understanding the power of summer run-off in Alaska, he did just fine. Had he crossed back over, none of us would known his story or given a shit one way or the other. I've been on survival trips with my knife and flint and steel. I guess, now is when some of you should chime in telling me what I really needed to do was read up on camping and take more stuff.
I'm not saying he didn't understand what he was getting into. But why make the same mistake??? :?
I believe you when you say learning is by doing or whatever, but seriously...there is plenty more research to be done...and having done the research and knowing the info doesn't take away from the experience. In fact, wouldn't it make it more enjoyable to minimize the struggle for survival?
Post edited by dcfaithful on
7/2/06 - Denver, CO
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
Why is this so hard to understand, people? Yes, you're right, but Chris knew this as well. He was looking for a real challenge and that is why he went in under prepared and without all the correct gear. I repeat, CHRIS UNDERSTOOD WHAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING. He wanted to try it the hard way and with the exception of not understanding the power of summer run-off in Alaska, he did just fine. Had he crossed back over, none of us would known his story or given a shit one way or the other. I've been on survival trips with my knife and flint and steel. I guess, now is when some of you should chime in telling me what I really needed to do was read up on camping and take more stuff.
Yeah but don't you already know what you're doing?
To a great degree, yes, but I was still learning when I was doing survival trips. Nothing teaches like doing. Chris knew what he was doing for the most part, but obviously, he didn't know everything. Few of us do. His situation just left little margin for error.
I used to be a big outdoors guy, so I can relate a little. I think the argument going on in this thread has long since derailed the original topic though.
I think the argument going on in this thread has long since derailed the original topic though.
like that's never happened around here.
If I had known then what I know now...
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
I think the argument going on in this thread has long since derailed the original topic though.
like that's never happened around here.
Seriously!
A poster should post a new thread with the highest expectations of it becoming badly de-railed before it reaches 10 pages. If it even lives that long.
7/2/06 - Denver, CO
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
I hitchhiked from Nashville to Seattle once. Alone. Was a great experience and though I would like to enjoy more, I was lucky to have survived the trip. Whatever decision you make is your own destiny.
People think/say he was brave for doing what he did.....but maybe he was simply a kid who couldn't cope with his problems and instead of facing them, he chose to run away from them. Instead of escaping through drugs, he hung out in an abandoned hippie van. Anyway, the kid was weird for sure...at that age any decent well-adjusted young man should only have two things on his mind---beer and pussy ..
'I want to hurry home to you
put on a slow, dumb show for you
and crack you up
so you can put a blue ribbon on my brain
god I'm very, very frightening
and I'll overdo it'
Dude, Hail Hail yes, do it while you can. I indulged my wanderlust for most of my adult life,have 8 days to spend in Europe this summer, then I am dropping my status to amateur. I personally could not have handled an adventure where starving to death was a possibility. But remember what the man said - Run away my son. See it all. Oh see the world.
ROCK ON
and peace
christ knows why you'd want to follow in his footsteps, the guy was a selfish moron.
How was he selfish? When I was his age, not one person on the face of the earth gave two cents where I was or what could happen to me.
Oh course, years later I had kids, then it mattered, but it didn't matter to anyone back then.
has anyone here done what he did, or wanted to do what he did, in a lesser manner. For instance, keep your money and id and whatnot, and instead of living primitive in alaska, maybe buying a backpack and tent and hitchhiking across america. buying a ticket to a destination on a greyhound, getting out, and the hitchhiking across america. One can emulate chris and his spirit and not do the living in alaska part right?
i am 25 and feel the pull of these desires. its something about this age, being in my twenties, its like we get restless feet, itchy feet or something. I am getting to the age where my friends talk about settling down. that scares the hell out of me. i have no desire to settle down right now, or ever.
For me, being happy, would be great, but maybe more important is a story. how many people lived life to the fullest like chris did? How many people would hitchhike across america? I want to feel like, when I die, I wont have regrets.
I have this fear that as I age, as I get older, this desire to live free, to travel, to find IT as kerouac would say, wont be an inspiration, but rather be a regret. I will be a 50 year old, wishing I had done all this. I am scared I will be some 80 year old grandpa, being asked by grandkids, "so grandpa what did you used to do", "oh kids, I was too scared to do anything, I settled down, gave up the ghost, gave up on my dreams, and became like THEM". Them, or they, is of course the masses, everyone else, the herd, the sheep.
I would be scared out of my mind, but is it feasible to do this? Spend the 300 bucks for a backpack and tent, and hit the local highway, thumb out, and travel across the U.S?
I took a Greyhound across the U.S and back when I was 23. Maybe hitching would be more of an adventure though.
I'm turning 40 this year but I'm looking forward to taking a train from Beijing to London next year and then spending a year traveling the world after I've sold my flat in England.
Maybe I need to grow up?
Fuck it! I'll grow up when I'm 50. :P
has anyone here done what he did...i am 25 and feel the pull of these desires. its something about this age, being in my twenties, its like we get restless feet, itchy feet or something. I am getting to the age where my friends talk about settling down. that scares the hell out of me. i have no desire to settle down right now, or ever...I would be scared out of my mind, but is it feasible to do this? Spend the 300 bucks for a backpack and tent, and hit the local highway, thumb out, and travel across the U.S?
I totally get what you are saying. I think in a lot of us, there exists a desire to make it on our own, live off the land, enjoy the beauty of nature (after all, rumor is that: Nature has its own religion)...
However, as others have said, it is dangerous to go out alone. Make sure you train, practice, research, and consult to ensure you fully understand what you are getting yourself into. I am married and have a job, so I can't (and have no desire to) say FUCK IT to everyone and the world, and go out alone. However, I make sure that I still have great experiences in my life, and with my relationships. My family and friends are very dear to me, and I make sure to keep them in high importance in my life.
I do feel the call of the wild, and I love hiking and exploring forests when I can. They are however only day trips. My wife refuses to sleep in the wood (however, she has given me permission to, and even promised to wave at me in the wood from her hotel window... I love her so much!!!!). I make the most of my restrictions... I still see beautiful, secluded areas that it takes hours to hike towards. Also, I live in New Jersey, which is very developed and populated.... but I still find secluded roads and parks that I can drive through and explore. You'd be suprised how lost in the wilderness you can get locally.
If you are interested in meeting interesting people, and developing meaningful relationships with your fellow man, I have a suggestion: join a traveling carnival! You will get to see a large part of the country, and will meet kind and unique people! I know "carnys" can seem intimidating, but overall they are good people with lots of life experience, storys, and views.
Good luck in your travels.... and if possible, keep up updated on your journey! I'd love to hear about your experiences, adventures, and the America you find out there!!!
christ knows why you'd want to follow in his footsteps, the guy was a selfish moron.
How was he selfish? When I was his age, not one person on the face of the earth gave two cents where I was or what could happen to me.
Oh course, years later I had kids, then it mattered, but it didn't matter to anyone back then.
your personal circumstances don't enter my thoughts... if you grew up in a family where no one cared where you were then that's unfortunate for you. My family is clearly different. I speak to my 2 sisters on a weekly basis. me fucking off for 14 months so i can play at soldiers and not contacting them might make them slightly anxious about my well being.
Post edited by dunkman on
oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
christ knows why you'd want to follow in his footsteps, the guy was a selfish moron.
That's a tad harsh old bean. :shock:
not really from my point of view Byrnzie... but everyone is clearly different.
The selfishness part comes from the fact that the guy just vanished from the face of the earth and never let any of his friends & family know. not for a week or two... and unlike Eyed who might not phone his brother for 2 years but at least knows that if one of his parents were to suffer a 'problem' then he'd know where to contact that brother he rarely phones... but the guy fucked off purposely for a long time with the knowledge that he wasnt letting anyone know if he was alive or dead... and thats quite a lot different than some kid having a gap year and traveling around the country... the guy didnt want people to find him... he had to be presumed dead and i think thats selfish in that he left a loving sister behind that had to presume her brother had died.
and moronic because he dies starving in an abandoned bus... i find that moronic. :oops:
oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
The selfishness part comes from the fact that the guy just vanished from the face of the earth and never let any of his friends & family know. not for a week or two... and unlike Eyed who might not phone his brother for 2 years but at least knows that if one of his parents were to suffer a 'problem' then he'd know where to contact that brother he rarely phones... but the guy fucked off purposely for a long time with the knowledge that he wasnt letting anyone know if he was alive or dead... and thats quite a lot different than some kid having a gap year and traveling around the country... the guy didnt want people to find him... he had to be presumed dead and i think thats selfish in that he left a loving sister behind that had to presume her brother had died.
and moronic because he dies starving in an abandoned bus... i find that moronic. :oops:
It's probably fair to say he was a selfish prick, although that doesn't sum him up - it doesn't account for all of who he was, and what his motivations were.
The selfishness part comes from the fact that the guy just vanished from the face of the earth and never let any of his friends & family know. not for a week or two... and unlike Eyed who might not phone his brother for 2 years but at least knows that if one of his parents were to suffer a 'problem' then he'd know where to contact that brother he rarely phones... but the guy fucked off purposely for a long time with the knowledge that he wasnt letting anyone know if he was alive or dead... and thats quite a lot different than some kid having a gap year and traveling around the country... the guy didnt want people to find him... he had to be presumed dead and i think thats selfish in that he left a loving sister behind that had to presume her brother had died.
and moronic because he dies starving in an abandoned bus... i find that moronic. :oops:
It's probably fair to say he was a selfish prick, although that doesn't sum him up - it doesn't account for all of who he was, and what his motivations were.
true. i believe his intentions and motivation were pretty sound.. i just don't like the way he did it.
oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
If you want to do it - just do it.If you really, really, really want to go travelling and see the world/your country, why are you asking us permission for it? :P
One thing that's crossed my mind while reading this thread.. Some people let books/films/TV affect their own dreams and thoughts a little too much. It's fine if you want to sorta follow McCandless' footsteps, but if you're expecting your own journey to be much like his, you might get disappointed. There's this preconceived idea of what an adventure is, and many people don't realise that there's many kinds of adventures. There's many different kinds of stories about your life you can tell your grandkids. Even if those stories aren't about how grandpa/grandma jumped off a cliff to ride an elephant over some swamp, they could still be the most exciting, heartwarming stories in the world.
I think what I'm trying to say is that you can't be too worried about having or not having stories to tell. The more you worry, the more time you're wasting.
musicismylife78, I've mentioned this in one of your other threads and think it somehow fits in here too: We're all getting older, every day. We're all going to die. Worrying and stressing over being this-and-that age is not gonna do anyone any favours. (Of course, we're probably all somewhat guilty of it. But if that's all you're doing it's a problem.)
I haven't gotten into a one-on-one fight with a bear or done anything "radical" in my life. But I'm pretty happy with where I am right now and sure that the (near) future will be throwing some pretty big changes and decicion-makings (and adventures) my way. Life is what you make of it.
Eh, if you (or anyone) read through all of my ramblings.. Just.. Do as you please, as long as it's legal. :P
"Don't be faint-hearted, I have a solution! We shall go and commandeer some small craft, then drift at leisure until we happen upon another ideal place for our waterside supper with riparian entertainments."
I didn't finish the ITW movie......so how does he die exactly? I think I recall someone saying he ate something?
he ate the seeds of a plant that's related to the potato ... the field guide told him the plant was safe to eat but did not tell him the seeds were toxic ... the seeds basically poisoned him to the point where he couldn't retain any food or eat anything ... so, he essentially starved ...
To the OP, do what you want... but from reading your posts over the years, I'm not sure that this will be fulfilling for you either. Maybe it's to harsh, but it seems that nothing will live up to the level of romanticism that you seem to expect stuff to... If you want to see/experience the county, then do it, but it seems like you expect some sort of spiritual fulfillment in everything (a song, a movie, a book, etc), and besides a bunch of cool sights, and encounters, a year from now, you will be looking for something else to fill that void.
My whole life
was like a picture
of a sunny day
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
― Abraham Lincoln
Comments
dont get me wrong, I have done things like that. a friend and myself took off from Ohio to florida in a ford escort that was overheating before we ever got out of ohio. We had 60 bucks between us. we made money along the way, stayed in florida for a few weeks then worked our way back. It was a great time.
I'm all for adventure.
"To question your government is not unpatriotic --
to not question your government is unpatriotic."
-- Sen. Chuck Hagel
You don't think Chris worried that his sister would break down and tell his parents where he was? Any idea how embarrassing it is to be out on the razor's edge, surviving hardcore wilderness, only to have your mom show up with a thermos full of soup? It kind of ruins the whole experience.
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To a great degree, yes, but I was still learning when I was doing survival trips. Nothing teaches like doing. Chris knew what he was doing for the most part, but obviously, he didn't know everything. Few of us do. His situation just left little margin for error.
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I'm not saying he didn't understand what he was getting into. But why make the same mistake??? :?
I believe you when you say learning is by doing or whatever, but seriously...there is plenty more research to be done...and having done the research and knowing the info doesn't take away from the experience. In fact, wouldn't it make it more enjoyable to minimize the struggle for survival?
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
like that's never happened around here.
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
Seriously!
A poster should post a new thread with the highest expectations of it becoming badly de-railed before it reaches 10 pages. If it even lives that long.
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
Purple monkey dishwasher. For real, y'all.
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put on a slow, dumb show for you
and crack you up
so you can put a blue ribbon on my brain
god I'm very, very frightening
and I'll overdo it'
ROCK ON
and peace
"what a long, strange trip it's been"
Oh course, years later I had kids, then it mattered, but it didn't matter to anyone back then.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
That's a tad harsh old bean. :shock:
I took a Greyhound across the U.S and back when I was 23. Maybe hitching would be more of an adventure though.
I'm turning 40 this year but I'm looking forward to taking a train from Beijing to London next year and then spending a year traveling the world after I've sold my flat in England.
Maybe I need to grow up?
Fuck it! I'll grow up when I'm 50. :P
I totally get what you are saying. I think in a lot of us, there exists a desire to make it on our own, live off the land, enjoy the beauty of nature (after all, rumor is that: Nature has its own religion)...
However, as others have said, it is dangerous to go out alone. Make sure you train, practice, research, and consult to ensure you fully understand what you are getting yourself into. I am married and have a job, so I can't (and have no desire to) say FUCK IT to everyone and the world, and go out alone. However, I make sure that I still have great experiences in my life, and with my relationships. My family and friends are very dear to me, and I make sure to keep them in high importance in my life.
I do feel the call of the wild, and I love hiking and exploring forests when I can. They are however only day trips. My wife refuses to sleep in the wood (however, she has given me permission to, and even promised to wave at me in the wood from her hotel window... I love her so much!!!!). I make the most of my restrictions... I still see beautiful, secluded areas that it takes hours to hike towards. Also, I live in New Jersey, which is very developed and populated.... but I still find secluded roads and parks that I can drive through and explore. You'd be suprised how lost in the wilderness you can get locally.
If you are interested in meeting interesting people, and developing meaningful relationships with your fellow man, I have a suggestion: join a traveling carnival! You will get to see a large part of the country, and will meet kind and unique people! I know "carnys" can seem intimidating, but overall they are good people with lots of life experience, storys, and views.
Good luck in your travels.... and if possible, keep up updated on your journey! I'd love to hear about your experiences, adventures, and the America you find out there!!!
your personal circumstances don't enter my thoughts... if you grew up in a family where no one cared where you were then that's unfortunate for you. My family is clearly different. I speak to my 2 sisters on a weekly basis. me fucking off for 14 months so i can play at soldiers and not contacting them might make them slightly anxious about my well being.
not really from my point of view Byrnzie... but everyone is clearly different.
The selfishness part comes from the fact that the guy just vanished from the face of the earth and never let any of his friends & family know. not for a week or two... and unlike Eyed who might not phone his brother for 2 years but at least knows that if one of his parents were to suffer a 'problem' then he'd know where to contact that brother he rarely phones... but the guy fucked off purposely for a long time with the knowledge that he wasnt letting anyone know if he was alive or dead... and thats quite a lot different than some kid having a gap year and traveling around the country... the guy didnt want people to find him... he had to be presumed dead and i think thats selfish in that he left a loving sister behind that had to presume her brother had died.
and moronic because he dies starving in an abandoned bus... i find that moronic. :oops:
It's probably fair to say he was a selfish prick, although that doesn't sum him up - it doesn't account for all of who he was, and what his motivations were.
true. i believe his intentions and motivation were pretty sound.. i just don't like the way he did it.
★ 2009 - Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Christchurch ★
★ 2011 - EV Newcastle, Melbourne 1, Melbourne 2 ★
Are you asking for a spoiler?
Indeed I am!
I'm going to one day try to watch ITW again...and I downloaded it recently...but I just can't do it yet. I need more time.
★ 2009 - Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Christchurch ★
★ 2011 - EV Newcastle, Melbourne 1, Melbourne 2 ★
If you want to do it - just do it.If you really, really, really want to go travelling and see the world/your country, why are you asking us permission for it? :P
One thing that's crossed my mind while reading this thread.. Some people let books/films/TV affect their own dreams and thoughts a little too much. It's fine if you want to sorta follow McCandless' footsteps, but if you're expecting your own journey to be much like his, you might get disappointed. There's this preconceived idea of what an adventure is, and many people don't realise that there's many kinds of adventures. There's many different kinds of stories about your life you can tell your grandkids. Even if those stories aren't about how grandpa/grandma jumped off a cliff to ride an elephant over some swamp, they could still be the most exciting, heartwarming stories in the world.
I think what I'm trying to say is that you can't be too worried about having or not having stories to tell. The more you worry, the more time you're wasting.
musicismylife78, I've mentioned this in one of your other threads and think it somehow fits in here too: We're all getting older, every day. We're all going to die. Worrying and stressing over being this-and-that age is not gonna do anyone any favours. (Of course, we're probably all somewhat guilty of it. But if that's all you're doing it's a problem.)
I haven't gotten into a one-on-one fight with a bear or done anything "radical" in my life. But I'm pretty happy with where I am right now and sure that the (near) future will be throwing some pretty big changes and decicion-makings (and adventures) my way. Life is what you make of it.
Eh, if you (or anyone) read through all of my ramblings.. Just.. Do as you please, as long as it's legal. :P
he ate the seeds of a plant that's related to the potato ... the field guide told him the plant was safe to eat but did not tell him the seeds were toxic ... the seeds basically poisoned him to the point where he couldn't retain any food or eat anything ... so, he essentially starved ...
was like a picture
of a sunny day
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
― Abraham Lincoln
go get a job and be miserable like everyone else