Into the WildInto the Wild

Chapters 8 and 9Chapters 8 and 9

Opinions about AlexOpinions about Alex

►Many Alaskans expressed strongly Many Alaskans expressed strongly NEGATIVE opinionsNEGATIVE opinions

►Letters received by Krakauer:Letters received by Krakauer: ““Alex is a nut…”Alex is a nut…” ““Krakauer is a kook if he doesn’t think Krakauer is a kook if he doesn’t think

Chris ‘Alexander Supertramp’ McCandless Chris ‘Alexander Supertramp’ McCandless was a kook.”was a kook.”

““His ignorance, which could have been His ignorance, which could have been cured by a USGS quadrant and a Boy cured by a USGS quadrant and a Boy Scout manual, is what killed him.”Scout manual, is what killed him.”

Gene RoselliniGene Rosellini► The Mayor of Hippie Cove (Cordova, Alaska)The Mayor of Hippie Cove (Cordova, Alaska)► Early historyEarly history

Father was a Washington governor and mother was a restaurant Father was a Washington governor and mother was a restaurant ownerowner

Great student, master of martial arts, good athlete, never Great student, master of martial arts, good athlete, never graduated collegegraduated college

► Adult lifeAdult life► Decided to try and live independent of technologyDecided to try and live independent of technology► Wondered if he could live off the land like a caveman, or if Wondered if he could live off the land like a caveman, or if

humans had “evolved” too farhumans had “evolved” too far► He believed that the current brand of human being was He believed that the current brand of human being was

inferior to cavemeninferior to cavemen► Wanted to return to humans’ “natural state”Wanted to return to humans’ “natural state”► Determined that this was not possible (after 30 years)Determined that this was not possible (after 30 years)► Committed suicideCommitted suicide

John Mallon WatermanJohn Mallon Waterman

► Early HistoryEarly History Son of a musician, writer, Son of a musician, writer, and mountain climberand mountain climber Third-youngest person to climb Mt. McKinleyThird-youngest person to climb Mt. McKinley

► Adult LifeAdult Life► Went to University of AlaskaWent to University of Alaska► Seemed weird to the other students thereSeemed weird to the other students there► Mom and Dad split up; dad wouldn’t have Mom and Dad split up; dad wouldn’t have

anything to do with himanything to do with him► Brother took off and never was heard from Brother took off and never was heard from

againagain► Lost eight friends to climbing accidentsLost eight friends to climbing accidents

John Mallon Waterman John Mallon Waterman (continued)(continued)

► The Call to AdventureThe Call to Adventure► Climbs 14,573 ft. Mt. Hunter alone—145 days soloClimbs 14,573 ft. Mt. Hunter alone—145 days solo► Three attempts to climb Mt. McKinley: 1) Got scared Three attempts to climb Mt. McKinley: 1) Got scared

and backed out; 2) Cabin burned down and lost his and backed out; 2) Cabin burned down and lost his things, checked himself into a psychiatric hospital; 3) things, checked himself into a psychiatric hospital; 3) Starts at sea-level, which adds 160 miles to the trekStarts at sea-level, which adds 160 miles to the trek

► Attempt #4: Crosses paths with two people who think Attempt #4: Crosses paths with two people who think he’s underprepared (no sleeping bag, little food)he’s underprepared (no sleeping bag, little food)

► Gave away his radio, saying, “I won’t be needing this Gave away his radio, saying, “I won’t be needing this anymore.”anymore.”

► Left a note that read, “3-13-81. My last kiss 1:42 PM”Left a note that read, “3-13-81. My last kiss 1:42 PM”► Waterman was never seen again. Probably broke Waterman was never seen again. Probably broke

through some ice and fell into a crevasse.through some ice and fell into a crevasse.

Carl McCunnCarl McCunn

►

► Carl McCunn arranged to be dropped by plane in Carl McCunn arranged to be dropped by plane in the Alaskan wilderness in March 1981 with supplies the Alaskan wilderness in March 1981 with supplies for the summer and 500 rolls of film. He planned to for the summer and 500 rolls of film. He planned to spend the season photographing wildlife. What he spend the season photographing wildlife. What he didn't plan, however, was his trip out again. He didn't plan, however, was his trip out again. He forgot to arrange for a plane to come and pick him forgot to arrange for a plane to come and pick him up. up.

Carl McCunn (continued)Carl McCunn (continued)

► Flew into the country to take pictures of Flew into the country to take pictures of wildlifewildlife

► Threw away most of his shotgun shells Threw away most of his shotgun shells because he felt guilty for bringing so manybecause he felt guilty for bringing so many

► Flags down a plane, but it can’t land Flags down a plane, but it can’t land because it has wheels instead of floats. because it has wheels instead of floats. McCunn feels certain that they will send McCunn feels certain that they will send someone back to rescue him.someone back to rescue him.

Carl McCunn (continued)Carl McCunn (continued)► Without knowing it, McCunn had given the plane the sign of Without knowing it, McCunn had given the plane the sign of

“All OK. No assistance needed.”“All OK. No assistance needed.”► McCunn just assumed someone would realize he was gone McCunn just assumed someone would realize he was gone

and come save him. and come save him. ► He had a skewed He had a skewed sense of reality. sense of reality. He actually thought He actually thought some beautiful woman some beautiful woman would drop everything would drop everything and go camping with him and go camping with him out in the Alaskan wild.out in the Alaskan wild.► When he realized heWhen he realized hewas going to die of starvation,was going to die of starvation,he shot himself.he shot himself.

Everett RuessEverett Ruess

► 1934, 20 years old1934, 20 years old► ChildhoodChildhood►Dad was a minister, mom was a writerDad was a minister, mom was a writer►Moved around a lotMoved around a lot►Went to art school, began traveling outdoors Went to art school, began traveling outdoors

at 16at 16►Decides he never want to return to Decides he never want to return to

civilization, wants to live out in the wild for civilization, wants to live out in the wild for the rest of his lifethe rest of his life

Everett Ruess (continued)Everett Ruess (continued)

► Adventures in NatureAdventures in Nature► Reckless while climbing on cliff facesReckless while climbing on cliff faces► Stung by bees, unable to use hands or eyes Stung by bees, unable to use hands or eyes

for 3 daysfor 3 days►Horrible reactions to poison ivyHorrible reactions to poison ivy► Parallels to McCandlessParallels to McCandless► Changed his nameChanged his name► Both loved the freedom of the outdoorsBoth loved the freedom of the outdoors► Both read a great deal of literatureBoth read a great deal of literature

Everett Ruess (continued)Everett Ruess (continued)

► Theories about deathTheories about death► A fall while scrambling on a canyon wallA fall while scrambling on a canyon wall► Killed by cattle rustlersKilled by cattle rustlers► Escaped and began a new life under a Escaped and began a new life under a

pseudonympseudonym►Stories about Ruess marrying a Navajo woman and Stories about Ruess marrying a Navajo woman and

raising a familyraising a family► Ken Sleight—investigator and outdoorsmanKen Sleight—investigator and outdoorsman

Thinks Ruess drownedThinks Ruess drowned Ruess liked to be alone, but he also liked to be Ruess liked to be alone, but he also liked to be

around other people sometimes. He couldn’t around other people sometimes. He couldn’t have stayed hidden forever.have stayed hidden forever.

PaparPapar—Irish Monks—Irish Monks

► Iceland, 500-600 ADIceland, 500-600 AD► The The PaparPapar crossed the treacherous ocean in small, crossed the treacherous ocean in small,

open boats.open boats.► Many diedMany died► Wanted to find isolation, peace, quiet, undisturbed Wanted to find isolation, peace, quiet, undisturbed

landland► They decided Iceland was too overpopulated, so They decided Iceland was too overpopulated, so

they got back in their boats and rowed off to they got back in their boats and rowed off to Greenland.Greenland.