Into The Wild

[paleoman]

#6765

I loved the imagery in this movie for what that’ s worth! For those of you that saw it, though Chris McCandless was unprepared in a conventional survival sense, I admired the attempt to break out of the “Matrix” most of us recognize and struggle through. Who knows how his life would have turned out had he survived? I found the story a noble tragedy. I suppose it’ s current with me now as I weigh big changes and the risks of living on ones’ principles. Any thoughts?

[David Coulter]

#54577

Great movie. I just love the music, too. I also read the book a while back right after reading Into Thin Air. It’s an interesting story. He almost made it out. dwc

[Etter1]

#54712

Great movie and great music, but if you read the book, you’d see that he was wildly unstable. He had a lot of issues. I honestly wish I had the wild, wandering spirit that he did, but there was more going on there than meets the eye in the flick.

[Charles Ek]

#54721

I sat here for several minutes, debating internally whether to involve myself in this. In the end I decided to do it.

A reporter and outdoor editor for the Anchorage Daily News, Craig Medred, covered the story at the time. I read his accounts then and his later writings on the matter. He is not a man who shies from expressing himself. I happen to share the opinions he expressed in The Chris McCandless example, 20 years later.

This will probably make me fairly unpopular in some quarters, which is OK – to each his own.

[garydavis]

#54814

I’m inclined to agree with Mr. Medred and Mr. Ek. Krakauer is a good writer who’s skill was wasted on this story.

[Stephen Graf]

#55114

paleoman wrote: …it’ s current with me now as I weigh big changes and the risks of living on ones’ principles. Any thoughts?

I read the book and watched the movie. I thought the author had to work too hard to turn the story into something coherent. I think the real story is one of mental illness. Which is hard to understand because most folks see a person with mental illness as non-dimensional and flat. Mentally ill people are still people with interests who are interesting. It’s just that hay, they ARE mentally ill. I took it as a sad story.

But more interesting is your teaser… Of what big changes do you speak? do tell!

[Wolfshead]

#55158

I have sat here also for a few minutes wondering whether to reply or not.

Here goes…

I am a public school teacher. I teach Physical Education.

At times I walk around with a target on my back it feels because of all the headlines now about education, and teachers not doing their jobs or being good educators etc…

I even have to on a daily basis justify my course to my own colleagues who teach the “core” classes such as math, science and ELA.

That along with being rigidly scheduled it is taking it’s toll on what I want to do.

I have been doing that for 28 years and I am getting close to retirement.

I think there is a certain romanticism about stepping out of the “rat race” and going back to a simple life in nature, living by one’s own schedule, living day to day that is really appealing to me and others I believe.

Now, I say simple life as I know that it is not a simple thing or easy by any means.

I think that I wish I had the courage to do what Dave Peterson did and move to Colorado to live in the mountains “On the Wild Edge”. I think that I could retire to that although I am sure it is tougher than I know.

I just think that the “Rat Race” is just getting to some of us and that going off the grid as he did seems really appealing. To get away and live with nature….

I can really see people not truly getting it

I don’t know just rambling…:roll:

[Mark Turton]

#55294

I have three friends in education and my wife was a nurse and midwife for 32 years she was also involved in training on behalf of UNISEF, she left the profession at christmas so I have some appreciation of the pressures you may be under.

Leave aside teaching and nursing the pressures to meet targets, complete reports, attend training courses and remain ‘current’ amongst other things is draining people of the desire to be good educators and health professionals. The lose to these professions is incalculable.

As for justifying PE I would much rather children had a rounded education. Its very easy to teach kids how to pass exams rather than give them a broad-based education that will allow them to become well interrogated contributors to society.

For your own sanity and preservation try yoga, ‘very good for the nugget’ I’m told.

If I were to jump ship I would want it to be on my terms and in my own time. It may help if you can take a step back and determine what you want to do long term, and then create a strategy that will allow you to achieve it.

Good luck with whatever you chose, Mark.

PS. From my own experience whatever you decide to do I would make very sure I had sufficient cash funds to cover my first year of any new venture or lifestyle, running out of money will is the number one reason ‘lifestyle’ changes fail.

[Wolfshead]

#56208

I agree with the well rounded education idea. That was my belief when I first began (still is actually) but not for the education system itself.

I apologize for hijacking this thread.

My intention was not to be about me so to speak but to express a possibility as to why someone may have chosen to get off the grid.

I realize that this young man had some issues so to speak, and that was some of the reason he died but, I can see how some would romanticize what he did and even possibly envy him in some way the fact that he was able to make that choice (not to die of course)

I would more like to go, as I mentioned earlier, the route that our Dave Peterson did after I retire, and financially I would be able to (if I still have a pension by then). But, not so sure my much better half would go along with it….:shock:

[paleoman]

#56301

It’ s obvious McCandless had some issues. Who doesn’t? Seems to me if you don’t fit the status quo you get diagnosed and a label stuck on your head nice and fast. I get, that for society to survive, there must be some of that…but, too clearly, for me, I feel stuck in the ” Matrix” as a machine part. What the machine is doing to the planet is out of control. The small rebellion I’ m feeling revolves around my own accountability to a sustainable world. The issues are immense and of an evolutionary scale, but anyway, it’ s real to me and I’d like to feel I made a difference.

[Fallguy]

#56714

I have not seen the movie but I have read about Mr. McCandless. I always found it interesting that they portray him as being deep in the wilds of Alaska living in a bus. That to me means there was a road to some where. Our ancestors learned long ago when the food was scarce you had to move to the food or starve the ones that stayed put died. Modern science calls that process evolution. Unfortunately to modern world survivalists would call that a cop out. Mr McCandless suffered one of mother natures most important lessons “you must eat or die”.

[David Coulter]

#56758

I have the same reaction to the book and movie as did Steve. It’s about mental illness. Yes, we all have our issues and each issue either presents a road block or a hurdle. Cheers to the hurdlers out there and best wishes

to those who only see road blocks. McCandless was on to something and probably approached it the best way he could. His best was not enough and he didn’t have the perspective to listen and stay where it was safe. I’m not saying I only feel sorry for the guy nor am I saying he was some hero. But it is an interesting case. There are good lessons for the rest of us who like to go out into the cold, albeit lessons to simple most of us on this site knew them as children.

Mental illness is all around us and it does not get you a free pass. In my bit of experience in the news business and in personal life I’ve seen mental illness make people burn down buildings, hurt children, sit along in hallways and under bridges. McCandless paid plenty for being unprepared, but I’ll at least give him credit for living his life the best way he could and for not taking anyone with him.

[Bunyan Morris]

#57615

Wolfshead wrote: I have sat here also for a few minutes wondering whether to reply or not.

Here goes…

I am a public school teacher. I teach Physical Education.

At times I walk around with a target on my back it feels because of all the headlines now about education, and teachers not doing their jobs or being good educators etc…

I even have to on a daily basis justify my course to my own colleagues who teach the “core” classes such as math, science and ELA.

That along with being rigidly scheduled it is taking it’s toll on what I want to do.

I have been doing that for 28 years and I am getting close to retirement.

I think there is a certain romanticism about stepping out of the “rat race” and going back to a simple life in nature, living by one’s own schedule, living day to day that is really appealing to me and others I believe.

Now, I say simple life as I know that it is not a simple thing or easy by any means.

I think that I wish I had the courage to do what Dave Peterson did and move to Colorado to live in the mountains “On the Wild Edge”. I think that I could retire to that although I am sure it is tougher than I know.

I just think that the “Rat Race” is just getting to some of us and that going off the grid as he did seems really appealing. To get away and live with nature….

I can really see people not truly getting it

I don’t know just rambling…:roll:

Wolfshead, I’m in the same spot as you….actually I’m on a rung lower on the “justify your job” ladder. I teach art. When I talk and write about critical thinking, problem solving skills, spacial awareness, aesthetic appreciation and well rounded education, my words fall on deaf ears.

Being in my 28th year of teaching, I’m considering retirement. I still love what I do but, I hate the administrative horse hockey that hinders teachers and students. It will eventually push me out of what I was born to do. That is what will send me into the wild. I would also love to move off the grid. Connie, my better half has so much as suggested Ecuador or Costa Rica. So, wild location isn’t a problem for her. I am a very lucky man. 😀 My hope is to retire in a remote costal fishing village. I’ll find a way back to my hunting grounds each fall and spring. ❗

I’ve read most if not all of Krakauer’s books. This story was touching. While I admire the young mans’s determination. And I understand he was most likely mentally ill; Alaska is too unforgiving for someone to attempt unprepared. It’s as simple as that. If any of you are interested in Krakauer’s work, I suggest “Into a thin Air” and “Under the Banner of Heaven”

[David Coulter]

#57670

Hey Teachers,

Just so you know that there’s a least a couple of people out here who appreciate you. My wife and I have two young children and teachers either make or break their school days. We can be very active in their lives, but the school has them all day. We see what positive influences (almost always) have on them. I will always be available to vouch for your worth. I wish you both the best in your retirements and the pursuit of your dreams. best, dwc

[Bunyan Morris]

#57767

Thanks for the kind words about teachers. I hope I didn’t come across as the jaded old teacher who should retire. When I’m in the studio/classroom with my students, I’m where I’m supposed to be. Now, if I could just teach art in the wilderness everyday, my job would be perfect. Back to topic….apologies for the hijack.

[David Coulter]

#57802

Broadhead,

Not to worry. I think teaching can be a high burn out job. Teachers are under a lot of pressure and are also under attack for their wages constantly. Personally, I want professionals teaching my children. All of our teachers have masters degrees and they should be rewarded for their education and for their service to the community.

I know I’m aiding the hijack, so I’ll try to steer it back a little…

I wonder how many of us go into our woods for whitetails with more preparedness in our daypacks than McCandless did heading to the bush in Alaska. dwc

[paleoman]

#57877

I don’t mind the ” hijacks”:D. For the record I’ m not chewing on my shoelaces or anything. Must he midlife…anyway I like to bounce stuff off this crowd. A lot of good thinkers in this tribe. Thanks for listening and responding to my little ” bellyache”:wink:

[James Harvey]

#58085

Haha, I have a friend who’s a little nuts like that. He’s done some wild and dangerous things on a whim. He decided to do a river kayak that was a couple thousand km’s long with no prep at all. When he was buying his kayak he was telling the guy what he was planning to do, he was asked how much experience he had kayaking. He said ‘About a hundred metres’. 😀

Then he begged a single 24 hour ration pack and some hexi bricks off me. It turned out that was the only food he planned to bring. He said ‘There are plenty of campsites along the way, people will throw a friendly stranger a sausage’.

My concern peaked about 3 days after he set off when the river system had it’s biggest flooding event in living memory, becoming kilometres wide, engulfing farms, people getting winched from choppers etc etc. Luckily for him on day 2 he went over a waterfall and broke his kayak, which proceeded to sink, taking his meager supply of food and mobile phone with it. About 48 hours after that he turned up hungry and tired at a rangers station.

He was wildly underprepared but I always admire his adventurous spirit 😉

[Ralph]

#58849

How comes it is ya suppose that I takes everthins’ I needs and I still ain’t got it whens I needs it? :lol::lol: Needs more schoolin’?:?

[David Petersen]

#58956

Ralph, is this your first stroke? :P:lol:

[Ralph]

#58989

Been better off using a paddle to stroke with uh? 😛 What’s that old sayin, “Trying to paddle a broken kayak upstream”? Aussie style?:lol::lol: Glad your friend survived OK Jim.

I watched the movie when it first came out (back to the topic) and have read the book. There’s something about having a stubborn streak and a bunch of self pride but there’s a bunch more to not going off half-cocked. The man had issues, don’t we all, some just more and different than others. Not a good way to pass, no family, no friends. IMHO there’s a limit to solitude.

[Stephen Graf]

#59571

Nail on the head Ralph.

[William Warren]

#11653

I dream of leaving the rat race but off the grid permanently would be extreme for me though. I’m not familiar with the subject of the thread so I’ve got some catch up to do. The rat race comments made me think of something I saw recently. A quote, who said it (some wall street type)I can’t recall but it goes like this:

“You may be winning the rat race but you are still a rat!”

😀

[Wexbow]

#18081

I really enjoyed the book and view it from both sides of the argument. But I love the the way Krakauer captured that essence of escape that lurks in most of us and certainly most of us on this forum. I do not think MacCandless was “mentally ill” and think that’s a big conclusion to reach based purely on the book ❓

[Author]

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