Chris McCandless Essay

My project is about the Ernest Shackleton expedition. My thesis is: In 1914, the Ernest Shackleton expedition set out to be the first to cross the Antarctic continent. Shackleton encountered many challenges. Although the expedition never reached their goal, they set an example for future generations that with perseverance and the human will to survive, anything is possible. The idea came from my interest in the outdoors. This story of survival caught my attention. This topic relates to the…

Bright autumn sunshine leaked in through the windows, illuminating the kitchen in a happy glow that did nothing to lift Aiden's spirits. How could the sun have the audacity to shine so brightly when his world had gone so dark? Grumbling angrily under his breath, Aiden filled the remaining space in his bag with granola bars, beef jerky and water bottles. He hoped that this meager food stash would be enough to hold him over for a while. Naturally he had no intentions of mingling with human beings…

Travels with Charley Travels with Charley, written by famous American author John Steinbeck in his later years, is a travelogue of his almost four-month-long trip with his poodle, Charley, on a cross-country journey to try to regain his connection with America. His reason was that he wanted to be recognized as an “American writer,” but not just have the title put upon him because he lived in America and was a writer. In order for him to earn that title, he felt he needed to broaden his…

What is the longest time you have ever been left at home alone? Matt was left alone for seven weeks in the Maine wilderness at age 12. No friends. No family. No companionship whatsoever. Matt’s father showed wisdom in leaving him alone in the wilderness at age 12 for 3 reasons: the cabin needed to be protected, Matt demonstrated manly character, and Matt developed a friendly relationship with the Indians. The first reason Matt’s father should have left him alone in the wilderness at age 12 is…

Crossfire Trail Author: Louis L’Amour Charles Rodney had been broken down, forced to work and was beaten constantly for the last year. This last beating killed him. One of his good friends Rafe Caradec was on the ship when he was dying. He had Rafe to promise him to keep his ranch on his land in Wyoming safe and take care of his wife, Ann Rodney. Rafe promised him. Rafe went and traveled to his ranch in Wyoming. He went into the town’s saloon near his land and made a toast to Charles…

In the memoir Wild by Cheryl Strayed, she recounts her 1,100 mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). After losing her mother to lung cancer, her marriage ending in divorce because of her infidelity, her family struggling to stay connected, and her drug use, Strayed turned to the PCT in hopes of finding herself and becoming the woman her mother always hoped she would be. While visiting Minneapolis, she picks up the book, The Pacific Crest Trail, Volume 1: California. At first, she picks up…

One of the many themes in "Call of the Wild" is that only the fittest will survive in the wild. Many come prepared to the Klondike like John Thornton, but countless come with little knowledge and are unprepared like Hal, Charles, and Mercedes. It was obvious that the "Terrible Trio" were unprepared for the Klondike. They had a sled that was overweight which carried a tent that was dragged behind and large amounts of clothing and pots. John Thornton on the other hand came prepared, he…

Could last 54 days in the canadian wilderness by yourself and only with a hatchet and torn windbreaker? In the book Hatchet by Gary paulsen brian is in a traumatizing plane crash and is in the canadian wilderness for 54 days. I think it would be hard because brian had never been alone in the middle of nowhere never even hunted and having to learn or you starve. It would be hard but he did it and he learned something that can help him in the future anytime. Brain has never done anything like this…

When Chris first began his journey to the wild, he caught Jim Gallien’s eye while walking on the side of an Alaskan highway. Gallien offered Chris a ride, and shortly into their conversation he learned considerable amount concerning Chris’s plans to live in the Alaskan wilderness. According to Gallien, it was easy to notice how lacking Chris was in terms of supplies and knowledge about where he was going and what exactly he was getting himself into. For his time in the wilderness, Chris only…

One of my favourite books and movies is Jon Krakauer’s Into The Wild (1996) that was adapted to the screen by Sean Penn in 2007. The film follows the true story of Christopher McCandless’ expedition across North America and his time spent in the Alaskan wilderness where he died alone. During the film viewers are taken along a journey where they see the main character search for his true place in the natural world independent from the trappings of a normal suburban life. The movie is beautifully…