Into the Wild?
When my coworkers learned that I was going to Alaska, I started to receive a lot of advice, thoughts, suggestions, recommendations, mocking, stories, anecdotes, concerns, questions, and oddly enough a book suggestion. Several people suggested that I pickup a copy of “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer.
Last night I was out having dinner with some good friends and I found myself near Borders. So I went inside and with the help of a cute sales woman we found a copy of the book. Actually it should have been pretty easy since the book was just made into a movie. But I digress.
From the cover of the book:
In April 1992 a young man from a well-to-do-family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. His name was Christopher Johnson McCandless. He had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself…
The first chapter of the book has been an interesting read. I’d like to finish it before I leave for Fairbanks. The next couple weeks are a whirlwind of events. I have the Monday – Thursday of next week to wrap up my work for a 3 week vacation. There is the Colorado Cave Rescue Network (CCRN) rescue seminar in Glenwood Springs next weekend that I promised to photograph. Friday through Monday for me. Tuesday Wednesday of the week after the seminar are the days I have set aside to pack, clean and prepare for the trip. Thursday, May 1st Ryan and I fly out of Denver. We’ll see where I can stick some reading here and there. The book is 203 pages so a good afternoon of reading should be sufficient. I just have to find the time.
I also wonder if the book is a warning from my coworkers. Not to wander off into the woods perhaps? Perhaps their meaning will become clear once I’ve finished the book. Or maybe it’s just because I will be in Alaska for a bit.
But one thing is clear. The author spells his first name correctly 😉
The popular opinion from Alaskans is that the Into The Wild guy was a huge idiot for failing to respect the wilderness, and that’s why he died. They don’t see anything romantic about it, and mostly thing L48ers are dumb for idolizing the book. The movie did not show up here.
Comment by Jennie — May 3, 2008 @ 11:25 am
the message is don’t eat the f-ing poison berries.
Comment by your sister — May 8, 2008 @ 2:42 pm
::::Agrees with Jennie::::
PS – whoa jeez – recaptcha has my misinterpreted my mental state, such as it is – not “avoiding” “flavor”
…
unless it’s those poison berries… then yeah, definitely avoiding!
Comment by Mia - recent Fairbanksan in Montreal — May 10, 2008 @ 2:19 pm