Following his walk into the jungle, a 24-year-old guy left a final note for the world, never to be seen again.
Chris McCandless, an ardent traveler who aspired to a nomadic lifestyle, invented the identity “Alexander Supertramp.”
After graduating from Emory University in 1990, McCandless donated all of his worldly possessions and $24,000 in cash to the Oxfam charity in order to live solely as an outdoor enthusiast.
Two years later, the wanderer from Fairfax, Virginia, set out on a hard hitch-hiking trip to Alaska in response to his favourite novel, Jack London’s The Call of the Wild.
His story, however, ended terribly.
The last person to see McCandless alive was an electrician named Jim Gallien, who took him to the top of a route before his journey in April 1992.
The man allegedly asked the graduate to postpone the voyage because he was concerned about his lack of survival equipment and experience.
The 24-year-old eventually refused, leaving with only a sword, some rice, and some reading before heading into the woods.
According to the Daily Star, McCandless discovered an abandoned Fairbanks city bus from the 1940s while hiking on the snow-covered Stampede Trail near Denali National Park.
For 113 days, the man subsisted on hunting animals such as squirrels, birds, and rabbits in the remote area. He also consumed seeds and roots that he had foraged.
He survived in the woods until July, when he decided he needed to return to civilisation.
Unfortunately, the unbridgeable Teklanika River hampered his progress, leaving him with little choice but to return to his old bus.
Fearing for his life, the graduate put a notice on the bus that said, “Attention Possible Visitors.” S.O.S. I need your help. I’m injured, near death, and too weak to walk out.”
“I am completely alone; this is not a joke. In God’s name, please continue to save me. I am out harvesting berries nearby and will return this evening. Thank you, Christopher McCandless. “August,” he said, according to The New Yorker.
No one noticed or showed up.
McCandless kept a notebook throughout his 113-day stay in the secluded location.
According to the Daily Star, his last written note came on day 107 and read: “BEAUTIFUL BLUE BERRIES.” Days 108–112 were labelled merely with slashes, while day 113 was blank.
One of his dying gestures was to photograph himself clutching a devastating note that read, “I HAVE HAD A HAPPY LIFE AND THANK THE LORD.” GOODBYE AND MAY GOD BLESS EVERYONE!”
Although the exact date McCandless died is uncertain, moose hunters discovered his rotting bones on September 6, 1992.
Based on the diary discovered among his things, it is believed he had been dead for nineteen days. According to a driver’s license issued eight months before his death, he was 24 years old and weighed 140 pounds.
After an examination, McCandless’ body was flown out of the woods. It showed that he weighed 67 pounds.
According to the coroner’s report, his death was most likely caused by starvation or poisoning from the wild plants he ate.
John Krakauer’s nonfiction book Into the Wild, based on McCandless’ terrible story, will live forever. This was made into a feature film of the same title in 2007.
