Into the Wild

Synopsis

Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild examines the true story of Chris McCandless, a young man who walked deep into the Alaskan wilderness and whose SOS note and emaciated corpse were found four months later.

In April 1992, Chris McCandless set off alone into the Alaskan wild. He had given his savings to charity, abandoned his car and his possessions, and burnt the money in his wallet, determined to live a life of independence. Just four months later, Chris was found dead. An SOS note was taped to his makeshift home, an abandoned bus.

In piecing together the final travels of this extraordinary young man's life, Jon Krakauer writes about the heart of the wilderness, its terribly beauty and its relentless harshness. Into the Wild is a modern classic of travel writing, and a riveting exploration of what drives some of us to risk more than we can afford to lose.

From the author of Under the Banner of Heaven and Into Thin Air. A film adaptation of Into the Wild was directed by Sean Penn and starred Emile Hirsch and Kristen Stewart.

'It may be nonfiction, but Into the Wild is a mystery of the highest order.' - Entertainment Weekly

Summary

Chapter 1: Stampede Trail

* McCandless's abandoned car is found in Stampede Trail, Alaska, where he disappeared.
* The author (Krakauer) begins to piece together his story, interviewing family and friends.

Chapter 2: Carthage, South Dakota

* Born Chris Johnson, McCandless was a bright and rebellious teenager in Carthage.
* He excelled academically but had a troubled relationship with his parents.

Chapter 3: Bullhead City, Arizona

* After graduating high school, McCandless hitchhiked to Bullhead City, where he worked at a McDonald's.
* He shared his political and environmental beliefs with customers, earning him the nickname "Alex."

Chapter 4: Salton City, California

* McCandless moved to Salton City to work at McDonald's again.
* He met Ron Franz, an elderly man who became his mentor and supported his travels.

Chapter 5: Las Vegas, Nevada

* McCandless traveled to Las Vegas, where he gambled away his savings and was kicked out of a casino.
* He spent several days sleeping in the desert before Franz came to his aid.

Chapter 6: Grand Junction, Colorado

* McCandless hitchhiked to Grand Junction, where he lived for several months.
* He worked at a recycling plant and volunteered at a homeless shelter.

Chapter 7: Ely, Nevada

* McCandless bought a beat-up yellow Datsun and drove to Ely.
* He spent several months living on his own in the desert, scavenging for food and supplies.

Chapter 8: Fairbanks, Alaska

* In April 1992, McCandless traveled to Fairbanks, Alaska, and stocked up on supplies.
* He met Jim Gallien, a former bus driver who gave him advice and a ride to Stampede Trail.

Chapter 9: The Bus

* McCandless arrived at Stampede Trail and abandoned his car.
* He hiked 24 miles into the wilderness and settled into an old abandoned bus.

Chapter 10: Solitude

* McCandless spent the summer alone in the bus, reading, writing, and hunting.
* He learned survival skills but also struggled with isolation and loneliness.

Chapter 11: Starvation

* McCandless's food supplies eventually ran out, and he began to starve.
* He made several desperate attempts to survive, including eating berries and killing a squirrel.

Chapter 12: Epilogue

* In September 1992, McCandless's body was found in the bus by a group of moose hunters.
* Krakauer concludes that McCandless's death was a result of his own hubris and lack of preparation.

Real-Life Example:

Ron Franz, the elderly man who became McCandless's mentor, recalls a time when McCandless came to his house after being kicked out of a casino in Las Vegas. "He was really down and out," Franz said. "I gave him some money and told him to go get a hotel room. He came back the next day and said he'd slept in the desert and was fine. He was a tough kid."