The End has Come

“Roman, Andrew, and I stay up well past midnight, trying to make sense of McCandless’s life and death, yet his essence remains slippery, vague, elusive” (Krakauer 186).

Fool and The Dynamics of Family
I give this quote both a fool and family. The reason for the fool description, is because at this point Chris has died. His bold journey has come to an end and although he was courageous all of the struggle was for none. How could you not call this a fool? He was not forced to make this journey therefore I don't believe we could call this smart. This outcome was almost inevitable but he pushed through as far has he could. During this quote his family is reminiscing his death and for that reason I write about the Dynamics of his family. Chris obviously had a big family who cares for him, thus their remorse. But what he caused his family, may be questioned by them. I have a feeling that they knew that this would be the outcome, but they supported Chris although they may not of loved his decision. His family and friends are still sad upon his death, but I believe they are in peace knowing that he died doing something that he loved!

Freakish Foreshadow

“Please return all mail I receive to the sender. It might be a very long time before I return South. If this adventure proves fatal and you don’t ever hear from me again, I want you to know you’re a great man. I now walk into the wild.” (Krakauer 69). 

Fool:

It is very strange how in this quote Alex almost foreshadows his death. In this quote he is writing a letter to Wayne Westerburg. I believe at the time he writes this letter, something must of happened in his journey where he can "smell" that the end is near. Either that, or he is writing it in case of the tragedy. In the beginning of his trip he was very enthusiastic and almost cocky to the point where he thought surviving was easy. Something had to of changed his mind. The reason I call this "Fool' is because I feel like this had to be expected when he came to Alaska. Not the fact of death but the fact that an in-experienced man in the great wilderness of Alaska would be challenging. I wonder how his family reacted to this news? They might have been accepting of the fact that he did go to Alaska by himself, almost like "what'd you expect". Regardless, this letter was eerily received.

Snow in Alaska like White on Rice

"Alex admitted that the only food in his pack was a ten-pound bag of rice. His gear seemed exceedingly minimal for the harsh conditions of the interior, which in April still lay buried under the winter snowpack. Alex’s cheap leather hiking boots were neither waterproof nor well insulated. His rifle was only .22 caliber, a bore too small to rely on if he expected to kill large animals like moose and caribou, which he would have to eat if he hoped to remain very long in the country. He had no ax, no bug dope, no snowshoes, no compass. The only navigational aid in his possession was a tattered state road map he’d scrounged at a gas station" (Krakauer 5).

Fool:
At this point in the book I am not totally sure about how Alex Supertramp thinks. Does this man not know what he is getting himself into by setting himself up with minimal supply's? As much as I believe his adventure is inspiration, he needs to think a little harder. The Alaskan wilderness is mother-natures fierce personality. The winters in Alaska will kill the weak and unprepared. Without the basic supply's such as an ax or navigation, surviving this wilderness will be a hard task to finish. His rifle is too small to kill large game, so does he expect to eat squirrels and rabbits the whole time? I wonder if he knows that this is below the minimum amount of materials needed to survive? A part of me feels like he is coming unprepared, to almost showoff, to his peers. His lack of supply's will lead to nothing but his demise. For this reason, I am calling him a fool.