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Emory University
Upon graduating from Emory, Chris his displays the first sign of transcendentalism by distancing himself from society and the life he had known. -
Detrital Wash
After leaving his former life behind, Chris headed west and found himself in Arizona, where he was caught in a flash flood, while driving across the Detrital Wash River. After being caught in the flash flood his car died and Chris was forced to abandon it. It also further shows evidence of Chris following a transcendental ideology as he chose to also abandoned a number of his belongings, this shows how he also wanted to test his own self-reliance, which is a core principle of transcendentalism. -
Mexico
Upon arriving in Arizona, Chris buys a canoe, catches a ride down to the Gulf of California where he then spends a month or so paddling around the Gulf. During this time, Chris survives on nothing, but rice and what he caught from the sea. This resourcefulness not only shows transcendentalism through Chris testing his self-reliance, but is also the reason that he thought he could survive on such meager rations in Alaska a year and a half later. -
Carthage
After traveling around the west coast, Chris meets a man named Wayne Westerberg, perhaps the closest friend he made on his journey. Wayne offered Chris a job working on his grain elevator in South Dakota, which Chris accepts and works for Wayne for a couple of months before leaving. Wayne remembers Chris as a hard-worker who didn't even accept pay. Chris's refusal to be paid is a clear sign of transcendentalism as it states that money, which stems from society, corrupts people. -
Salton Lake
After reentering the U.S. Chris meets Ronald Franz, an old veteran who, despite the age gap, hit it off with Chris, and the two spent the next month or so working together, chatting and bonding. Chris once again shows signs of following transcendentalism because as he parts with Franz, unknown to them, for the final time, Chris talks with Franz about changes how he lives, to sell off his possessions, and live a life of adventure and freedom. Franz does end up listening. -
Back to Carthage
The last stop Chris makes before starting his final journey to Alaska, is Carthage where he once again works for Wayne on the grain elevator. In March, Chris begins his hike to Alaska after refusing a plane ticket from Wayne to Alaska. Chris told Wayne that taking a plane, "would be cheating," and thus shows Chris's transcendental nature with his refusal to accept help from technology and society, instead once again relying on himself. -
Alaksa
After arriving in Alaska in April 28th, 1992 on the edge of the Stampede Trail. It crosses two large rivers which can only be crossed when there is very little water or a solid layer of ice. Otherwise, the run-off from Mount McKinley glaciers leaves a torrent current that is physically impossible to cross. When Chris arrived in late April, there was still a strong layer of ice covering it and he crossed with ease. Chris spent the next two months living out of a bus in complete isolation. -
Chris's Death
After the first two months, Chris began to hike out of the bush, however, the frozen river he had crossed in the spring was now a violent rapid. Unable to leave, Chris went back to the bus and spent the next three months surviving in the bush waiting for the river to freeze. By early August, his health suddenly diminishes, his last entry is a cry for help, and then thanking God and blessing everybody he has ever met. It is estimated that he died on August 18, 1992 -
Into The Wild
It is now believed that Chris died due to a bacteria he accidentally ate that he was too skinny and fragile to have survived the infection on his own. His death is the final evidence of his transcendental ideology as Chris goes into the wild to commune with nature and once and for all prove to himself that he can survive on his own. However, it also led him to not bring a map with him, had he brought one, he would have seen that there was bridge across the river and wouldn't have died.