on mr. mccandless - a guest commentary by sean

i've been asking folks i meet to consider writing for my blog. there's a need for fresh ideas/content and i'm more than willing to turn over the pen. (if you are interested in writing, please drop me a note!)

this posting is from sean. 19 years old and originally from stanley, idaho at the base of the sawtooth mountains, sean considers himself an avid scrambler and occasional rock climber. he's a senior at denver university studying maps, er geography. --

Recent films such as Into the Wild have portrayed those seeking a purer existence removed from city strife and materialism as individuals destitute of rationale. Yes, Mr. McCandless is an extreme example, but I'm able to empathize more with his journey than that of urbane individuals seeking nothing beyond their morning commute.

I was once told, at the peak of my climbing frenzy, that the soaring mountains will be here much long than I will. Jaded in my drive to climb as often as possible, those words now resonate years later. However, intrinsic in that very sentiment is what I, and I believe Mr. McCandless, cherish so much about the wilderness. Unrelenting and irrevocable, the purity and ferocity of nature is shocking. Nothing is trivial and everything matters- the true allegory transcendence.

To paraphrase a friend, climbing and exploring are the sole activities that require the use of our primordial instincts: live or die. That is truly something unique.

Mr. McCandless was living a dream, spurred by the desire to adhere to life's fundamentals. In today's society, that's perceived as lunacy. However, from my home at 12,000' in the bitter cold Idaho Rockies, they are the ones who are crazy.

don't go see this movie: into the wild

into the wild opened in theaters a week or so ago.

the film was inspired by a true story and directed by sean penn. it looks pretty great. plot summary: "after graduating from emory university, top student and athlete christopher mccandless abandons his possessions, gave his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhiked to alaska to live in the wilderness. along the way, christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life."

the reason you shouldn't go see this movie? i'm selfish. i don't want my [few] readers to finally decide to pursue their dirtbaggin' dreams and leave me blogging all solo.



for you text lovers, there's also a book by the same title written by noted outdoor writer and mountaineer jack krakauer.