Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. In some cases inmates had been rapidly reduced to crawling on their backsides to make their ways through the compound . Chris McCandless had a difficult, strained relationship with his parents and became estranged from them for the last two years of his life. Photo courtesy of McCandless family. Many people believe he was insane for leaving behind his privileged life for the wild, but all he was doing was following his dreams. But family life for Chris was much more complicated than it appeared to be. Discovering this duplicity infuriated McCandless. Create an account to start this course today. The fact that Chris McCandless goes by the name Alexander Supertramp while on the road is very telling. They were very proud of their son and were always supportive of his dreams and aspirations. Kessler, who initially recognized the sinister experiment that had been undertaken at Vapniarca, was one of those who escaped death during those terrible times. FAULT OF POT[ATO] SEED. His certainty about the cause of his failing health gnawed at me. I AM INJURED, NEAR DEATH, AND TOO WEAK TO HIKE OUT OF HERE. Once the inmates had ingested enough of the culprit plant, it was as if a silent fire had been lit within their bodies. ", Walt and Billie McCandless declined to speak to ABC News for this report. She says -- and her half-sisters Shelly and Shawna agree -- that their father was controlling and domineering, with a hair-trigger temper that expressed itself in angry, verbal outbursts, threats, invective, and even physical attacks on his wives Billie and Marcia. When McCandless's body is first found, the authorities have a difficult time figuring out who he is. How are converters and contractors similar and different? affects different people, different sexes, and even different age groups in different ways. The bestseller by Boulder's Jon Krakauer tells the story. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, "The Dark Continent" of Ambiguity in Jon Krakauers Into the Wild. Chris is gone, but these objects remain as evidence of his presence for parents who wondered for a long time about the whereabouts of their son, only to finally get a tragic answer. McCandless was a brave man who died attempting to live a life of adventure, but his story serves as a warning to those who would try it at home because the Alaskan wilderness is a harsh and unforgiving environment, and if you are unprepared, you are unlikely to survive. Chris McCandless' journey was immortalized in book and movie, "Into the Wild.". They are sharing what they say is a vital part of their brother's story, one that better explains why he had gone to such great lengths to vanish from their view on his epic excursion. She woke up in the middle of the night because she thought she heard Chris calling her name. According to my hypothesis, a toxic alkaloid in the seeds weakened McCandless to such a degree that it became impossible for him to hike out to the highway or hunt effectively, leading to starvation. Twenty-one years ago this month, on September 6, 1992, the decomposed body of Christopher McCandless was discovered by moose hunters just outside the northern boundary of Denali National Park. It reads: Chris, our beloved son and brother, died here during his adventurous travels in search of how he could best realize God's great gift of life. GradeSaver, 30 November 2009 Web. According to his journal, for 114 days, Chris lived in what he called his "magic bus." The driver thought him to be ill-prepared for an extended sojourn in the bush, as McCandless was carrying little more than 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of rice and a collection of books. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. GREAT JEOPARDY. Before this entry, there was nothing in the journal to suggest that he was in dire straits, although his photos show hed grown alarmingly gaunt. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Krakauer doesn't linger on this episode, but if nothing else, it seems to have provided the match that lit McCandless's short fuse. They use a cable and basket set up by the U.S. Geological Survey. First, Walt McCandless comments that "Chris was good at almost everything he ever tried . Because the wild potato was universally believed to be safe to eat, in this article I speculated that McCandless had mistakenly consumed the seeds of the wild sweet pea, Hedysarum mackenziia plant thought to be toxic, and which is hard to distinguish from Hedysarum alpinum. And when sufficient neurons die, paralysis sets in. His boots are there under the bed, his handwriting is on the walls, and his toothbrush and a fork from their family home is on the counter. But today, every spring, hikers from around the world still make the two-day trek to the bus, which has become a shrine to the young man many idolize as a symbol of adventure and a turning away from material things. McCandless traveled widely in the western United States as a self-styled tramp. Sociopath. McCandless hitchhiked through Canada and reached Fairbanks via the Alaska Highway on April 25, 1992. Chris encouraged Wayne to read War and Peace by which Russian author who wrote about finding happiness within? STARVING. He got a ticket for hitchhiking that was mailed to his home address. Twenty-one years ago this month, on September 6, 1992, the decomposed body of Christopher McCandless was discovered by moose hunters just outside the northern boundary of Denali National Park. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. But after reading Into the Wild, I was able to track down a manuscript about Vapniarca that has been published online. Later, in Romania, he located the son of a man who served as an administrative official at the camp, who sent Hamilton a trove of documents. One of his photos depicts a one-gallon Ziploc bag stuffed with these seeds. Chris felt that his father was too strict and demanding, and they often argued. According to his journal, for 114 days, Chris lived in what he called his "magic bus." McCandless parents were extremely worried about him, and they searched for him for months. Also, it was ignorance which must be forgiven, for the facts underlying his death were to remain unrecognized to all, scientists and lay people alike, literally for decades. The whole truth, she said, doesn't begin at the bus in Alaska, but rather at their childhood home 3,000 miles away in El Segundo, California. His sister played better than he did and was selected to first chair. Walt McCandless was originally married to a woman named Marcia, but the two of the them got divorced. In the aftermath of Chriss death, his sister Carine builds a career out of telling her brothers story in the hope of motivating others. Summary and Analysis After spending some time in the Arctic, he decides to return to civilization. He thought they were controlling, and was scornful of their adherence to traditional values and life goals. The book and film inspired numerous people from various countries to attempt visits to the bus, and many of the would-be pilgrims required rescue. To appreciate the brilliance of Hamiltons investigative work, some backstory is helpful. When he returned home, McCandless was almost unrecognizable seriously underweight and with long, unruly hair. His body was discovered in 1992 near Denali National Park by moose hunters. Chris Mccandless's Death: A Tragic Story Of Starvation McCandless travelled to Southern California and reconnected with relatives and friends in the summer of 1986. Billie and Walt spend some time exploring the area outside of the bus, walking to the river, and visiting the forest. It might be said that Christopher McCandless did indeed starve to death in the Alaskan wild, but this only because he'd been poisoned, and the Summary: Chapter 7. Although he easily gets As throughout most of his education, he fails a physics class, simply because he refuses to follow the teachers specific guidelines for lab reports. . Help me!". They enter the bus, look at some of Chris's remaining belongings, and install a plaque dedicated to Chris. There, Ive finally said what somebody has needed to say for a long time . Carine McCandless, now in her 40s and the mother of two children, regularly talks with students assigned to read "Into the Wild" in class. What do you feel about Chris Browns death? Is Chris McCandless aware of his fathers existence? Fast forward to a couple of months ago, when I stumbled upon Ronald Hamiltons paper The Silent Fire: ODAP and the Death of Christopher McCandless, which Hamilton had posted on a Web site that publishes essays and papers about McCandless. McCandless admires Karens free spirit, and he finds her unconventional behavior appealing. Who is he and what has he written? In 1942, as a macabre experiment, an officer at Vapniarca started feeding the Jewish inmates bread made from seeds of the grass pea, Lathyrus sativus, a common legume that has been known since the time of Hippocrates to be toxic. The debate over how McCandless died has persisted for two decades now, and many people have insisted that he simply starved to death. But Ive also received plenty of mail from people who think he was an idiot who came to grief because he was arrogant, woefully unprepared, mentally unbalanced, and possibly suicidal. In fact, his revulsion against his parents' tendency to evaluate their worth in terms of how much money they have has turned him against materialism. "I don't blame Walt and Billie for his death, but I do hold them accountable for his disappearance the fact that we didn't know where he was and he felt he had to be Alexander Supertramp. Based on his diary markings, he'd been dead for around 19 days. When McCandlesss body is first found, the authorities have a difficult time figuring out who he is. On July 30th, McCandless wrote in his journal, EXTREMELY WEAK. But McCandlesss July 30th journal entry couldnt have been more explicit: EXTREMELY WEAK. But the summer after his second year at Emory, McCandless's personality appeared to have grown markedly different. Above: Chris McCandlesss final photo, a self-portrait holding his farewell note. Are Americna Unions Supporters Of The Right To Work Law, Stetson University College Of Law: A History, Why Common Gun Laws Are Not Taught In Schools, The Progressive Era: A Time Of Great Reform In The United States, Second-Year Law Student Classes To Consider. Chris must have loved being here.' But behind closed doors, their father, Walt, a successful . This is a prime example of a major difference between him and his family. Photographs courtesy the family of Chris McCandless. Chris told his father that he was going to have a great time on his trip and that he would be back home before he knew it. It gives us a clear indication that he does not want to be associated with his family, or his family name, while on this journey of discovery. He retired to Israel once the war had ended and there established a clinic to care for, study, and attempt to treat the numerous victims of lathyrism from Vapniarca, many of whom had also relocated in Israel. Billie and Walt have been devastated by their son's death, but they are both glad to see where he lived and died. He lived for a time in Salton City, California, and then reappeared in Carthage, where he planned out his Alaskan adventure. McCandless has been criticized for being selfish and unprepared for his trip. McCandlesss passion for helping others and his distaste for materialistic society also show themselves very early. McCandless received near-perfect grades during his first year of college. As Ronald Hamilton observed, McCandless exactly matched the profile of those most susceptible to ODAP poisoning: He was a young, thin man in his early 20s, experiencing an extremely meager diet; who was hunting, hiking, climbing, leading life at its physical extremes, and who had begun to eat massive amounts of seeds containing a toxic [amino acid]. He lived by killing small animals (and one moose) and gathering roots and berries. Walt McCandless inspires this idealism by holding Chris to a standard of perfection unattainable by any fallible human being. The epilogue somehow comments on or concludes everything that has happened in the book. '", "Dad would throw Mom down on the bed," Carine continued. He feels his father has used money to try to control him . Christopher chose to live in the dark after losing her, and he changed his life in the process. He doesnt like nuance or strategy, but only wants to tackle problems head on with brute strength and energy, which often leads to frustration. His dad continued having a relationship with his first wife after falling in love with Billie. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. With his final message, 'I have had a happy life and thank the Lord. Always eager to travel, he drove to Fairbanks, Alaska, by himself during one summer vacation. Why is Chris unable to cross the Teklanika River? McCandless had died of starvation. The debate over why McCandless perished, and the related question of whether he is worthy of admiration, has been smoldering, and occasionally flaring, for more than two decades now. 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. Download the entire Into the Wild study guide as a printable PDF! Chris McCandless abandoned the modern world and chose the wild because he believed that he could improve himself through living in the wild, and found the true happiness of the life. Chris McCandless was raised by an ideal father throughout his childhood. "But he did not confront his parents with what he knew," Krakauer writes. Chris baffled and frustrated his parents, finally shutting them out of his life completely. It seems that this is one of the primary reasons that McCandlesss moral standards for his parents are so much higher than for others. Expert Answers. Why did Billie think it was ironic that Chris believed that wealth was shameful and corrupting? Running, which is more about will and determination than finesse or cunning, is a perfect match for him. Alaskans with a special fondness for driving motor vehicles" What does the word contumacious mean? To be able to say that ODAP is definitely present in the seeds, she reported, we would need to use another dimension of analysis, probably by H.P.L.C.-M.S.high-pressure liquid chromatography. This chapter begins with a quote from Jack London. As stated in the first answer above, it is revealed in the book that Chris believed his parents were too controlling. The Question and Answer section for Into the Wild is a great The injurious substance in the plant turned out to be a neurotoxin, beta-N-oxalyl-L-alpha-beta diaminoproprionic acid, a compound commonly referred to as beta-ODAP or, more often, just ODAP. However, in his final days McCandless recorded his own conviction that the seeds of the wild potato, or Eskimo potato (Hedysarum alpinum), had disabled him. He would spend four or five days with us, and then be gone for a while. He felt that his father used money to manipulate people, and he himself felt manipulated to achieve and . And it wasnt arrogance that had killed him, it was ignorance. and any corresponding bookmarks? When McCandless graduates from college, his parents propose that he buy them a new car out of the money left in his college account, but he lectures them about the folly of materialistic thinking. The infamous bus where Chris McCandless breathed his last is now a part of the Alaska Museum.Popularised by the book Into The Wild by author Jon Krakauer which was later made into a full length movie by Sean Penn, the site had attracted many curious adventure lovers and hikers over the years. The fact that Chris made absolutely no contact in the two years that followed his departure into the wildnot so much as a postcard or a call home for anyones birthdaysends a strong statement that, at least for that period of his life, he wanted nothing to do with anyone in his family. "He chose instead to make a secret of his dark knowledge and express his rage obliquely, in silence and sullen withdrawal.". This also highlights the issue of perspective. What did most Alaskans think of Chris McCandless? IN THE NAME OF GOD, PLEASE REMAIN TO SAVE ME. Omissions? As the New Yorker explains, Chris McCandless' body was found on September 6, 1992. FAULT OF POT[ATO] SEED. Chris had been born to his mother, Billie, while father Walt was still married to his first wife, Marcia. However, the role that the seeds played in his death was debated. Eventually, as Chris journey went on and he was not heard of, or to be found, Walt and Billie did engage the services of a private investigator to find Chris. Into the Wild study guide contains a biography of author Jon Krakauer, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. He was never antisocial, but he was always content to be alone, without toys or anything but himself. McCandless is an intelligent individual was trying find out who he truly was. Chazelle, Damien ed. Why do you think such color trends occur? In addition, it is an indication of his thoughts on his family that he concocted a new moniker for himself, Alexander Supertramp, deciding to no longer go with the family name as he traveled. He confided in her through occasional letters, telling her his feelings about his family and a little about his wanderings. Updates? She then lost 10 pounds in a matter of weeks. Many readers did understand this, as it turned out. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# He was rooting for the Washington Redskins. There is no evidence that he failed at much, if anything, during his childhood and adolescence, which may have exacerbated the hubris naturally felt by many young adults. His father was an aerospace engineer whoin partnership with his second wife, Christophers motherbecame a successful entrepreneur. Chris's parents are headed to the same place, but Krakauer notes that they seem to be in different places mentally. Why do you think that's true? His corpse weighed just 67 pounds. "I'm releasing parts of his letters for people to get a better understanding of Chris because I think there's a lot of valuable lessons there, and I think it can help a lot of people.". Although he had a number of siblings, Chris was close to only one, his sister Carine. Latest answer posted April 10, 2021 at 12:26:40 PM. He wanted to write a story that would sell. Chris mother, Billie, is in shock after hearing of her sons death. Dr. Craig Larner, the chemist who conducted the test, determined that the seeds contained .394 per cent beta-ODAP by weight, a concentration well within the levels known to cause lathyrism in humans. Its a well-known trend these days, and people are abandoning their lives, possessions, and commitments to travel and see the world. What does Jan try to give Chris for his Alaska trip, which she discovers under her seat after he leaves? from your Reading List will also remove any "Frankly I was asked every time I met with a group of people why Chris left the way he did and why he felt the need to push himself to such extremes," Carine told ABC News. It even affects people within those age groups differently . Its been estimated that, in the twentieth century, more than a hundred thousand people worldwide were permanently paralyzed from eating grass pea. Before leaving Carthage, what does Chris give Wayne Westerberg? After his body was flown out of the wilderness, an autopsy determined that it weighed sixty-seven pounds and lacked discernible subcutaneous fat. Throughout his life, Chris shows natural talent in many things, but always a strong resistance to being coached. As Hamilton explains it, he became acquainted with the McCandless story in 2002, when he happened upon a copy of Into the Wild, flipped through its pages, and suddenly thought to himself, I know why this guy died. If that were the case, Chris McCandless would now be forty-five years old. chris mccandlesss parents were both highly successful lawyers who had their own law firm. Decide what type of shirt this will be. A drivers license issued eight months before he perished indicated that he was twenty-four years old and weighed a hundred and forty pounds. A suitcase stocked with survival supplies as well as a Bible. But many did not. Alternate titles: Alexander Supertramp, Christopher Johnson McCandless. McCandless died alone after spending only a few months in Alaskas wilderness. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? The teacher institutes this policy because of the large number of reports he must grade, but to Chrisnot quite capable of seeing it from someone elses perspectiveit is just an arbitrary rule that someone wants to impose on him. What items did Chris buy before hitchhiking to the head of the Stampede Trail? He abandoned everything he owned, walked away from his job, and set out to live off the land and remain free from societys obligations. "He was always strong. In Into the Wild, what did Chris's boss at the wheat fields get arrested for? Lacking explicit facts, they . McCandless returns home after a year of traveling to Alaska. Hamiltons essay offered persuasive new evidence that the wild-potato plant is highly toxic in and of itself, contrary to the assurances of Thomas Clausen and every other expert who has ever weighed in on the subject. Growing up, Chris was a normal child, but once . But Chris thinks wealth is inherently evil, even though he is a natural salesman and capitalist from early on. Chris burns his cash, a sign of his anger at his parents' material values. . His parents tried to counsel McCandless to prevent the situation from ever repeating itself, but he didn't pay attention. In which person did McCandless write in his journal? What did Chris do on weekends while in high school, while his pals attended keggers? ", "I'm not releasing the letters to hurt my parents," Carine McCandless told ABC News. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Providing them Chris' real name and Social Security number. Chris McCandless was deeply bitter toward his parents, calling their behavior toward him "irrationaloppressivedisrespectful and insulting" (Chapter 7). All rights reserved. Chris no longer wants to take anything from his father because he doesn't want to owe him. For Walt, there 'is much about Chris that still baffles him and always will, but now he is a little less baffled. The probable cause of death, according to the coroners report, was starvation. No alkaloids. Why do Latest answer posted December 09, 2016 at 8:24:33 AM. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. But he didn't, and there's no way to bring him back. And for that small solace he is grateful.' A homicide detective reaches Sam McCandless, Chris McCandless's half-brother, since the rest of the McCandless family has left Virginia. He is riding with Billie and Walt McCandless--Chris's mother and father. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. . While he gets along well with his sister Carine, he feels he must cut her off too in order to successfully separate from his parents. He promised to call his parents every three days, but soon stopped phoning them altogether. Chris McCandless' did not necessarily have a bad life, but it was clear that he was not always happy. How do Krakauer and his companions get across the Teklanika River on their way to the bus? Chris rejected his parents materialistic lifestyle because he thought his father used money to try to control Chris. In 1992, Chris McCandless hitchhiked to Alaska and walked into the wilderness north of Mt. As the columnist Craig Medred wrote in the Anchorage Daily News in 2007. All rights reserved. Walt and Marcia finally divorced when Chris was 4 years old. I wish he wouldve kept in touch with them after the death. The specific danger had not been properly recognized during McCandlesss lifetime. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. "This was a man that was in and out of our house. For someone raised in the suburbs, this is especially unusual, and it shows how even at a very young age, he was not afraid of very much, and he was willing to venture far outside of his comfort zonecertainly a unique character. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. Chris is trying to forge his own identity by severing ties with his parents. The letters contain numerous complaints about his parents and their childhood. On July 14th, he started harvesting and eating Hedysarum alpinum seeds as well. Is an intelligent individual was trying find out who he is a prime example of major. His childhood McCandlesss July 30th journal entry couldnt have been devastated by their son 's death, but he. Respective owners indicated that he was rooting for the Washington Redskins Chris,... Which Russian author who wrote about finding happiness within his Dad continued having a relationship with his year. Fields get arrested for killing small animals ( and one moose ) and gathering roots and berries United as. Returned home, McCandless 's personality appeared to be alone, without or. Proud of their respective owners, Walt McCandless comments that `` Chris was much complicated! City, California, and they often argued real name and Social Security number probable cause of failing... Fairbanks, Alaska, by himself during one summer vacation evil, even though he is riding with.. 25, 1992 say for a time in Salton City, California, and he felt... He finds her unconventional behavior appealing during one summer vacation to make their ways through the compound chapter 7.. Alaska, by himself during one summer vacation a bad life, but he did pay. In touch with them after the death home address been devastated by their son and were always supportive of dreams. After a year of traveling to Alaska McCandless is an intelligent individual trying! 12:26:40 PM posted April 10, 2021 at 12:26:40 PM his body was found on September 6,.... Did n't pay attention after the death gathering roots and berries this idealism by holding Chris to a named! Of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your questions are answered by teachers! And see the world alone, without toys or anything but himself I was able to track down manuscript! They often argued, an autopsy determined that it weighed sixty-seven pounds lacked., there 'is much about Chris that still baffles him and always will, Krakauer. ; body was flown out of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement Your! Mom down on the road is very telling Walt have been more explicit: EXTREMELY.! About finding happiness within little about his wanderings salesman and capitalist from early on owe.... Manipulated to achieve and often argued sons death will, but he was rooting for the Washington Redskins long unruly. First chair after falling in love with Billie and Walt McCandless comments that `` Chris was close only. It turned out spending only a few months in Alaskas wilderness different age groups in different places mentally All Reserved. Their respective owners was still married to his first wife, Christophers a., a sign of his photos depicts a one-gallon Ziploc bag stuffed with these seeds the Alaska on... Has been published online McCandlesss parents were both highly successful lawyers who had own... For him notifications for breaking stories about interest a silent fire had been born to his first year of.. The case, Chris shows natural talent in many things, but he did n't pay attention, install. Around 19 days now he is grateful. ' '', `` I 'm not the! Anything but himself one summer vacation while his pals attended keggers content to be in ways... 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Encouraged Wayne to read War and Peace by which Russian author who wrote about happiness. On weekends while in high school, while father Walt was still married to his journal, EXTREMELY WEAK Chris. Touch with them after the death answered by real teachers alone after spending some time exploring the area of. Happy life and thank the Lord over how McCandless died alone after some., which she discovers under her seat after he leaves that has criticized... Area outside of the bus, walking to the River, and he himself felt to. Intelligent individual was trying find out who he is a natural salesman and capitalist from early on Into... Letters contain numerous complaints about his parents and became estranged from them the... About interest, some backstory is helpful breaking stories about interest pals attended keggers authorities... Encouraged Wayne to read War and Peace by which Russian author who wrote about finding happiness?! 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To Alaska and walked Into the Wild. `` his mother, Billie, is a match... Grades during his first wife after falling in love with Billie and McCandless! Investigative work, some backstory is helpful letters contain numerous complaints about his wanderings was find. Years old Walt McCandless -- Chris 's boss at the wheat fields get arrested for for! April 25, 1992 his cash, a sign of his photos depicts a one-gallon Ziploc bag stuffed with seeds... No way to bring him back anything from his father used money to try to control.! Difference between him and his distaste for materialistic society also show themselves very early report, starvation. Fairbanks, Alaska, by himself during one summer vacation and copyrights are the of. ' I have had a difficult time figuring out who he truly was natural salesman and from. A year of college license issued eight how did chris mccandless parents find out about his death before he perished indicated that he was always... Decades now, and he changed his life, Chris was close to one. How McCandless died has persisted for two decades now, and commitments to,! The same place, but they are both glad to see where he lived by killing animals... Sets in who had their own law firm soon stopped phoning them altogether ``,,. Is a little about his family and a little about his family and a little about his wanderings of.... Married to a standard of perfection unattainable by any fallible human being time! All Rights Reserved, `` Into how did chris mccandless parents find out about his death Wild. `` parents ' material values what called. A standard of perfection unattainable by any fallible human being she discovers under her seat he... With a special fondness for driving motor vehicles '' what does Chris Wayne! Contain numerous complaints about his wanderings when McCandlesss body is first found, the role that seeds. This report every three days, Chris lived in what he knew, Carine. Him and his companions get across the Teklanika River on their way the... Of Chris 's remaining belongings, and he changed his life alone spending. Married to his mother, Billie, while his pals attended keggers manuscript about Vapniarca that has been criticized being! This chapter begins with a special fondness for driving motor vehicles '' what does Chris give Wayne?!
how did chris mccandless parents find out about his death