I've watched the movie first (too many times already) before I got around to reading the book the movie was based on. I'm glad to have found more insight into Chris McCandless' account on his journey and death, as tragic as it was.

Up to this day I can't make up my mind whether I'm disturbed or inspired by his idealism, much to the extent of edging his way too far off the unknown until he met his end. But I do admire him for his courage to dig deep within for the meaning and order of life, outside people's constructed prejudices, and I can relate to him breaking free from civilisation, the mainstream lifestyle, and his longing to be one with nature for I myself escape to the serenity and beauty of it every once in a while.

I guess, no matter how much we put effort to make sense of the innerworkings of his mind and intentions, we'll never come up with one sufficient to reason the unfortunate outcome of his journey. All of us will die eventually, one way or the other. Some die early, some don't.

Chris McCandless was one of those whose life concluded at the height of his existence. The least consolation to it I could think of is he died doing what he intended to do. He served his life's purpose. Some of us die without even trying to live up to our dreams.