|
|
 |
New Version Of Back to
the Wild Offers First Person Account
Recently published, the Book and companion
DVD Back to the Wild is a new
version of the adventures of Christopher McCandless,
this time told in first person; more than
200 select photographs - taken by Chris himself
with his Canon 35-millimeter camera - and
unedited quotes from his letters and journals
arranged chronologically, offer a new perspective
on his two years of roving, see: www.backtothewildbook.
org
THE FORENSIC PROCESS
His father Walt recalls; Chris left
us more than 600 photos to copyright, catalogue
and select from, and with a small group of
friends we threw ourselves into the task of
identifying each one of them. We wanted to
know when each image had been taken, locate
it geographically, determine all the methods
of transportation used by Chris, the people
he had encountered, and whatever else of forensic
value we could find.
In addition to the photos the team used his
detailed trip logs (in which Chris summarized
his travel ethics), letters and postcards
that Chris sent to the friends he made during
his journey (Jan Burres, Wayne Westerberg,
and Russell Fritz) as well as other artifacts
that he left including an amazing Biographic
Belt that Chris hand crafted under the
tutelage of Russell Fritz. That was all there
was, for during the last two years of his
life he cut off in a radical way all contact
with his family and friends.
Chris didnt stay anywhere very long
and each day was a new place with a new dawn.
His self photos show him pointing and in fact
reaching to the next adventure. The letter
he sent to Russell Fritz urging him to kick
over the traces at the age of 82 and
be a vagabond himself reflect Chris
philosophy. Excerpts from this seminal letter
state - All you have to do is reach
for it --- There is no greater
joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon,
for each day to have a new and different sun.
THE RETURN TO THE BUS
Last March, Walt McCandless, his wife Billie
and many team members returned to the dilapidated
bus, Fairbanks 142, on the plains of Denali
National Park. The encounter reunited the
majority of the people involved in the production
of Back to the Wild.
THE FOUNDATION
These days, in addition to promoting the book,
Walt and Billie McCandless and several team
members are dedicated to directing the charitable
foundation - The Christopher Johnson McCandless
Memorial Foundation, Inc. - www.chrisspurpose.org
- created in memory of Chris.
Prominent local organizations that have received
ongoing support include the Park Place
Child Life Center, Crisis Pregnancy
of Chesapeake and Virginia Beach and
the Global Friendship House. The
earnings from Back To The Wild
join the funds received from the book and
film Into The Wild and go directly
to charity, which surely is what Chris would
have wanted.
The Foundation is blessed to have new friends
and team members such as John Knight. As the
founder and proprietor of the Book Exchange,
John brings his experience as an international
bookseller. John happened upon Walt and Billie
McCandless selling DVDs and Books at
the Virginia Beach Community Chapel one Sunday
in June. John soon offered to help promote
and sell Back To The Wild. His
involvement has greatly expanded the outreach
of the Foundation.
Almost twenty years after his death and after
the phenomenon of Into the Wild
- which began with the best seller by Jon
Krakauer and continued with the movie directed
by Sean Penn - Back To The Wild
reveals previously unknown aspects of the
identity and of the fatal journey that converted
the young Christopher McCandless into a worldwide
legend. With transcripts from his trip diary,
his letters and post cards to those he befriended
along the way and most importantly two hundred
select photographs taken by Christopher himself
during his journey, Back to the Wild
is a remarkable history of Christopher McCandless
recounted by Christopher McCandless.
Many people who have gotten to know his story
have redirected what they want to do with
their lives, taking measures in a similar
direction. Fortunately, not many people are
capable of being as radical as Chris and taking
so many risks. In the end, his story has helped
change many lives, making many people happier.
That is Chriss greatest legacy.
Return
to top
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
| Dec. 12, 2011 - Feb. 7, 2012 |
 |
 |
 |
|