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.
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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 didn’t 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 DVD’s 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 Chris’s greatest legacy.