Originally Posted by
Enthusiast
While I've always admired McCandless' desire to challenge himself, I'm disappointed because his greatest challenges came from his lack of forethought and knowledge. He was quite willing, but not so able. If only he had thought to challenge himself by adequately preparing.
A couple of the many alternatives to starving to death: make a signal to attract attention or figure out one of the many ways to cross the river.
There's something that is unresolved about these two approaches -- (1) the heightening of life and energy that can come from strong, vivid, real challenges on one side (McCandless was engaging this approach), and (2) the lowering of the adventure when one has safety nets or is overprepared.
Overpreparation/safety vs. underpreparation/danger.
Real danger often has a very sobering-awakening-energizing quality. As does radical self-reliance.
Self-reliant touring is toward one side of the spectrum; sagged and catered and chaperoned touring is toward the other side.
One question would be, What would bring that kind of energy to a self-reliant tour?
Are there ways of doing it without seriously risking (or too seriously risking) death or serious injury?
Are there other forms of risk or challenge or whatever else might bring a heightened or more-energized level of living?