INTO THE WILD

Into the Wild, film trivia Emile Hirsch lost 40 pounds to play the role.

Into the Wild, film trivia Brian Dierker was originally hired as a white- water consultant. Sean Penn cast him as Rainey after Emile Hirsch suggested it

Into the Wild, film trivia Jim Gallien (opening scene at Stampede Trail) is played by the real Jim Gallien.

Into the Wild, film trivia The moose was actually roadkill.

Into the Wild, film trivia The watch is really Chris’s watch (a present).

Controversy Heroic? Chris rejected conformity and materialism. He tested himself, experiencing the rawness of life without a safety net. Courage! Idiot? He was arrogant, woefully unprepared, mentally unbalanced, and possibly suicidal. Naïve!

Cause of Death Coroner’s Report: Probable cause of death -- Starvation Chris wrote in his journal: “EXTREMELY WEAK. FAULT OF POTATO SEED. HAVING MUCH TROUBLE JUST TO STAND UP. STARVING. GREAT JEOPARDY… TOO WEAK TO WALK OUT.”

Chris’s Diet in Alaska Squirrels Porcupines Small Birds Mushrooms Roots* Berries *Wild Potato Root These caused him to run up a huge caloric deficit, considering the level of physical activity needed to survive in the wilderness.

Diet When Chris became more desperate, he started harvesting and eating the seeds from the Wild Potato plant as well. He was already eating the roots for a few weeks. One of his photos depicts a one-gallon bag stuffed with these seeds.

Krakauer’s Quest for TRUTH 1993 article: Krakauer speculated that Chris was wrong about the “FAULT OF POTATO SEED.” He concluded that Chris ate the Wild Sweet Pea seeds instead, which are toxic. (The film depicts this hypothesis, with Chris realizing he ate the wrong plant).

Krakauer’s Quest for TRUTH 1996 book: Different hypothesis. Krakauer retracts his former theory. Chris had extensive handwritten notes about how to tell the two plants apart. So….. Perhaps the widely believed non-toxic Wild Potato plant contains a toxic alkaloid? Again, Chris was convinced that it was the “FAULT OF POTATO SEED” but the plant has been know to be edible for years. Hmmm???

Krakauer’s Quest for TRUTH Wild Potato Seeds were sent to a lab, in search of a toxic alkaloid that would inhibit digestion/metabolism, leading to starvation (the film depicts this). Results were negative. Then………. another scientist comes forward with new findings.

Krakauer’s Quest for TRUTH Latest findings: The wild potato seeds don’t contain the toxic alkaloid initially sought after, but they DO contain a different neurotoxin. This scientist who came forward had extensive knowledge about an experiment that was conducted on Jewish inmates during World War II who were fed bread made from toxic seeds.

“The Silent Fire,” Lathyrism Effects: Limping Paralysis Muscle atrophy – leading to crawling/inability to stand Most Susceptible: “Young men (ages 15-25) who are essentially starving or ingesting limited calories who have been engaging in heavy physical activity”

Let’s look at Chris’s notes again: “EXTREMELY WEAK. FAULT OF POTATO SEED. HAVING MUCH TROUBLE JUST TO STAND UP. STARVING. GREAT JEOPARDY… TOO WEAK TO WALK OUT.” Hmmm…..

SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? The controversy continues. Scientists are at odds over the toxicity of the plants Chris McCandless consumed. Local Alaskans hold firm to the belief that Chris was an arrogant idiot who became trapped in the wild and starved to death due to lack of food. Supporters say McCanless wasn’t as clueless and incompetent as the naysayers say. WHAT DO YOU THINK????????