People and Places
An eminent aerospace engineer who designed advanced radar systems for the space shuttle and other high-profile projects” describes this person
Who is Walt McCandless?
Opaque
What is not able to be seen through or not transparent?
When Krakauer attempted to climb the Devil’s Thumb, this stopped him from climbing the north face
What is a lack of ice higher up on the face.
Chris McCandless' alias
What is Alexander Supertramp?
The difference between rubber tramp and leather tramp is this
What is rubber tramp has a vehicle and leather tramp is on foot?
This 80-year old accomplished leather worker befriended McCandless
Who is Ron Franz?
Surreal
What is dreamlike and strange?
If McCandless had brought a USGS topographic map, he might have found this just downstream of where he tried to cross the Teklanika River
Who is John Stamos?
Krakauer believes McCandless died from this
What is consuming edible wild potato seeds that had become contaminated with a poisonous fungus?
In Chapter Fifteen, Krakauer writes, “The euphoria, [. . .], that had accompanied my return to Petersburg faded, and an unexpected melancholy took its place” (154). “Melancholy” means this
What is pensive sadness?
Leonard Knight’s purpose in Salvation Mountain was this
What is show people how much God loves them?
Lasting a short time
What is ephemeral?
Most of McCandless’ journal entries written during the time he lived at the bus are about this
What is food?
The greater truth about life McCandless discovers in Alaska
What is happiness only real when shared?
While waiting to make his second attempt at climbing the Devil’s Thumb, Krakauer did this
What is he read, smoked, and nearly burnt his tent down?
Krakauer gives examples of other adventurers whose lives paralleled that of Chris McCandless. Carl McCunn, a 35-year-old amateur photographer, died in this way
What is forgot to arrange for a flight back to civilization.
Mysterious
What is enigmatic?
Krakauer inserts stories of several people who went into the wilderness of Alaska because he wants to show this
What is McCandless was not alone in feeling the pull of the wild.
McCandless did this to practice for his time spent in Alaska
What is live in a cave along the Sea of Cortez in Mexico.
When McCandless crossed the Teklanika River, the author writes, “he was crossing his Rubicon” (163). The phrase "crossing the Rubicon" means this
What is making an irrevocable decision?
This person mysteriously disappeared at Davis Gulch
Who is Everett Ruess?
Hostile and malicious
What is malevolent?
Billie McCandless leaves this at the bus
What is a suitcase stocked with survival supplies, in addition to a Bible?
Upon graduating from college, McCandless donated the bulk of his college fund to OXFAM America, which is this
What is a non-profit dedicated to fighting hunger.
This is why Krakauer’s climb of the Devil’s Thumb was significant. In part, this connects Krakauer’s Devil’s Thumb segue to McCandless’ ramblings around the United States, Mexico and Alaska, thereby establishing a deeper connection
What is it mattered to him, just as it mattered to McCandless.