Do Now #12

Describe a time that you felt like walking/driving away from all of your stresses. Where would you go? Why are you leaving?

Jon KrakauerAuthor of Into the Wild

Early Life Born in 1954

Grew up in Corvallis, Oregon

Father introduced him to mountaineering as an 8-year-old So he was very passionate about the outdoors from a

very young age.

Graduated from Hampshire College in 1976

Krakauer: Post-College

After college he traveled around Colorado, Alaska, & the Pacific Northwest

Worked primarily as a carpenter and commercial salmon fisherman

Spent all his free time outdoors

ADVENTURES1977 Traveled alone to the remote Stikine Icecap in Southeast Alaska

Went three weeks without encountering another person

Climbed a new route on an intimidating peak called the Devil’s Thumb

Devil’s

Thumb

ADVENTURES (cont.) 1992 Climbed the West

Face of Cerro Torre in the Patagonian Andes A mile-high spike of granite, Cerro

Torre was once considered the most difficult mountain on earth

May 1996 Climbed Mt. Everest A snow storm hit during his team’s

descent from the summit, killing 4 of his 5 teammates

Wrote Into Thin Air about his experience

Other Publications Has been published in:

Outside Rolling Stone TIME The New York Times National Geographic Many others…

#1 New York Times Bestseller

1998 Pulitzer Prize

Into the Wild

Author’s Note1. In the opening, Krakauer says McCandless went into the

wilderness seeking a “transcendent experience.” Think back to your Junior year and transcendentalism. Using prior knowledge define “transcendent experience.”

2. Krakauer says that the wilderness has a grip on the American imagination. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

3. Krakauer also states that “young men of a certain mind” are more prone to high-risk activities. What does he mean by this? Do you agree? And is it only men?

4. After reading the author’s note, do you believe Krakauer will be able to accurately tell Chris’s tale, given his admitted bias? Why or why not?