Into the Wild is probably the best movie interpretation of a book I’ve seen. Usually movie versions of books fall well short. But the movie was on point from a factual details and spirit of the story/how it made you feel.
Idk, the story as told almost has an Icarus sort of vibe.
If we’re looking for examples of people who are still going strong living life on their own terms, I’ll nominate Abby the Spoon Lady.
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Never heard of her.
She’s good at spoons.
Yeah it was really good. I also loved the Iconoclasts episode where Krakauer and Sean Penn retrace McCandless’s doomed Alaska wilderness adventure. I’ve been to the store they go to. But I didn’t try to find the bus or where he went off the road.
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+1
I love the story. But from the first time I read it up until now, I’m always stuck with the feeling that McCandless was an idiot. Maybe its subconscious self loathing because of parallels between his life and mine, and I was lucky enough not to die when I did stupid shit repeatedly from age 15-23
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These free solo climbers and the dudes in those wing suits always irritate me.
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Exact opposite here for free solo. Wing suit eh I’m not sure. I’d probably need to experience something close to it and see if it feels like the rush is worth pushing it farther.
I’ve climbed a little bit despite having pretty much the worst body type imaginable - and I loved it.
As someone who struggles mightily to be present and in the moment - I can’t imagine anything more beautiful or clarifying than climbing up a rock face with no ropes where one slip = death. Totally worth the risk imo.
About a year ago I was fighting with my boss and my ex with benefits at the same time. I was also trying to diet hardcore and was in that state where I couldn’t put either out of my mind. I call it the hamster wheel that won’t stop spinning. I decided to go hiking on Mt. Wilson to clear my head.
The entire way up and down all I did was argue with my ex and my boss in my head. I couldn’t make it stop, until the last hour where it was getting dark and I had to gingerly hop back and forth over a rushing stream from recent rains. I probably wouldn’t die, but could easily break my ankle and have a very miserable cold wet night waiting for someone to show up the next day.
Only in the last hour was I at peace from the torment in my head, as I was so focused on not slipping on a rock or log into the stream. If you’re someone with that kind of anxiety all the time - I can see the wall/mountain as a huge sanctuary. But you have to keep pushing yourself or you’re not going to get in the flow state like that.
/ramble
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I quite often go through the exercise of forcing everything else out of mind on a ladder. Cheaper than base jumping!
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I think this is exactly what drew me to climbing and why I spent so much time pursuing it. It was really the first activity I found that really quieted my mind. Especially soloing, but even roped up climbing with a partner. When you’re out leading a pitch and puzzling your way through the sequences and how to protect the pitch properly with gear, it’s not too much different than soloing. Except risk of death is a lot lower.
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She’s spent much of her life riding the rails as an honest to God hobo, and the rest of it being a street performer. She became a minor internet celebrity a few years ago and recently did a video where she told everybody that made fun of her not having any teeth to fuck off.
Yes, the movie is quite good and Reese’s portrayal makes her more sympathetic in every way than everything I’ve read about or by her, though I did not read the book. I suspect she may have some lingering psychological issues, possibly from the drug abuse or other issues.
I haven’t seen the movie so that could be the disconnect with others ITT. I don’t really recall any real sense of personal growth or learning being documented in the book, so if the movie details those aspects I could see people having a totally different opinion based on that.
I mean there almost had to be some sort of mental breakdown there right?
A person going, “Welp, mom’s dead, guess I’ll leave my husband and go do a shitload of heroin and sleep with a ton of random people,” isn’t a sign of a stable mind.
And I thought the movie got snubbed for BP that year too, especially given the noms Reese and Laura Dern got. I think you’ll like it, especially since you’re into hiking.
I’m convinced.
Yeah, the giant painting of Jesus nailed to the flag and her promise to clean up “Wershington” is what did it for me. Except she misspelled Oklahoma, so I might have to reconsider.
How many states do you people have, that I’ve not heard of, where is Okahoma?
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Somewhere near Texas? Not sure anyone actually goes to or lives there. I’m less certain of its actual existence than Australia. I’ve actually met people who have lived in Australia.
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Non-US peeps - Which of these are real states?
- North Carolina
- New Guernsey
- East Virginia
- Cascadia
- Rhode Island
- Texarkana
- Arkedelphia
- Delaware
- Narnia
- Idaho
0 voters
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