Christopher McCandless is considered by many to be something of a modern-day folk hero. His decision in the early 1990s to abandon the comforts of modern life and “live simply†has inspired others to reconsider how they spend their own lives, but not without consequence.
Where It Began
Christopher McCandless’s life story was a mysterious—and tragic—one. Born in El Segundo, California, on February 12, 1968, he relocated in 1976 with his family to Annandale, Virginia, when his father, Walt, accepted a job with NASA. While this seemed like a recipe for the family’s success, a startling discovery changed everything for Chris…