"The prevailing Alaska wisdom held that McCandless was simply one more dreamy half-cocked greenhorn who went into the country expecting to find answers to all his problems and instead found only mosquitos and a lonely death. (72)"

• Krakauer saw McCandless as having done something very honorable going on this trip to find peace within himself and solve all his problems, but by the time he had it figured out he was unable to return and met his death.