The Wild Trees Nature Writing

Nature writing:
Wild Trees

Wild Trees. “The outer limit of biology” says Preston. Through love, danger, and discovery of these massive trees, you can see they really are “on the edge of possible.”

Steve Sillett once said you need to love trees to climb them. Well, there were many examples of this in The wild trees. One would be the literal verb-to love. Marie Antoinette and Steve Sillett “got it on” in the trees (pg. 199); after falling in love with the help of lichens, a type of organism that grows on trees. Also at the beginning of the book, young Sillett said “I’m lusting for this tree.” (pg.12) about Nameless, a gentle giant that Steve climbed while he was in his early 20’s. He climbed it without safety equipment and free climbed the whole way. But with love-there’s always break-ups. Steve had married Amanda Lebrun, but when she though his love for trees was getting in the way of his love for her. She broke his heart and got a divorce. (pg 155) These show, trees can have a hold on people. Good or bad-there’s always love. Death. Sillett has both knocked at the door and seen a friend knock as well. Luckily him nor Kevin Hillary; who fell over 100 feet out of a redwood, takes this lightly (pg 105-110) And for those not as lucky, like Truman Jones who fell to his death. (pg 103 + 104)

Into the Wild Nature Writing

Q: Do I see something admirable or noble in his struggles and adventures?

I find Chris McCandless’ struggles and adventures to be extremely noble and admirable. He died doing what he loved. Through life choices, money struggles, and going off seemingly unprepared, “Alex” led a life he literally lived and died for.

After Chris (a.k.a. Alex Supertramp) dropped off the radar he drove his beat-up car west and started his new life. Meeting many different people wasn’t what he aimed for-he aimed for his love of freedom and nature. After he donated $25,000 dollars to charity he dumped his car and burned the money he had-Alex Supertramp hit the scene. When he did need new supplies he reluctantly got jobs and created few relationships with people. But the relationships he did make-some grew strong such a s with one of his bosses Wayne Westerberg. Westerberg grew fond of young McCandless and his endeavors. The choices he made in life were his. He did what he wanted when he wanted. That might of sped up his death, but he loved every minute of it.

Money, one thing Chris never prioritized. He worked when he needed to, but other then that he ran free. Without money he still thrived. He could “live forever on rice”. People call him crazy for going out in Alaska under prepared and under schooled about everything. He ate by using a book to determine what berries were good. That played a role in his death but he loved ever minute of it.

Christopher Johnson McCandless, Alex Supertramp, either name I use still makes him my hero. He died doing what he wanted. He loved his life for the simplicity of it. You might say he’s crazy-but to me- he lived out his full American Dream. That alone makes him nobler and admirable then say you or me because not only did he dream it but he lived it. Through life choices good and bad, money, be it a lot or next to none, and unpreparedness makes McCandless a noble man. For not only having the guts to do what he loved but for not letting anyone stop him from achieving it.