Death of an Innocent Open Response

Death of an Innocent Open Response: 

The most important factors in Chris's death were his "intensity, heedlessness, and agitation of the soul," and an unlucky twist of fate. Gallien had tried repeatedly to dissuade Alex from his plan to no avail. He even offered to drive Alex all the way to Anchorage so he could at least buy the kid some decent gear. This had been a pattern throughout Alex's life and he had distanced himself from his parents because of their disapproval. Many thought Alex's behavior was crazy and suicidal. Alex had lived a life of extremes by challenging how long he could go without food, water, and shelter. He believed that he could get himself out of any possible situation that he encountered with as few supplies as possible. This behavior wasn't suicidal, but it most definitely was naive and ill-fated. He donated the $20,000 in his bank account to Oxfam, loaded up his car, and disappeared. Walt and Billie would hear nothing more about Chris's whereabouts until their son's body turned up in Alaska two years later. Even though Alex had grown up in an affluent family, he shunned money and worldly possessions. His family loved him very much but he pushed them away. He was very much a loner and wanted to test himself to see if he could survive the extremes of the wilderness. Strength is the gift of the youth, and wisdom is the gift of the aged. If Alex had used his gifts of intensity, heedlessness, and agitation combined with a little wisdom, he would have been able to survive his Alaskan adventure. If Alex had known about 6 miles due South of the bus, an easy day walk, a cabin supplied with food, bedding, and first aid supplies was plainly marked on most maps of the area.