Survival: “He had a book about plants with him, and was using it to pick berries...Said he’d been surviving on edible plants he identified from the book.” (Krakauer 30) McCandless successfully provided the necessity of a sufficient amount of nutrients to fulfill his dietary needs. It is acknowledged that McCandless survived by foraging from the wilderness, essentially allowing him to consume meals without distress. Security: “Toward the front of the bus, McCandless’s pots and dishes are stacked on a makeshift plywood table beside a kerosine lamp.” (Krakauer 178) Over the course of his travels, McCandless had resided in various locations for his campsite. In the end of his journey, McCandless provides secure shelter away from the harsh environment in an abandoned bus. Social: …show more content…
McCandless sought social interactions despite his primary introverted demeanor. Psychological Safety: “McCandless distrusted the value of things that came easily. He demanded much of himself- more, in the end, than he could deliver.” (Krakauer 184) Although subconsciously, McCandless was rather strict with his lifestyle, contradicting his seemingly appearing care-free attitude. In order to maintain his reputation of self-reliability, McCandless pushed himself to achieve unrealistic expectations throughout his journey of self-achievement. Cognitive: “In order to feed himself, he had to devote a large part of each day to stalking animals.” (Krakauer 164-165) To upkeep self-reliability of providing meals, McCandless must learn to hunt to achieve the other aspect of the food pyramid. Without such knowledge, McCandless would have resorted to only consuming berries that vary in scarcity among the environmental seasons.