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Aug 20, 2023Liked by Liz Medford - lizexplores.com

This was a great read Liz!

I have always felt a call to ‘leave civilisation behind’ but I know I’d probably die in like a week - but nonetheless the call is there.

I’ve always been fascinated by Chris’s story and Thoreau’s book Walden - and so this piece was right up my alley.

Thanks.

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I’m so glad you enjoyed this piece, Michael! I knew it would be meaningful to others who know Chris’s story. You will find your own Walden! 😄

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Aug 20, 2023Liked by Liz Medford - lizexplores.com

Wonderful heartfelt reveries....

Enjoy the shared honeymoon weeks!

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Thank you so much, Jim! I’m glad you enjoyed reading it.

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Aug 20, 2023Liked by Liz Medford - lizexplores.com

This story took my breath away. I can’t help but think how fate had a part to play in his story and yours. Safe journeying! 💗

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Thank you, Mariah! I appreciate your kind words. :)

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Aug 20, 2023Liked by Liz Medford - lizexplores.com

I’ve traveled to a few places Chris visited around America over the years but my trip to Alaska in 2002 changed my life. Long before I even got to Alaska I stayed at a campground Chris did, Laird Hot Springs in northern BC. This stop quite seriously changed the direction on my life for evermore.

I was Traveling with my dog Abbey who basically looked like Lassie. She wandered into the next campsite and started playing with the 2 kids there. Chasing the maybe 5 year old girl on her bike while her little brother ran behind. The parents made dinner and smiled as they watched their children play and that’s when I decided I wanted that. At that point in my life I’d been married 7 years and with my wife for 12. The next day as I stood at a pull out watching a moose swim a lake in Alaska on the way to Anchorage I called my wife and said “I’m ready” that’s all. She knew exactly what that meant and a year later almost to the day our first daughter was born.

Point being if it had not been for Chris’s story as told by Jon would I have ever sought out Laird Hot Springs and had this vision that changed my life? I guess we’ll never know but I’m giving him full marks for changing the direction of my life.

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What an amazing story, Steve! How serendipitous that you had that moment of realization on your trip. You are lucky to have your children.

My husband and I have been trying to start a family for the past three years. We’ve had five miscarriages and over a year of fertility treatments. If you read some of my back catalog of essays, I’ve been writing about that journey.

This trip to Alaska was my way of taking a break from the stress and grief of our losses before we decide how to move forward. I hope I’ll come away from my adventure with clarity as to how I want to move forward from here.

Thank you for reading, and for sharing how Chris’ journey changed your life!

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Jan 10Liked by Liz Medford - lizexplores.com

Ahhhh man. This post gave me goosebumps and brought tears to the eyes. Like you, I feel such a passion for the story of Chris. I feel he was so beyond his timeline when it came to questioning and bucking against the norms of society. His authenticity, his determination to follow his heart and to live the path less walked moves me deeply. The book sits on my bookshelf, well-worn and heavily marked. Loved, loved, loved reading this. I feel like, in his short life, he lived with more soul then many live in a life of 90 years. 🥹

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Thank you for sharing, Suzy! I’m so happy to find a fellow fan of Chris McCandless, and I’m really glad you enjoyed this piece. Following his footsteps was a profound experience for me, and his journey continues to inspire me. 🥰

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Jan 11Liked by Liz Medford - lizexplores.com

Ahhh no, thank YOU for such a great piece of writing and for sharing this very moving experience. It’s strange to me how many people pass the film as “depressing” or “too sad to watch”. They’re missing out on a truly remarkable character and the very deep and meaningful messages that he left behind.

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Exactly! It’s the only film I love to watch over and over again. There is such deep humanity in all the characters, even more so knowing that it is based on a true story.

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