Why do people lionize this kid? He basically murdered himself by failing to make even minimal provisions for his safety.
He:
(a) died of starvation (or possibly potato-seed poisoning) because he lacked basic foraging skills,
(b) killed a moose and then let most of it rot because he was ignorant of proper food-preservation techniques, and
(c) failed to keep any sort of lifeline to civilization in case of emergency.
He was no sort of a hero.
Having discussed this with several Alaskans, all felt sorry for the lad and all agreed that he was no hero, only a poorly prepared rookie.
Stay Strong/BeGood
RossB
Even the Donner Party brought extra rations, after a fashion.
The really sad thing is that he was only 2 miles or so from a Forest Service Station or some such, where he could have gotten help.
I saw the movie and thought it was a mostly pointless depiction of an utterly self-absorbed brat who Darwin Awarded himself.