I still completely think you are caught up on the results. His chance of returning would be insanely hard to determine and I think saying its a very slim chance is absurd.

http://www.linecamp.com/museums/amer...ntiersmen.html

Please read up on these guys. They did not have rubber boots, maps, satellite phones, or even a library to go read up on survival skills.


As far as his motive goes... First of all I dont see why it needs to make us feel sympathetic. His journey is not about you or me, its about him. Second why does it need to be complex? The world as he knew it did not seem to work for him. So youre right, he did commit suicide. But he didnt terminate his life, he terminated his existence in our society. It didnt work for him, so he left it. Plain and simple, not at all complex.

Oh and you keep saying "adequate preparation" or things similar to this. My point about the satellite phone, sherpa, ect. is that this phrase is relative. I mean he could have also had an advance team go first and build him a cozy log cabin. Is a map a simple thing to bring that does not require much effort? Yes, but it also changes the experience. If you have a map, youre no longer exploring, youre following. And the fact remains that you can absolutely survive without a map, so why bring it if its going to change your trip in a way you dont want.


So pretty much if we establish that no map equals no or a very slim chance of survival. Then yes, he was reckless and self destructive no matter what his reason was for not bringing it. However I think its pretty clear that you very well can survive without a map. Does it increase the chance of dieing in the wilderness? Ya, but is it a deathwish as you seem to want us all to believe? Absolutely not.