Taylor Thelemann - Blue

Wayne Westerberg - Lives in Carthage, Finds Chris when he comes into the bar "The Cabaret". Chris went into the bar often, and Westerberg thought he was an odd person. He is described as a hyperkinetic man with thick shoulders and a black goatee. He owns an elevator grain in Carthage and offers Chris a Job. They become good friends while working together, but Westerberg is arrested and sentenced to 4 months in jail.

Bud Walsh - National Park Service ranger who was sent into the backcountry of Lake Mead National Recreation Area, found Chris' Datsun, and drove it out of the ditch. Turned it in to the police, who then used it to solve a lot of crime in the Atlanta area. Their biggest triumph was a huge drug bust of a Methamphetamine dealer operationg out of a trailer park near Bullhead City.

Crazy Ernie - Meets Chris while he is hitchhiking. He meets him right after Chris gets done working on the ranch with Westerberg. Chris is on his way back into the wild because Westerberg was arrested. Crazy Ernie learns about his situation and offers Chris a job on a ranch in Northern California. Chris denies, and continues into the wild, but enjoys the consideration.

John Mazzoleni - Red

Walt and Billie McCandless - Chris' parents, owned a successful business and gave Chris and his sister privileged lives. Though they were good providers, they never really cared for Chris and listened to what he wanted.  One reason he ran away was to prove to himself that he could survive without their care.  It is later learned that Chris was born to his parents while Walt was in another marriage, something he never forgave Walt for.  They also hired a private investigator to look for Chris.

Carine McCandless - Chris' sister, and daughter of Walt and Billie.  Her and Chris were very close, and she had a lot of trouble accepting his choice to leave and his death. She was said to look just like him.

Chris McCandless - Also known as Alex Supertramp.  Main character, runs away from his life in Atlanta to fulfill his dream of living off the land. Before he left, he donated all his money to OXFam, a charity that helps feed children.  He meets a lot of people and goes a lot of places in his journey, but ultimately ends up in Alaska, where he died out of starvation and eating the wrong wildlife.  He had a lot of reasons for going on his adventure.  He wanted to escape civilization and just live like he thought he was supposed to, natural.  He didn't follow any rules while he was away, and was gone for almost two years.  He was inspired by authors like Thoreau and Jack London.  His journey is well documented and inspired a lot of other adventures.

Ron - is an eighty year old widower, whose son and wife passed away forty years earlier while away in Japan for the military, leaving him an empty man. Because of his grief, Ron becomes a kind soul trying to find meaning in life, adopting Okinawan orphans and sending two of them to medical school. When he meets Chris, he immediately feels the desire to offer his advice. In the end, Ron becomes a foil for Chris which shows him that if he does not change his ways he will grow old and lonely. Chris convinces Ron that he is lonely himself and has him sell all of his worldly possessions and join him on the road. Ron agrees, hoping to keep Chris as his friend and not be lonely again. When he finds out that Chris had died, he drinks and wishes for death, leaving himself lonely.

Jan- Jan finds Chris as he arrives tired and hungry by the side of the road. She takes care of Chris, attempting to nurture his desire to live free of society, but also to warn him of the dangers in his actions. She tries to convince him to return to his mother and friends, though she fails. She likes him and is intrigued by him but doesn't capitalize and says "he needs to grow out of his woes." As a motherly figure in his life, Jan is a key individual in his journey.