ipl-logo

Everett Ruess: A Short Story

1356 Words6 Pages

It was a cold November 16, 1934 and Everett Ruess was in a sticky situation. He was stuck in a snow igloo hastily made 6 days before his hands were poisoned by a rattlesnake’s bite. The rattlesnake that had bitten him had an owner, Frank Dandis, his greedy childhood friend who moved to Escalante, Utah five years before. Six days ago, they were the best of friends, but now they were bitter enemies stuck in an igloo because of a whirlwind snowstorm. Frank Dandis was a farmer who had always dreamed of being a roamer, one who explores nature’s natural beauty as a profession. However, he didn’t have enough time for such exploring because he had a snappy wife and two whiny children who lived outside of Escalante …show more content…

So he invited Ruess back to his home so they could discuss the paintings. On the long horse-back ride from the bustling town they talked about Everett’s past. He learned that Everett Ruess, a young Californian artist, poet, and writer who loved to make works of art based off nature. On this trip Everett was going to Mexico with funds from trading his artwork; because God had told him that Mexico would be Everett’s homeland. Everett said, “And when the time comes to die, I wished to be buried where my savior leads me …show more content…

The only reason Frank had let the snake out is because he wanted Everett’s art for his mistress. Frank’s mistress already had her Van-Goughs and Picassos, but she desired art, such as Everett’s, from Frank which brought nature inside her home. By the time Frank got the snake off Everett Ruess’ hand; Everett’s hand was numb. However, the snow was falling fast and a shelter needed to be made, Ruess and Frank started building a snow igloo to weather the storm out. His hands twisted with pain, but he finished the structure and suddenly a boom broke out of the Utah mountains. “Uh-oh”, said Everett, “Go into the igloo, Frank, an avalanche is coming!”

They rushed into the igloo as the snow came rushing down the mountain. So much snow came down in the avalanche that igloo was covered by snow. With limited food and water, bitterness began to grow between them. Frank had all the food, which was some cornmeal and salted pork, so Ruess could only eat if he traded a precious print in exchange. Both the air and the duo’s food supply quickly grew thin. However, Everett Ruess’ youth and grim determination to make it to Mexico kept him going, while Mr. Dandis’ slowly faded

Show More
Related

  • Ronald Nuss: A Short Story

    108 Words  | 1 Pages

    I spoke with Horton's friend identified as Ronald Nuss (DOB-02-15-1989). Nuss stated, "Me and her mom were in the next room over, and could hear Tristan and Horton arguing, it sounded like a struggle was taking place like something hit the floor. We could hear what sounded like Horton gasping for air, a cough and type of whine noise is what we heard. This isn't the first time they've fought, and he's assaulted her before. I went outside and shined the light in the windows to see what was going on, and Tristan opened the door and came out quickly.

    Read More

  • What Is The Physical Setting Of The Novel LOTF And Bluejohn Canyon

    769 Words  | 4 Pages

    In 2003, “I certainly made mistakes” - Aron Ralston, on his miscalculation of the risks and his decision of not informing anyone about his canyoneering trip at Bluejohn Canyon, Utah. From his actions, it transformed a general walk in the park scenario into a fatal journey of 127 hours or five and a half days. This essay will examine how a life-threatening and desperate physical setting of Bluejohn Canyon similar to LOTF can manifest itself within the mind and context of each individual associated, leading them to perform certain actions that will reflect on their background values and identities divergently. Surprisingly, being obscured in a hazardous and despairing physical setting can adjust one’s identity and POV to become harsh and

    Read More

  • Chris Mccandless Essay

    407 Words  | 2 Pages

    Chris McCandless was an American adventurer who traveled to the Alaskan wilderness in April 1992. He look little food and equipment with him, before embarking on his journey McCandless abandoned his car and burned his money. He wanted to live simply in solitude away from the materialistic world. Timothy Treadwell, an environmentalist, also ventured to Alaska to study grizzly bears. Both Chris and Timothy set out to explore what the wilderness had to offer and they didn’t let anyone stop them from doing what they desired.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis: The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

    528 Words  | 3 Pages

    Furthermore, Carter mentions that “there are few places on earth as wild and fierce as the Arctic Refuge” to prove to the audience that the refuge is distinctive, rare, and does not

    Read More

  • A Rhetorical Analysis Of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge By Jimmy Carter

    770 Words  | 4 Pages

    He describes the Refuge as “magnificent,” “timeless,” and “a symbol of our national heritage.” This strong language serves to convey the depths of Carter’s passion for the Refuge, and helps the reader to feel some of that passion as well. This use of emotion helps to build Carter’s case as the audience becomes more connected to the place he wants to protect. After describing the Refuge using such grand terms, Carter goes on to describe the threat faced by the Refuge in similar fashion, describing the development of the land as a potential “tragedy” that would “forever destroy the wilderness character of America’s only Arctic Refuge,” as well as endangering the “precious human rights” of the area’s indigenous people. This powerful language causes the reader to feel that the refuge is under serious threat, and any harm that might come to the Refuge would be devastating.

    Read More

  • Hunters In The Snow By Tobias Wolff

    577 Words  | 3 Pages

    In 1945, Tobias Wolff wrote “Hunters in the Snow”. In this story, three men named Kenny, Frank, and Tub joined together as old friends and went on a deer hunting trip in the brutal winter of Spokane, Washington. With Tub being on the chubby side he instantly becomes the weak link of the group, while Kenny and Frank deal with problems psychologically. Frank is trying to justify that leaving his wife and talking to his kid’s babysitter is okay and Kenny is putting on a tough guy act to cover up who knows what.

    Read More

  • Hatchet By Gary Paulsen

    797 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Hatchet, Paulsen highlights various aspects of natural conditions. This includes, but is not limited to, the weather, annoying pests, like mosquitos, and his extreme lack of consistent food. He highlights these by using creative literary techniques, like metaphors, similes and exaggeration, to help the reader visualize a clearer image in their heads as they are reading. One example of this is the tornado that wiped through the area he was living and destroyed his shelter, “It was wind, wind like the sound of a train, with the low belly roar of a train. It was a tornado” (Paulsen, pg. 125).

    Read More

  • Scarlet Letter Dialectical Journal

    567 Words  | 3 Pages

    First Snow The ghastly precipitation fell in the skies as if hell had poured to impose judgment. Snow bleed down with crisp edges that were as sharp as a spinning wheel that landed upon all the living and the dead. A cacophony filled my ears with the sound of nature and fearful humans. Within all the chaos something so ghoulish yet alluring caught my eyes. The figure sat atop the steel edifice observing the night city with an expression filled with disinterested.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Devices In Into The Wild

    894 Words  | 4 Pages

    When we think of going out into the wilderness to explore all its wonders, most of us would be petrified by the thought. However, for Chris McCandless and many others, the thought alone excited them. In the nonfiction novel, Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, Krakauer introduces to us the story of Chris McCandless and his journey through the Alaskan wilderness. In the novel, Krakauer tries to convey understanding between the reader and McCandles. Krakauer’s use of rhetorical devices such as diction and parallelism helps to defend Chris’s actions and explain the importance of his journey.

    Read More

  • My Antonia Symbolism

    616 Words  | 3 Pages

    Willa Cather used symbolism a great deal in My Antonia. One example can be found in book one, chapter six. Antonia had found a grasshopper. “Tony made a warm nest for him in her hands; talked to him gayly and indulgently in Bohemian. Presently he began to sing for us — a thin, rusty little chirp.

    Read More

  • The Children's Blizzard Analysis

    1631 Words  | 7 Pages

    David Laskin’s The Children’s Blizzard explains the devastating force of an intense blizzard, which caught several people unprepared, and it tells the tragic stories of these people. On January 12, 1888 a massive blizzard struck the center of North America, killing between 250 to 500 people and affecting thousands. There were many factors that made this blizzard exceptionally deadly. Many farmers and children who were outside were unprepared to deal with any cold conditions, “a day when children had raced to school with no coats or gloves and farmers were far from home doing chores they had put off during the long siege of cold” (Laskin 2).

    Read More

  • Colonies Diary Entry

    774 Words  | 4 Pages

    The chilly, crisp New England breeze stung my face, as I approached my family 's modest home. The sun was just beginning to dip below the trees, as I snuck through the sturdy oak door to the house. The door swung open with a slow squeak and an instant surge of heat washed over me like a wave, warming my numb fingers. I recognized the familiar crackle of burning wood in the fireplace before stepping past the arched doorway to the kitchen. "

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Into The Wild

    915 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Alaskan Bush is one of the hardest places to survive without any assistance, supplies, skills, and little food. Jon Krakauer explains in his biography, Into The Wild, how Christopher McCandless ventured into the Alaskan Bush and ultimately perished due to lack of preparation and hubris. McCandless was an intelligent young man who made a few mistakes but overall Krakauer believed that McCandless was not an ignorant adrenalin junkie who had no respect for the land. Krakauer chose to write this biography because he too had the strong desire to discover and explore as he also ventured into the Alaskan Bush when he was a young man, but he survived unlike McCandless. Krakauer’s argument was convincing because he gives credible evidence that McCandless was not foolish like many critics say he was.

    Read More

  • Isolation In Tub And Paul's Hunters In The Snow

    1628 Words  | 7 Pages

    “Hunters in the Snow” deals with the motif of alienation, or isolation. Tub and Frank both experience isolation from others, reinforced by the secrets they are keeping. Kenny and Frank rush ahead of Tub while hunting, and almost leave without him. Tub has to run to catch up with them, and pulls himself into the truck before it drives away. Indignant, he says,”’I used to stick up for you.’

    Read More

  • Summary Of 'The Chris Mccandless Obsession Problem'

    781 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the 2013 online article, “The Chris McCandless Obsession Problem”, author Diana Saverin describes the Alaskan wilderness travel phenomenon along with attempting to uncover the ‘McCandless Pilgrims’ “root of motivation. Sparked by the release of both Jon Krakauer’s and Sean Penn’s “Into the Wild”, numerous individuals pack their backpacks and eagerly step into their (sometimes newly-bought) hiking shoes and tramp into the Alaskan Wild to pay homage to their hero Chris McCandless. Filled with personal anecdotes and interviews, Severin’s Outside article takes a new approach Into the Wild commentary by directing attention to the lives McCandless’s story affected indirectly rather than critiquing on McCandless himself. In response to what appears to be a huge amount of troubled McCandless-inspired tramping stories, Saverin provides an unbiased rationale as a attempt to explain why so many are “willing to risk injury, and even death, to..visit the last home of Alaska’s most famous adventure casualty”. Saverin begins her article with anecdote- telling the unfortunate experience of young lovers and adept adventure seekers, Ackerman and Gros.

    Read More

More about Everett Ruess: A Short Story

Open Document