The narrator and author who explores the life of Chris McCandless, combining journalistic investigation with personal reflection to portray McCandless's journey and motivations.

Chris McCandless’s father, a former NASA employee with a commanding presence, whose relationship with Chris becomes strained due to past family revelations.

Chris’s mother and Walt’s wife, who works alongside Walt in their consulting firm and navigates the complexities within the family dynamic.

Chris’s younger sister, with whom he shares a close bond despite differing perspectives on family and wealth.

An elderly man who becomes close to McCandless after a chance encounter, forming a meaningful relationship that deeply impacts his life.

A grain elevator owner who befriends and employs McCandless, providing him with a sense of community and belonging in Carthage, South Dakota.

A fellow traveler who offers McCandless work and friendship at her bookstall in The Slabs, fostering a brief yet significant connection.

A trucker who gives McCandless a ride to the Stampede Trail, becoming the last known person to see him before he ventures into the wilderness.