McCandless definitely did not know what he was getting himself into, but I'm guessing you aren't a fan of Walden or of the romantic poets, based on your apparent hatred of a book, which stems not from the plot, but from the fact that it is McCandless's death is romanticized by the public eye. No, his death shouldn't be romanticized, it was his own fault. That said, the book is outright inspiring— I know that after I read it, though I felt no sympathy for McCandless, it strengthened within my mind the romantic notions I was already developing on my own. I went on a huge romanticism and transcendentalism binge after that, which has (in combination with a number of existentialist works) left me satisfied with my mortality and life in general.
Tangentially related, yes, but you've got to look beyond plot and public opinion when you read a book...