So, i got hold of this book one mans wilderness, as soon as possible. Slim is no legendary paul bunyan, but a reallife adventurer who will have you chuckling at some of his remembrances, and feel your spine tingle at others in this, his story, told by a fellow northland adventurer. With dangerous wildlife, extreme weather, and unforgivable terrain, alaska is no place to find yourself stranded. Alone in the wilderness, dvd and vhs available, the story of. Dick proenneke retired at age 50 in 1967 and decided to build his own cabin in the wilderness at the base of the aleutian peninsula, in what is now lake clark national park. Many have dreamed of building a cabin in the wilderness and living there alone in the solitude of a region that is far from civilization. Documentary tells the story of dick proenneke who, in the late 1960s, built his own cabin in the wilderness at the base of the aleutian peninsula, in what is now lake clark national park. In doing so, he became an icon of survivalist grit and conservationism. To live in a pristine land unchanged by roam a wilderness through which few other humans have choose an idyllic site, cut trees and build a log.
Those recordings were eventually used in his documentary, alone in the wilderness, which has aired on pbs numerous times over the years. To live in a pristine land unchanged by roam a wilderness through which. Richard proenneke lived alone until 1999, when he retired once again, and moved to california, to live with his brother. Bob edited the film and added sound to create this fascinating film of one man living alone in the alaska wilderness. An alaskan odyssey by sam keith, we took to the woods by louise dickinson rich, woodswoman i. May 17, 2017 richard proenneke lived alone until 1999, when he retired once again, and moved to california, to live with his brother. Dick proenneke lived alone for nearly thirty years in the. These 9 epic survival tales from the alaskan wilderness are unbelievable but true. Alone in the wilderness is the story of dick proenneke living in the alaska wilderness.
Dick filmed his adventures so he could show his relatives in the lower 48 states what life was like in alaska, building his cabin, hunting for food and exploring the area. In 1950 dick proenneke moved to shuyak island, alaska to ranch cattle for a short while. In truth, many have lost their lives trying to survive long enough to be rescued while very few live to tell the tale. Cabin alone in the alaskan wilderness dick proenneke. From dicks journals, and with firsthand knowledge of his subject and the setting, sam keith has woven a tribute to a man who carved his masterpiece out of the beyond. Dick proenneke shot over 3000 feet of 8mm movie film. Jun 10, 2015 novelist rebecca dinerstein chooses her top 10 books on solitude, remoteness and physical or psychic isolation rebecca dinerstein wed 10 jun 2015 08. The log cache, or raised storage shed, is located eleven feet south of the cabin. Its a two stage system of particulate filtration followed by chemical disinfection for the biological stuff i just store two extrastrong dog poop bags and aquatabs in my wallet. From the author of the nightingale, kristin hannah, comes a new novel that will take you far and away into the deep wilderness of alaska about the great alone in 1974 year old leni is. Its about a 50 yearold man who moves from iowa to alaska in the early. Watch through his eyes as he continues to document with his 16mm windup bolex camera, capturing his own amazing craftsmanship, the stunning alaskan wildlife and scenery and even a visit. A series of diary entries covering dick proennekes first year living alone in a cabin built.
It is 6feet by 4feet, built of peeled locally harvested spruce logs that are. Like the book, the video alone in the wilderness covers the first 16 months, with narrative from keiths version of proennekes journal. This book made a big splash when it debuted in 1973. Jan 19, 2016 these 9 epic survival tales from the alaskan wilderness are unbelievable but true.
While i would certainly do 2 weeks alone in the wilderness again, i would not do a full month alone again. For over 30 years he lived a solitary life, surviving off the land and recording his experience. In this remote location proenneke builds a cabin by hand, and the documentary captures his labors with a variety of hand tools and resources taken from the. Dick proenneke alone in the wilderness, dvd and vhs. In 2003, bob swerer produced the video alone in the wilderness, by editing more of richards previously unseen footage.
This is the amazing story of dick proenneke living alone in the alaska wilderness. Richard gave the cabin to the national park sevice, which maintains and promotes it as a popular tourist destination. These 9 epic survival tales from the alaskan wilderness are. Proenneke hunted, fished, raised and gathered his own food, and also had supplies flown in occasionally.
I have been living in the wilderness, alone, for six months. That is, until i read the early years the journals of richard l. Dick proenneke is, to my mind, the father of wilderness living. Living in alaska alone in the wilderness, the story of. Two reasons i live peacefully and blissfully alone in the forest, hundreds of miles from roads or telephone lines. In the late summer of 2010, dick proennekes brother, jake, discovered a closetfull of unseen 8mm and 16mm film shot during dicks 30year adventure living alone at lake clark. The story of dick proenneke alone in the wilderness. See more ideas about cabins in the woods, alaska cabin and how to build a log cabin. This alaska adventure book is begins with 18 year old slim williams whose adventures span over 32 years in the the frozen wilderness. So, i was born and raised in the biggest city in alaska, moved away to enjoy the city for a few years in the northwest, and then ended up coming crawling back to the great state of alaska. Using color footage he shot himself, proenneke traces how he came to this remote area, selected a homestead site and built his log cabin completely by himself.
The documentary covers his first year incountry, showing his. Mar 27, 20 one of the more intriguing shows that pbs runs occasionally especially during its pledge drives is the documentary alone in the wilderness, which chronicles the exploits of dick proenneke, who retired in 1967 to twin lakes, alaska. When i first saw this short documentary a few years back, i thought to myself i would love to have a little piece of land near the water, with some mountains in the back drop, tucked away amidst the pines, miles away from anyone and everyone. The parents leave their jobs and take their three children, ages 10, 8 and 4, to spend nine months living in a small cabin with no road. He even joined the fish and wildlife service and worked at king salmon. Lucky for all of us, dick filmed many of his adventures and daily activities to share with his family back home in iowa. In the mid19th century, henry david thoreau gained fame after sequestering himself for two years at a small cabin on walden pond.
But here alone in the wilderness day after day without the sound of a human voice, or the contact of a human being, and the knowledge that there would n t be either for. Jun 17, 2012 two reasons i live peacefully and blissfully alone in the forest, hundreds of miles from roads or telephone lines. In search of a new perspective, a family of five leave the comforts of home to live remotely in the yukon wilderness during the long northern winter and amidst the surprises that the rawness of nature provide. Alone in the wilderness, the story of dick proenneke, by bob.
Amazing is that he moved to the twin lakes, the place where he eventually built the cabin, at the age of 52 years old not that young. Alone in the wilderness, dvd and vhs available, the story of dick. Any intrusive thoughts youve struggled with like big fears, regrets, angers, etc will pop up and repeat themselves on loop. Surviving alone in the wilderness for a month life listed. In 1997 bob swerer and bob swerer sr flew to twin lakes to visit with dick proenneke and explore the twin lakes region. Ive been suffering depression my entire life, and about three years ago i decided i couldnt handle everyday life anymore. Then he got a job working at the kodiak naval base as a heavy equipment operator and repairman. Alone in the wilderness 2004 directed by dick proenneke. At the same time, it was tremendously physiologically taxing. Hey guys, finally got around to testing my emergency water kit thought it might be useful here. After working as a carpenter, sheep farmer, diesel mechanic, and salmon fisherman, he retired in 1967 at age 50 and began planning the ultimate alaskan retirement. After living in alaska for over 5 years, and spending quite a bit of time in the.
The man who showed us how to be alone in the wilderness for decades, proenneke lived in a handmade cabin at alaskas twin lakes. Living alone in the wilderness for a month was the most insightful experience that i have ever had. This book is a moving account of the daytoday explorations and activities dick. Here is the unusual story of a young wildlife ecologist who has done just that. The book is beautifully written and very hard to put down. One mans wilderness is a simple account of the daytoday explorations and activities he carried out alone, and the constant chain of natures events that kept him company. Dick proennekes simple, yet profound account of his 30 year adventure in the remote alaska wilderness continues in this sequel to alone in the wilderness.
You might know his story from the pbs documentary alone in the wilderness. Dick worked on and off as a commercial salmon fisherman, and as a diesel mechanic for years. Sam keith dicks friend has done a wonderful job of turning dicks diaries into a book. Richard proenneke, alaska wilderness hermit articles. The stepbystep process, including choosing a building site, selecting materials, choosing tools, building without heavy equipment and living an off grid lifestyle. It won that years national outdoor book award in the historybiography. In 1968, an iowa man named dick proenneke decided to leave civilization and live in. Mar 05, 2012 in the late summer of 2010, dick proennekes brother, jake, discovered a closetfull of unseen 8mm and 16mm film shot during dicks 30year adventure living alone at lake clark. Novelist rebecca dinerstein chooses her top 10 books on solitude, remoteness and physical or psychic isolation rebecca dinerstein wed 10 jun 2015 08. If you have seen alone in the wilderness you will definitely enjoy this book. An alaskan odyssey is a book, first published in 1973, by sam keith, based on the journals and photography of richard proenneke who, in 1968, retreated to the wilderness of twin lakes in lake clark national park, alaska to build a home for himself and live alone in the wilderness. Alone in the wilderness 2003, alaska silence and solitude 2004, the frozen north 2006. He lived alone, for over 30 years, in the alaska wilderness, in a log cabin he constructed by hand his story is fascinating. Alone in the wilderness the coolest survival homestead story.
The video documentary highlights his adventure, and shows him living and surviving in the harsh alaskan wilderness. Bob swerer productions presents alone in the wilderness, the story of dick. Top blades of all time 34 rare swords, spears, and daggers history duration. Bob swerer has taken the best footage from dicks films and he has created 4 videos about dick, alone in the wilderness, alone in the wilderness part 2, alaska, silence and solitude and the. Bob swerer has taken the best footage from dicks films and he has created 3 videos about dick, alone in the wilderness, alaska. A series of diary entries covering dick proennekes first year living alone in a. He lived there for four years until he died at the age of 86.
The documentary covers his first year in country, showing his daytoday activities and the passing of the seasons as he sought to scratch out a living alone in the wilderness. I have been living in the wilderness, alone, for six months now. Living in alaska alone in the wilderness, the story of dick. In keeping with his wilderness values, proenneke lived in this cabin for 30 years without electricity, running water, a telephone, or other modern conveniences. A century later, a man named richard dick proenneke took the same idea to an extreme he plunked himself down in the icy wilds of alaska and lived there alone for 30 years.
Dick is a wonderful man with the perfect skills for the wilderness life and the empathy with the earth that makes such a life possible. Two reasons i live alone in remote alaska alaskawildgirl. Bob swerer produced the video the frozen north in 2006. Aug 21, 2018 11 videos play all alone in the wilderness javagun51 pawn stars. Aug 10, 2018 bob swerer has taken the best footage from dicks films and he has created 4 videos about dick, alone in the wilderness, alone in the wilderness part 2, alaska, silence and solitude and the. How to build an off grid log cabin without power tools. May 4, 1916 april 20, 2003 was an american selfeducated naturalist who lived alone for nearly thirty years in the mountains of alaska in a log cabin that he constructed by hand near the shore of twin lakes. Bob swerer produced the video the frozen north, and edited the 3000 feet of 8mm movie film richard proenneke shot over in 2006. In 1968, an iowa man named dick proenneke decided to leave civilization and live in the wilderness of alaska near the twin lakes. Watch one man build this log cabin alone in the wilderness.
Bob swerer has taken the best footage from dicks films and he has created 3 videos about. The documentary covers his first year incountry, showing his daytoday activities and the passing of the seasons as he sought to scratch out a living alone in the wilderness. An amazing documentary about a man dick proenneke who spent 30 years living in a tiny log cabin in the alaskan wilderness. I was captivated after watching the 2part pbs documentary, alone in the wilderness. One of the more intriguing shows that pbs runs occasionally especially during its pledge drives is the documentary alone in the wilderness, which chronicles the exploits of dick proenneke, who retired in 1967 to twin lakes, alaska. Alone in the wilderness of alaska dick proenneke survival. The man who showed us how to be alone in the wilderness for decades, proenneke lived in a handmade cabin at alaska s twin lakes.
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