Alone in the Wilderness, Dick Proenneke

[427mach1]

The "Alone" thread got me thinking. If you want to see an incredible story of survival, isolation, resourcefulness, talent, craftsmanship... Watch the video about Dick Proenneke called "Alone in the Wilderness." It was shown on PBS several years ago and I was so moved by this incredible man that I donated enough to get the video and his book.

He left civilization, if you can call Kodiak civilization, and moved to the Twin Lakes region of Alaska. He built a cabin entirely by hand using materials found locally and lived there for 30 years mostly by himself, with a few supplies flown in occasionally. Talk about a real reality show - it makes the 61 day Alone record look like a walk in the park! He did make trips to the lower 48 once in a while to visit family. He filmed himself in 8 mm and 16 mm and documented how he did almost everything. Watching him build the cabin, gravel the floor, build the fireplace, roof, food cache, etc. was mesmerizing. He documented meteorological conditions daily and his records were later retrieved by the one of the government agencies and his cabin cabin is now included in the National Register of Historic Places.

If you have the time, the video and his book are worth the watch and read.

 

[Doug627]

As I recall, it was supposed to be a one year experiment but he decided to extend it and ended up living there for 30 years. Remarkable story.

 

[Salty RI]

When he built the fireplace in his cabin, it was all he had for heat, when he woke up the next morning he said it was a toasty 40 degrees in the cabin. I have a video that someone gave me that is different from the one they showed on PBS.

 

[427mach1]

When he built the fireplace in his cabin, it was all he had for heat, when he woke up the next morning he said it was a toasty 40 degrees in the cabin. I have a video that someone gave me that is different from the one they showed on PBS.

I seem to recall that he also had a cast iron cook stove later in the video. I would think that would be a much more effective heat source than the fireplace!

There was a second video, Silence and Solitude, made about 20 years later; is that the one you have? It was kind of sad to see him as a much older man....

It looks like there are two more DVD's out, Alone in the Wilderness Part II, and The Frozen North. I have Silence and Solitude but have never seen the other two.

 

[kamloops67]

I had enough "roughing it" on the farm , walking to the outhouse in 20 below made me realize that the "townies" we're on to something lol

 

[Bkreutz]

One of my favorite shows. Every time it comes on PBS I watch a bit of it. I particularly like watching him make his "utensils" with an axe.

 

[6518John]

Master Craftsman

His cabin is a true marvel of craftsmanship. Just look at the fit. The simple door latch is an amazing work in and of itself. His outhouse is probably better constructed than many buildings today!

Proenneke's Cabin - Lake Clark National Park & Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)

 

[Salty RI]

I seem to recall that he also had a cast iron cook stove later in the video. I would think that would be a much more effective heat source than the fireplace!

There was a second video, Silence and Solitude, made about 20 years later; is that the one you have? It was kind of sad to see him as a much older man....

It looks like there are two more DVD's out, Alone in the Wilderness Part II, and The Frozen North. I have Silence and Solitude but have never seen the other two.

I think it is, my SIL gave it to me and I gave it to a guy I used to work with.

 

[bummer]

When he built the fireplace in his cabin, it was all he had for heat, when he woke up the next morning he said it was a toasty 40 degrees in the cabin. I have a video that someone gave me that is different from the one they showed on PBS.

slept in a few snow caves in Alaska and 30 +degrees very warm when its -20 outside. The lowest temp I ever slept outside (snow trench covered with mre boxes and snow) was -30 plus .

 

[snubbyfan]

My hero:
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYJKd0rkKss[/ame]
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3NRdZ8J24Q[/ame]

 

[6518John]

slept in a few snow caves in Alaska and 30 +degrees very warm when its -20 outside. The lowest temp I ever slept outside (snow trench covered with mre boxes and snow) was -30 plus .

I would need my foot pajama's and electric blanket for that!

 

[30-30remchester]

slept in a few snow caves in Alaska and 30 +degrees very warm when its -20 outside. The lowest temp I ever slept outside (snow trench covered with mre boxes and snow) was -30 plus .

Yu have beat hands down. The coldest I woke up to was 11 below in a remote Colorado cabin. I did work outdoors for 20 straight hours at 23 below. My best cold weather adventure happened in Meeker, Co. in 1978. I capped a flowing well making 1,200 gallons a minute over the top. It was 29 below that fall morning when a crane lowered the well head onto the casing. I bolted it on while being drenched. Ah good times.

 

[Scott in NCal]

When I was watching this I could not help but think that there must have been a very unfortunate series of events involving a woman before this started.

 

[brigeton]

I've watched it more than once. He was an incredible craftsman. I was impressed that he built the entire cabin in one short summer with hand tools. The door hinges as well as the latch were amazing.

 

[canoeguy]

One thing that stands out from watching the PBS show was he gathered gravel from a nearby lake to make the floor of the cabin, moving it by the bucket load by hand. When his cabin was done, he was unhappy with all the sawdust and chips on the floor, mixed in with the gravel.

So, he shoveled up all the gravel, took it back down to the lake and rinsed the sawdust from it. A bucket at a time....

 

[Salty RI]

He wasn't afraid of work, that's for sure.

 

[CustomChevyGuy]

I've seen the video on the local PBS station a time or two. What a place, and what a view!

His place was amazing and if I recall, now a historical site.

 

[Dashriprock]

When I was watching this I could not help but think that there must have been a very unfortunate series of events involving a woman before this started.

Actually, he caught rheumatic fever in 1945 and during the convalescence and recovery he realized he should devote his life to the pursuit of good health. Coupled with his love for the outdoors, it seemed a perfect fit to move to the wilds and live a life of contemplation, solitude and self-sufficiency.

One of the great American stories. The man was amazingly skilled.

 

[arjay]

One of the members here posted a link to his diaries a few years ago.It was an interesting read.Dick spent most winters at his brothers farm in the Midwest making money for supplies and only missed a year or so when he crashed their plane.Fascinating story.