The last couple of times I have gone back home to Washington State for a vacation, I have caught a film on P.B.S. called “Alone in the Wilderness“. It’s a film my mom and brother Abe, really enjoyed and they thought I would too.
This film is more of a documentary about Richard Proenneke, who retired in 1967 to Twin Lakes Alaska where he built his log cabin home by hand, and all by himself. The film consists of shots of Proenneke performing tasks around his cabin, canoeing and walking, and views of wildlife, along with narration. For shots of himself (since he was alone), Proenneke fixed the camera in place, and then performed his tasks. This would necessitate him returning to the camera after walking or canoeing away.
Proenneke originality was creating this video intending to be used as step-by-step instructions for creating a hand-built structure. He lived in his cabin for 30 years, only returning to the lower 48 states occasionally to be with family.
In 1999, at age 82, Proenneke returned to civilization and lived the remainder of his life with his brother in California. He died of a stroke April 28, 2003. He left his cabin to the Parks Service.
Nice add to the site. Keep em coming.
I have watched that a few times on PBS. The muskrat shot of him playing in the snow is priceless.
This was a great film! My family and I started building a log cabin many years ago. We worked all summer at felling and chopping, etc….I think we got two logs high and quit. Incredibly hard work. We need more resourcefulness that Dick used! Praise God for making us all different…but I’d like to have hung out w/ this guy!! xo
It is such a great story so simply elegant and so rich–that self reliance is absolutely incredibly inspiring and in such a beautiful surroundings!