Stumbled onto the story of Dick Proenneke this morning. Read more about him here. I guess he shot a bunch of footage while living out there, which was edited into a film called "Alone in the Wilderness" by a guy named Bob Swerer. I enjoy watching these old films, especially in crappy weather.

Proenneke's cabin is now in an NPS preserve in the Lake Clark Wilderness.

"His was not the first cabin on Twin Lakes, nor was it the biggest. Proenneke's cabin, though, stands out for its remarkable craftsmanship, which reflects his unshakeable wilderness ethic. The cabin was built using only hand tools, many of which Proenneke himself had fashioned. Throughout the thirty years he lived at the cabin, Proenneke created homemade furniture and implements that reflect his woodworking genius."







20 years later, Bob put together a follow up, called "Alaska, Silence and Solitude."

If you just heard of him now, you must not have cable. His videos have been played on PBS many times through out the years. I never tire of watching them.

exodus wrote:you must not have cable.

That is correct.

The other great thing I have recently discovered is old Fred Bear hunting films.

It's all I wanted to do as a teenager. He lived it...

Z, thanks for posting those. I'd heard about that guy before but I had no idea what a tremendous story that was!

Zz,

Dick's place on Upper Twin is about 20 minitues by SuperCub from my cabin on Lake Clark. There is a better volume available. John Branson ( park historian and pal of Proenneke ) edited the early years of Dick's Journal and frankly it sounds more like him.

Available here - http://www.alaskageographic.org/store/p ... arly-years

GR

No cable in my house either but I watched his movie on youtube a while back. He had quite the life in the middle of nowhere.

CW

Z:

I agree! His story is fascinating.

I had to have his film in my library. Website for films and book is :

http://www.dickproenneke.com/

Book is even better.

About every 3 to 6 months I dig it out and watch it again. Who ever narrated it did a good job.

Regards, LF

Dick has been a good family friend of my dad, Roy Allen
They hung out together in Kodiak, Twin Lakes and California. Dick and his brother Raymond owned an 85hp J-3 Cub N7335H, called “the Arctic Tern”. On Oct 6 1976 Dick left Twin Lakes for the winter and flew the Cub to Anchorage. He departed Merrill Field at 10:40AM for his trip to Iowa. He looked forward to the enjoyable flight. His route took him over Eagle River, Chugiak and Palmer. Flying over the Matanuska River and following the Glenn Highway. He pulled carb heat now and then to check for ice. After crossing Sheep Mountain Lodge things took a turn for the worse. The engine “had quit as if the switch had been turned off”! He pulled carb heat and tried a restart, nothing. Tried priming and using the throttle, still nothing! Now he was getting pretty low. He doubted a safe landing could be made at the river. He went for the highway but ended up 200yds short. Nobody saw him crash.
His face was numb and bloody. Lap belt only left his face imprinted on the panel. His back hurt and went into spasms. It was a long and slow journey to the road. He was picked up and whisked to the hospital in Glennallen. X-rays showed a fractured vertebra in his lower back. He was transferred to Providence in Anchorage the next day. A dozen stiches in his lips, chin and nose. With a back brace and crutches he was released on Oct 30. He recouped at Raymonds in Lynwood CA. Dick doubted he would make it back to Twin Lakes the following year. He walked as much as he could. By Jan 1977 he could do 12 miles. Their Cub was trucked down by 2 guys traveling to San Diego. More good therapy for him as the two of them set out to rebuild it.
Due to his unrelenting therapy, perseverance and determination he was back at the lakes in June 1977. Dick was 60yrs old and logged 177hrs at the time of the crash. NTSB# ANC77DAH08.
One of my favorite events was in 1975. Dick and Jake lifted a sunken Cessna out of the lake. N70039 a 300hp C-185 on floats. They used the “Arctic Tern”, on floats, plus every drum that could float. Lots of rope, winch and “MacGyver” technology. After they got it out a big chopper flew it off to Anchorage. The insurance company paid them $2000 to do the job.
He was a way cool guy!

I have seen these series of videos several times, and every time they are a treat.

With the way society is going I often think about how nice it would be to fly off into the Alaska bush and do what Dick did.

Although I'd be building a place with a pretty spiffy sea plane dock.

I am going to have to go see if this is no netflix.

"Alone in the Wilderness" plays on the local satellite PBS station a couple times a year. That guy was a helluva craftsman, but really did everything the hard way (by hand)--everything! I'm thinking of the wooden door hinges he made in particular, instead of just using freighted-in store-bought iron strap hinges. In the narration of the movie, he sounded apologetic about using visqueen (plastic sheeting) under his moss roof, instead of whatever he said was more authentic (pine pitch or ???).

Alone in the wilderness was the very first film of many about Alaska I saw when I was a teenager and has made me want to come up to Alaska. Finally in 2006 the military moved me up and I have been here ever since and now I am working on my second childhood dream of learning to fly. In 2009 I got to fly out to twin lakes on a moose hunt near there and we stopped to check out the cabin and the area. It was very surreal to say the least!

A pic I took of the Upper Twin Lake on a bluebird day...this part of Alaska is simply amazing.

His cabin would be on the backside of the big hump on the right side, past the drainage

Great pictures Bart,
Hard to beat flying in gorgeous country on a day like that

hotrod150 wrote:"Alone in the Wilderness" plays on the local satellite PBS station a couple times a year. That guy was a helluva craftsman, but really did everything the hard way (by hand)--everything! I'm thinking of the wooden door hinges he made in particular, instead of just using freighted-in store-bought iron strap hinges. In the narration of the movie, he sounded apologetic about using visqueen (plastic sheeting) under his moss roof, instead of whatever he said was more authentic (pine pitch or ???).

How about the wood spoon he made took several hours but damn!

BigNickMontana wrote:....With the way society is going I often think about how nice it would be to fly off into the Alaska bush and do what Dick did. ....

Getting away from the trainwreck of modern society sounds good, but doing it like Dick did is just too damn much hard work for me!

courierguy wrote:

hotrod150 wrote:"Alone in the Wilderness" plays on the local satellite PBS station a couple times a year. That guy was a helluva craftsman, but really did everything the hard way (by hand)--everything! I'm thinking of the wooden door hinges he made in particular, instead of just using freighted-in store-bought iron strap hinges. In the narration of the movie, he sounded apologetic about using visqueen (plastic sheeting) under his moss roof, instead of whatever he said was more authentic (pine pitch or ???).

How about the wood spoon he made took several hours but damn!

His hand-woodworking skills were really impressive. Using an axe and chisel like that is truly an art.

Zzz wrote:
His hand-woodworking skills were really impressive. Using an axe and chisel like that is truly an art.

Not to mention he was a human sawmill, ripping planks from raw logs with a hand saw. No wonder his arms were like Popeye's
You think he would have invested in a chainsaw. Didn't they have those in 1968?

There's a part of the human spirit that finds a strong affinity for Dick's dream and story. But, most of us are very social beings and it takes a particular sort to live alone like that. I have dreamed the dream, though I know I have not what it takes to go voluntarily without the closeness of wife, friends and family.

6-year thread bump. Alone in the Wilderness Part II was suggested for me today on Youtube. Reminded me of this thread.

"I packed the Bolex, a tripod, and 500 feet of film"

Dude was as stud.