Alone in the Wilderness - A Tale from One Man

 Dick Proenneke had a dream, that he lived alone in the wilderness and he had the guts to do what it took to make that dream a reality. He was determined to live his life in a land that wasn’t touched by man and was still pristine and pure. His intention was to roam through a wilderness where few humans passed through. In the wilderness, he will be at one with the world and content with his thoughts. He was very ready to become a self sufficient adventurer and craftsman that took only what was needed to build an idyllic log cabin on a site that was unique, simply because he wanted to be alone in the wilderness. 

When Dick Proenneke retired when he was 55 years old in 1967, he made up his mind to build a cabin on the shores of Twin Lake in the Alaskan wilderness. During the first summer he stayed in Alaska, he went looking for the ideal site. Once he found the unique site, he proceeded to cut the logs and peeled them for construction on his cabin. He returned the next summer to finish creating the cabin where he would live for more than 30 years. He filmed his adventure and his story can be found in the DVD or video titled, “Alone in the Wilderness.” He was later able to turn his adventure into a successful video which became very successful. Because he filmed his adventures, he was later able to make the film into a video so that everyone can share in his adventures of living alone in the wilderness. 

He lived in the Alaskan Bush for over 30 years, with just grizzlies and wolves as his neighbors. His only means of transportation were his own two feet and his canoe. Dick sure kept a daily journal of his life at Twin Lakes, but the smartest thing he did was capture it on film, for the rest of the world to take inspiration from seeing it.  

Dick Proenneke proceeded to make two follow up films to “Alone in the Wilderness.” “Alaska Silence and Solitude” was produced about 20 years after his first film. The visit by Bob Swerer and his son was included because it showed the scenery is still breathtaking and the wildlife roams in abundance. His final film, “The Frozen North” narrated Dick’s own account of his life alone in the wilderness that he had the foresight to document on film.  

One of his good friend, created a book version of his journal that he kept during his Alaskan sojourn. It was titled, “One Man’s Wilderness, An Alaskan Odyssey.” It showed Dick’s pictures and excerpts from his journal, and chronicles from when Dick arrived in Alaska on May 17th, 1968. The book also how was able to build his first cabin with his two bare hands and tells of his reflections living through a cold harsh winter, alone in the wilderness with just wildlife for companionship. 

You can find out more about this remarkable story by picking up any of the DVDs or videos and reading a copy of the book. You will be amazed and probably inspired by Dick Proenneke’s vision of living alone in the wilderness. 

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