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Richard Proenneke: Alone in the Wilderness

You think you’re tough? You’re not. You know who’s tough? THIS GUY:

Richard Proenneke lived alone until he was 82 years old, in the high mountains of Alaska…in a log cabin he built by hand.

I recently caught a PBS special about his process and was blown away.

The first part (and it looks like the second part) is on youtube, but it wasn’t until a little later that things got mind-blowing.

Alone in the Wilderness documents the entire building process. Proenneke builds every part of the cabin with natural materials (save for a sheet of plastic on the roof), and no power tools of any kind. Even hinges are made of wooden fittings. He whittles his own utensils and bowls, puts together a stone fireplace…eats what he catches and gathers (with the very occasional simple grocery shipment).

This man is so intensely efficient that it’s almost comical to the modern day technology-saturated member of society. I found myself laughing in astonishment as he built a wall by noon, then went off to clear two acres of moss for the roof. He carried almost everything on his back, too.

Proenneke’s work and life are a true testament to unadorned human capabilities. I highly encourage you to watch this intriguing look at one natural, self-sufficient life.

Dick Proenneke

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This entry was posted on September 27, 2011 at 1:21 pm and is filed under architecture, film, nature, video with tags , , , . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

9 Responses to “Richard Proenneke: Alone in the Wilderness”

  1. Anonymous Says:
    September 27, 2011 at 7:21 pm

    That was one of the coolest documentaries I’ve ever seen. His techniques are important, should we revert back to his technology level to survive. Incredible to think all those pioneers and settlers must have lived in that world. Need a spoon? (carve carve carve) here it is!

    Reply
  2. Anonymous Says:
    September 28, 2011 at 5:58 pm

    I’ve watched this program every time PBS had it on over the years … he is amazing!

    Reply
    • shewalkssoftly Says:
      September 28, 2011 at 7:08 pm

      I want to order it or catch it again myself. It’s so awe-inspiring.

      Reply
      • purchase viagra Says:
        April 20, 2013 at 6:42 am

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  3. Anonymous Says:
    January 12, 2012 at 7:51 pm

    Envy! :-)

    Reply
  4. Anonymous Says:
    January 12, 2012 at 7:52 pm

    Love it! :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

    Reply
  5. JohnnyO Says:
    January 30, 2012 at 4:37 pm

    Ever since I caught this on PBS I have been mesmerised by what he did. A dream for most, but he really did it. More isn’t better – it’s just more. The Tiny House movment is another branch off of this tree. Scale down and simplify. Sounds like Heaven to me. Thanks for this post.

    Reply

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