Richard Proenneke

Richard (Dick) Proenneke retired at age 50 in 1967 and decided to live the Alaska dream - to build his own cabin with his own hands on the shores of Twin Lakes, Alaska. The first summer he scouted for the best cabin site, and cut and peeled the logs he would need for his cabin. Dick returned the next summer to finish the cabin where he lived alone for over 30 years. His only neighbors were the wolves and grizzly bears and his only transportation was his canoe and a good set of legs. He recorded his daily life in journals and 16mm film. Later, his friend Sam Keith wrote ONE MAN'S WILDERNESS based on his journals and Bob Swerer created ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS from his 16mm footage. DickProenneke.com (Sam Keith also wrote about how he met Dick and the genesis of One Man's Wilderness in FIRST WILDERNESS. SamKeith.com.)