- Joined
- Nov 24, 2011
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Baremeg55 said:My wife and I watched a 90 minute documentary tonight on PBS about Dick Proenneke, a guy who retired at age ~51 (was a diesel mechanic) and moved to Alaska. The doc was titled "Alone in the Wilderness", and was based on his 8mm film archives.
We were both in awe as the documentary unfolded. He scouted a location for a cabin in remote Alaska, and cut down some timber the summer of 1967. He moved there late spring '68 (Twin Lakes, Alaska) and built his 11 x 14' log cabin with dirt/gravel floor, outhouse, and food cache (tree house). He did it alone, with only a handful of tools. He built other tools, stands, etc on location. The guy was a hand saw cutting machine!!!! I doubt I could have accomplished what he did at half his age.
But to watch as he cut the notches in the logs, made the windows, and especially the way he constructed the doors with wooden hinges, was totally awesome! Made his own furniture, in ground fridge, and huge stone (large rock) fireplace. He then lived there, mostly living off the land, for the next 30 odd years, eventually moving back to California in 1999, at the age of 82.
There are a number of DVDs available including the above title of this man's life, or was it an adventure? If you get the chance to watch the documentary, do so. Quite inspiring!
I read the book this year, and watched the DVD series. Best book I have read in a LONG time. Inspired me to get out and get my son's tree house built. Which I intend to finish up over the holiday break.