10 HN users recommended this documentary8 months2012–2023score 10.5
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026
HN recommends it often and warmly, as an inspiring and peaceful view of self-reliance and handcraft, in threads on cabins, solitude and woodworking.
A condensed film of Dick Proenneke's footage of building a cabin and living alone in the Alaskan wilderness, using hand tools and local materials. It draws on the 8mm films he shot himself.
“I think HN would really appreciate the story of Dick Proenneke” (HN, 2012)
I think HN would really appreciate the story of Dick Proenneke, the cabin he built, and the simple life he lived there: [link] There are several documentaries made from footage he filmed, later edited and narrated by a friend of his from his journals. Clip: [this video] More info and links to buy the videos: [link] (Sadly, I was unable to legally find them available digitally, so you have to order and wait for the DVD.)
Clip of Dick Proenneke's cabin and simple life in the wilderness.
I was surprised to not see any comments here referencing ol' Dick Proenneke, whose creative, improvisational woodwork will, in my opinion, remain legendary for the duration of humanity. For most, his work won't be practical or directly applicable, but only for the most indifferent will it fail to be inspirational. [link] [this video] Alone In The Wilderness, Part I
Improvisational handcraft woodwork in the Alaskan wilderness that inspires viewers
This reminds me of some awesome documentary footage of a man who built a cabin in the Alaskan wilderness: [this video] Alone in the Wilderness - Dick Proenneke The same dry commentary made riveting by insightful and sometimes whimsical observations, the same hardship usually effortlessly overcome, and of course the same solitary strength of a middle-aged man. Both stories make me a bit envious, and inspire me to create a little more with my hands.
Riveting footage of a man building a cabin with dry commentary
Dick Proenneke's Alone in the Wilderness is a wonderful TV show to watch if you're into this sort of DIY building joy. He starts with only a few tools and builds himself a little cabin in Alaska, narrating and filming the whole thing. Quite peaceful and inspiring. [this video]
Peaceful, inspiring narrated cabin build from a few tools
Richard Proenneke built a home in the middle of no where Alaska in the 50's, using only hand tools, check out: [link] Alone in the Wilderness - YouTube [this video]
I had a starter for several years that was descended from the one kept by Dick Proenekke [1]. He lived alone in a cabin that he built himself--by hand--deep in the Alaskan bush. He made sourdough pancakes daily and his original starter came from a friend of his back in town. Someone related to this person sells the starter (on a wooden spoon) that you can buy [2] and use to create your own descendant. There's a fascinating PBS documentary on him that you can watch on YouTube, if you're interested: [3] [1] [link] [2] [link] [3] [this video]
Fascinating PBS documentary about a man living alone in an Alaskan cabin
I've always thought of Dick Proenneke[1] as what McCandless could have/should have been. Despite attempting a similar thing (go detach from civilization as much as possible, though Proenneke didn't take it to the same extreme), Proenneke was actually prepared and talented in the kinds of crafts necessary to have a good life in the wilderness - guy was a crazy-good outdoorsman in general, on top of great carpentry/woodworking[2]/general jury-rigging. The best part is that he took an 8mm camera and filmed a lot of his work, including building his cabin from almost entirely indigenous materials. Those films ended up as the (PBS-involved?) documentary Alone in the Wilderness [3]. --- [1] [link] [2] [link] [3] [this video] (partial)
Proenneke filmed building his cabin from indigenous materials with real skill
YouTube has at least a portion of this: [this video] [link] Dick's capabilities (he had been a carpenter when living in civilization) were amazing, though he remained in periodic contact with the rest of civilization, including receiving regular supplies. It's also interesting to note his reliance on steel tools that he wasn't capable of replacing: saws, adzes, planes, axes, stove, pots and pans. He did pack in many of these, most without handles (he fashioned those from wood on site). While creative and highly independent, Proenneke was by no means self-sufficient.
Shows part of Proenneke's remarkable carpentry and wilderness living.
And here's Dick Proenneke's way of doing it, pre-Internet: [this video] [edit: originally stated he was an Army engineer, but turns out he had various hands-on jobs, one being a Navy carpenter during the second World War. [link] ]
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