Dick Proenneke’s story is an inspirational tale of determination and self-reliance. In 1967, at the age of 50, Proenneke retired from his job in the city and set off to build a cabin in the remote wilderness of Alaska’s Twin Lakes. He spent the first summer scouting for the perfect location and gathering materials for his cabin, including cutting and peeling logs by hand.
The following summer, he returned to finish construction of his cabin which he subsequently called home for over 30 years. During this time, Proenneke documented his adventures with a video camera and Bob Swerer was eventually able to make a documentary about it. This is a captivating film that showcases Proenneke’s incredible journey of building a homestead single-handedly in the harsh Alaskan environment.
It is truly remarkable to witness how someone could be so determined to pursue their dream of living independently in nature, despite the difficult circumstances. There are numerous lessons we can draw from this story such as appreciating hard work, overcoming obstacles, and having faith in our own capabilities. Therefore, we highly encourage everyone to watch this documentary for an inspiring view into Dick Proenneke’s life-changing journey.
