The Book "The Early Years: The Journals of Richard L. Proenneke 1967-1973 is available but only from Alaska Geographic. The Early Years Book

It's huge at 571 pages and is the unedited journals of that time. The book "One Man's Wilderness" released in 1973 of his journals describing how Richard built his cabin in 1968 on Twin Lakes Alaska turns out was heavily distorted in the wording. The editor Sam Keith took much liberty with Dick's words when he edited the book.

Anyway, this new book is expensive but fans are really raving about it. It's Dick's words as he intended for us to hear them and way more comprehensive than "One Man's Wilderness". I just found out about it today.

Great to hear. I just finished "More Readings From One Man's Wilderness" 1974-80 are also a compilation of his journals in the later years. Very interesting and worthwhile read. I agree, his journals, unedited truly give you a picture of the man.

Thanks for the heads-up, I just ordered it.

I'm working on "More Readings..." right now. I'm really hooked on it. Great stuff. The man has a sly sense of humor. And morals galore!

I ordered the new one today too.

Yeah, I wish I had 1/3 of his skills. I wonder if anyone from the forum has visited his cabin. I wouldn't mind seeing that someday.

Proenneke has become quite a cult hero. I sure admire him. Thanks for the alert about the book.

Thanks. I'm a big fan.

Thanks for the heads up Tom T. I just ordered my copy. I have been waiting for more journals to be released. One testament about the power of Proenneke...I am a high school teacher...I show Alone in the Wilderness to my students every year. Each and every time I show the film students are genuinely interested. They are amazed that someone can be so resourceful and ingenious. People today are used to throwing things away and simply buying a "new" one. The questions never stop...reading all of his journals provides further insight and answers to their questions and my own.

It seems like he had a lot of patience with mainly hunters who would occupy a vacant cabin or set up a tent camp on the shore of twin lakes and then leave a huge mess. He was constantly burying their garbage.

The worst was when an overweight out of shape hunter took long range shots at a caribou and wounded it in both front and back legs. The caribou hobbled around and Dick saw this and went to the hunters to point out where the caribou was. The 3 hunters walked the shore and brush and soon gave up the search.

Proenneke found the wounded animal but the hunters had disappeared. He put the suffering cow out of her misery and packed all the meat back to his cabin. A lot of times he would find remains where only small sections of the animal taken or even just the horns chopped out of the skull.

He also mentioned that he didn't like going to hunters camps because he was afraid of recognizing one of his "neighbors". Meaning the animals that he would film for the park service.

I also found out that he corresponded with Sigurd Olson and read "Reflections From The North Country" 3 times.

Thanks, Tom T. Proenneke is still a better man than I am. Wilderness role model to be sure.

Thanks, Tom.

I ordered this book and am about half way through. Very interesting. Since he was such an avid photographer I wish there were more photos.

Good book. Thanks for telling us about it.

quote paddlefamily: " Yeah, I wish I had 1/3 of his skills. I wonder if anyone from the forum has visited his cabin. I wouldn't mind seeing that someday."

Yes....after reading his book, we flew into Twin Lakes to do some backpacking in 1980. We camped on the other side of the lake from his cabin, not knowing whether he was still around or not. After we set up camp, he paddled across to visit and we ended up spending two days hiking around the twin lakes area with him. He was every bit as fascinating as you might imagine.

That guy is my idol.

Longpaddler, he writes about your visit in the book "More Readings From One Man's Wilderness" 1974-80." No kidding. He talks about you guys, I just recently finished it. Great book BTW.

This is a recent tribute video about Dick. Lots of footage I never saw before.

Dick Proenneke Twin Lakes

quote Longpaddler: "

quote paddlefamily: " Yeah, I wish I had 1/3 of his skills. I wonder if anyone from the forum has visited his cabin. I wouldn't mind seeing that someday."

Yes....after reading his book, we flew into Twin Lakes to do some backpacking in 1980. We camped on the other side of the lake from his cabin, not knowing whether he was still around or not. After we set up camp, he paddled across to visit and we ended up spending two days hiking around the twin lakes area with him. He was every bit as fascinating as you might imagine."

No kidding?! I'm must have read about you both as well, although since I am reading the books back to back and there are a number of visitors mentioned, I can't recall your piece specifically. What an incredible experience. I assume you got to see his cabin?

Tom T: Thanks for the link. I had just watched it a few weeks ago searching for more footage about Dick.

Wow, Longpaddler, that is legitimately very cool.

quote TomT: "Longpaddler, he writes about your visit in the book "More Readings From One Man's Wilderness" 1974-80." No kidding. He talks about you guys, I just recently finished it. Great book BTW.

This is a recent tribute video about Dick. Lots of footage I never saw before.


Dick Proenneke Twin Lakes

"

WOW Tom....I had no idea. I haven't seen his "other" book yet. Thanks for letting me know.

Longpaddler,

WOW! That is awesome! What an experience. Not only did you meet the infamous RLP you hiked around Twin Lakes for two days! By all accounts RLP was a prolific hiker/backpacker well into his late years. "More Readings..." has multiple descriptions of his ability to out hike those many, many years younger than RLP. I wonder what your experience was like? Recollections?

PS Traveler makes a great point...I wish they would release more of his photos (if someone has them?) All three books (One Man's..., More Readings...and The Early Years) have some of his shots. Would LOVE to see more!

I see that our library system has a copy of The Frozen North, Bob Swerer Productions, original film footage by Dick Proenneke. "A filmed account of the Alaskan back country, where Dick Proenneke lived alone, 40 air miles from the nearest settlement, for over 30 thirty years. Proenneke documented his cabin, the landscape, and wildlife, showing typical sights through one year." Probably worth a look?

Thanks for posting a link to that video Tom.

quote phisherman: "Longpaddler,


WOW! That is awesome! What an experience. Not only did you meet the infamous RLP you hiked around Twin Lakes for two days! By all accounts RLP was a prolific hiker/backpacker well into his late years. "More Readings..." has multiple descriptions of his ability to out hike those many, many years younger than RLP. I wonder what your experience was like? Recollections? "

Actually, we hiked around for over a week....Dick just spent 2 days w/ us....and you are absolutely right.....he left us in his dust!!! As you can see in the pics, the lakes are surrounded by high mountains....the transition zone between the lake and mts was very heavy, dense bushes and small trees. He practically jogged straight thru that brush and up the mts. all the while reaching down and grabbing berries and popping them in his mouth (as I remember he called them soap berries??). He had to wait on us to catch up a lot...we were exhausted!!

interesting note: this was just about the time light weight hiking boots came into play....he had an old pair of high top leather hiking boots, but was very intrigued with our light weight boots.

In the book he details meeting you guys and then goes into the hiking. You've got to get yourself a copy. It's possible there are pics too. There are a few pics of backpackers that came through there.

quote TomT: "In the book he details meeting you guys and then goes into the hiking. You've got to get yourself a copy. It's possible there are pics too. There are a few pics of backpackers that came through there.


"

ordered it today....thanks for the tip

Wow! A great story and a great thread!!

The Early Years The Journals of Richard L Proenneke 1967-1973

Picked up a copy at Piragis in Ely this fall (note to self....stay out of the 2nd floor of place). Got all winter to read it...it has been around awhile but I've never seen it on the shelf till now. Great reading....If you are on a long Amtrak train trip this is the book for you.

There is a lot of stuff about Dick on youtube. If you have Movie Maker on Windows 7 and it still works you can copy all those clips on a DVD and play them on the big living room TV

I have found KeepVidPro to be pretty user friendly to do this so far.

dr bob

Does anybody know if any of the film clips he made still available?

dr bob

I still haven't read the Early years '67 to '73. I read the later one, the journals from '74 to '80. If you have some time on your hands these are pretty cool. I'll get around to it someday I hope.

Here's a good link that works. Dick Proenneke books and videos

I just found out that a new book of journal writings came out in 2016 called "A Life in Full-Stride 1981 to 85." You can find it at that link.

DrBobDerrig: "Does anybody know if any of the film clips he made still available?


dr bob"

Link

awbrown: "

DrBobDerrig: "Does anybody know if any of the film clips he made still available? dr bob"

Link "

Good link and check out the hat! All proceeds go to charity too. If that's not a hat for a solo tripper I don't know what is!
Alone in the wilderness hat