Alone
in the Wilderness

July 10 2016

This documentary tells the story of Richard ‘Dick’ Proenneke who, in the late 1960s, built his own log cabin in the wilderness at the base of the Aleutian Peninsula of Alaska. Filmed mostly on a stationary 16mm camera, this documentary is the modern-day Walden. With insights on everything ranging from survival in the wilderness to an acceptance of man’s place in the cosmos.

To live in a pristine land unchanged by man… to roam a wilderness through which few other humans have passed… to choose an idyllic site, cut trees and build a log cabin… to be a self-sufficient craftsman, making what is needed from materials available… to be not at odds with the world, but content one’s own thoughts and company…

Thousands have such dreams, but Richard Proenneke lived them. He found a place, built a cabin, and stayed to become part of the country. This video is a simple account of the day-to-day explorations and activities he carried out alone, and the constant chain of nature’s events that kept him company.
Sam Keith, author of Alone in the Wilderness


I uploaded the film to vimeo but it got removed very quickly.
So now there’s only these two clips on youtube: