While waiting for redeployment, he was stricken with rheumatic fever in San Francisco. I sensed that it might be my last visit with him so I didnt want to miss a moment with him. His vision would return but one thought would haunt him: What if the greasy belly pan of a bulldozer had been the last sight his eyes ever witnessed? Too many men work on parts of things. We got ready to go on a long hike, but before we left, we did my favorite kind of fishing. He did, however, possess one rare gem that seems very difficult to find in our modern worldpure, unadulterated contentment. Richard Louis Proenneke ( / prnki /; May 4, 1916 - April 20, 2003) was an American self-educated naturalist, conservationist, writer, and wildlife photographer who, from the age of about 51, lived alone for nearly thirty years (1968-1998) in the mountains of Alaska in a log cabin that he constructed by hand near the shore of Twin Lakes. Everything that came in he either hauled back out or re-proposed in some form or another. Thanks to the precision he took in documenting detail about the happenings in the Twin Lakes area, the reader is able to travel along with Proenneke, as if he was right by the reader's side. The publication of his 1968-1969 journals in 1973, "One Man's Wilderness," was largely responsible for making Proenneke a public figure - and putting Twin Lakes on the map. He saw his correspondence, films, and journals as a way to share a life untethered to the commercial world. Welcome to The Official Richard Proenneke Website! [6] Most of the structure and the furnishings are made from materials in and around the site, from the gravel taken from the lake bed to create the cabin's base, to the trees he selected, cut down, and then hand-cut with interlocking joints to create the walls and roof rafter framing. The very first known Journal kept and original film Richard shot at Twin Lakes in 1965! If we take this deeper look, we soon realize that Proenneke isn't really starting from nothing when he retires. Today she lives at Cooper Landing on the Kenai Peninsula. Copyright 2018 The Richard Proenneke Store - All Rights Reserved. He encouraged Proenneke to use the site instead. Richard Louis Proenneke was one such individual who left his career and life in the city to live in the wilderness of Alaska. A Life in Full Stride describes the multitude of visitors Proenneke encountered not only from the general public, but also from National Park Service staff. Preserving Our Past. The pair drifted south and even took in the Worlds Fair in San Francisco. In 1949, Dick Proenneke moved to Portland, Oregon, to study diesel mechanics and heavy equipment operation. Ive never known a person who could put as many miles on his legs as easily as Dick. Journal and DVD Documentary "Alone At Twin Lakes - 1965!" The very first known Journal kept and original film Richard shot at Twin Lakes in 1965! BETTY SUE LYNN, the oldest daughter of Loretta Lynn and Oliver Vanetta Lynn, passed away today July 29, 2013. He supported the raised storage with poles higher than traditional Athabascan caches in the region to avoid bears breaking in, and wrapped tin around the poles to prevent small rodents from climbing. In 1941, by the time he was 25 years old, in his State of the Union address on January 6th, President Roosevelt detailed the "four freedoms" that everyone in the world should have: Freedom of speech, Freedom of worship, Freedom from want, and Freedom from fear. They didn't cost me a lot of money either. He came to know the landscape around him intimately, observing the changing seasons, wildlife patterns, and weather variations from year to year. Did Richard serve in the military or did a war or conflict interfere with his life? The National Park Service sought protected status for the Twin Lakes region that would limit hunting to subsistence only. next to their name to remove from the family tree. They didnt cost me a lot of money either. He moved near Twin Lakes and built a log cabin on its shores all by himself. To the park rangers that would occasionally check in on him, he was as wise and content as an old monk. (2005), Author: Richard L. Proenneke, Branson, John B., ed. [citation needed]. The book, edited by John Branson, a longtime Lake Clark National Park employee and friend of Proenneke, covers the years when the park was established. The world is full of such things., Proenneke left Twin Lakes in 1998, when he was 82, to move in with his brother in California. Proenneke represents in his own person the gifts and talents given to him by God, as well as the wisdom acquired and developed through his own efforts and the education afforded him by a life in the civilized world. . He had already made arrangements to utilize a nearby cabin belonging to retired Navy Captain Spike Carrithers and his wife Hope as his temporary shelter while he was building his own cabin. With the U.S. Congress passing the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, the Twin Lakes area became a prime destination spot almost overnight. Tributes From Chris Degernes I first met Dick in 1986 when my former husband Gary Titus and I bought one of the two private property in-holdings on upper Twin Lakes, across from Dick's place. About 45 feet east of the cabin, he built a woodshed-cum-outhouse with a slanting shed roof, modeled after Adirondack shelters. Learn More About Dick Proenneke's Life at Upper Twin Lake. He used metal containers for food storage: one U.S. gallon (3.8L) cans were cut into basin shapes and buried below the frost line. Add Richard's family friends, and his friends from childhood through adulthood. When 2 or more people share their unique perspectives, Reminded of his own mortality, he knew he wanted to change his life. He writes 'I just want someone who knows how to live life to its fullest to show me how to stay alive,' end of quote. the average Proenneke family member Proenneke remained at Twin Lakes for the next sixteen months, after which he briefly visited home to visit relatives and secure more supplies. For me, this event was quite a good lesson in etiquette and the importance of treating everybody with utmost regard. Richard L Proenneke of Hemet, Riverside County, California was born on May 4, 1916, and died at age 86 years old on April 20, 2003. He came to outside the crumpled remains of his beloved Arctic Tern. Since 2012, he has worked for Operation Heal Our Patriots, flying wounded veterans in to see the Richard Proenneke Site. It occurred to me that they had just missed out on one of the most unique moments of their lives to spend some quality time with Dick. I am so grateful that I had a chance to meet and get to know Dick. Alone in the Wilderness: Part 2 premiered on December 2, 2011. Following his discharge from the Navy, Proenneke went to school to become a diesel mechanic. That summer Proenneke harvested spruce trees and in 1968 he began construction on what would become his cabin and wilderness home during the next thirty years. about Richard Proenneke When is his birthday? But Richard Proenneke didnt just survive in this harsh environment he thrived. They didn't cost me a lot of money either. Obituary guidelines; Submit Death Notice; Submit an Obituary . Proenneke lived at Twin Lakes (now in Lake Clark National Park) intermittently from 1967 to 1999 in the log cabin he built. Proenneke says he . richardproennekestore.com or amazon.com. In addition, Dick sought to improve his mental state as well. Thinking of exploring a national park by yourself? He was very welcoming and very friendly, and he helped us out with all kinds of things. He said, Well, they got off that airplane, introduced themselves as director this and director that and then called me by my first name like we went to school together.. Back in the 60s, however, people knew it only as a was a complex of deep blue lakes nestled between tall, snow-covered mountains. Loretta and her family thank. As he put it, To look around at what you have accomplished in a day gives a man a good feeling. Those blueberries were the best ever. With the exception of a handful of nails, tar paper and some plastic sheeting, all the materials came from his surroundings. Richard Proenneke, whose friends called him Dick, is an icon of wilderness values and an inspiration to those who value simplicity, direct connection with nature, self-reliance, and ingenuity. 777 6th Street NW A hunter himself, he had quickly become disenchanted with the streams of trophy hunters that flew in each fall. Through the 1980s, Dick would spend more and more time with his journals, documenting everything he noticed in his graceful cursive script. He did so in such a fine fashion that he, still to this day, inspires thousands with his example of a life well lived. One sunny day, Dick and I were relaxing on his well-raked beach enjoying a little chat. After Dick Proennekes death, park rangers turned his cabin into a monument. Proenneke's father, William Christian Proenneke (18801972), served in World War I, and made his living as a house painter, carpenter and well driller. The last time I saw Dick was after a hike from Telaquana Lake to Twin Lakes in August 1998. The ideal location was 200 yards west of the Carrither's guest cabin. They invited him up for a visit and in 1962 he got his first look at Twin Lakes country. Needless to say, Proennekes cabin didnt come with easy access to electricity. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/richard-proenneke-43656.php. View Source Share Save to Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Iowa Lee County You can read this and other stories about history, nature, culture, art, conservation, travel, science and more in National Parks magazine. Four years later, Proenneke died of a stroke on April 20, 2003. Beforehand, he made arrangements to use a cabin on Upper Twin Lake owned by retired Navy Captain Spike Carrithers and his wife Hope of Kodiak (in whose care he had left his camper). . When I worked at Lake Clark in the summers of 1990 and 1991, Dick and I would check in with each other on the radio most mornings. Richard Proenneke, whose friends called him Dick, is an icon of wilderness values and an inspiration to those who value simplicity, direct connection with nature, self-reliance, and ingenuity. Dick seemed more frail than Id seen him before, but we still took a hike up to see the Balancing Rock. Dicks brother Raymond collected both Dick and the Arctic Tern to recuperate at his home in California. In his will, Proenneke left behind his Twin Lakes cabin to the park rangers as a gift. Occasionally, he ordered food and other items from Sears through his friend, bush pilot and missionary, Leon Reid 'Babe' Alsworth. NPCA names partner recipient of annual award in honor of commitment to national park protection. The day after my birthday, we went to the other side of the lake and picked blueberries. Richard Louis Proenneke was an American self-educated naturalist who lived alone for nearly thirty years in the mountains of Alaska in a log cabin that he constructed by hand near the shore of Twin Lakes. He set up camp on the shores of Twin Lakes. During the 30 years he stayed at Twin Lakes, Proenneke filled up more than 250 notepads with his diary entries. Dick first visited Upper Twin Lake in 1962 at the invite of his friends Spike and Hope Carrithers of Kodiak, Alaska. At the upper end of the valley, Dick said, See that glacier over there? Ill lose some sleep thinking about that one . They gotta work for a living.. The March was organized to address "the ills of black communities and call for unity and revitalization of African American communities". Eventually, large swaths of the diaries, more than 250 steno pads in all, were published in three edited volumes, and several filmmakers used footage Proenneke had shot in biographical movies. Subscribe to National Parks Magazinenow, 2023 National Parks Conservation Association, Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity, Yellowstone Bourbon Recognized by National Parks Conservation Association with National Park Defender Award, EPA Proposes Strong Rule to Curb Haze in National Parks, 8 Things to Know Before Your First Solo National Park Trip, Our Commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. He used thin plastic panels for the windows, while the handmade Dutch door was secured by wooden hinges and a wooden lock. It was the last time he would walk unassisted for another six months. To read One Mans Wilderness is to be swept into a slower, simpler world. Bob edited the film and added sound to create this fascinating film of one man living alone in the Alaska wilderness. The exhibit features a replica of Proenneke's cabin, some of his writings, and other artifacts.[11]. Plan your trip to the home of one of Alaska's foremost wilderness icons. 300 Blackout vs 308 Win: Which Round Reigns Supreme in AR-15s? NOW AVAILABLE! Proenneke had a very close relationship with the Park Service, assisting them in filming sensitive areas and notifying them if poachers were in the area. Winners Announced: Ballistics Best Readers Choice 2022, New for 2023: The 21 Best New Handguns Seen at SHOT Show, First Contact: The Laugo Alien Pistol Has Landed, and Its out of This World. Tourists came and went, but no one ever stayed for long. 1st edition: 2016, Read More Books or Watch More Films About Dick Proenneke. Dick Proenneke's cabin on Twin Lakes Alaska Fly In TripAlone In The Wilderness I first met Dick in the summer of 1979. Maybe it rubs off on them during their stints in Washington, like spruce pollen on a moose. Experiences, organizations, & how he spent his time. Two New Richard Proenneke DVD Documentaries are here! No one holds a more intimate knowledge of Dick's handcrafted life than Monroe, and just as Dick shared his life through letters and film, Monroe knew he had a responsibility to share all that he had learned. His father William Christian Proenneke was a well driller who had served in World War I and his mother Laura was a homemaker. He initially stayed at the cabin for 16 months before returning home to visit relatives and to collect more provisions for a longer stay. We paddled at a steady but slow pace. Dick Proenneke lived a life many of us dream about but only a few hardy souls could actually pull off. Wikimedia CommonsDick Proennekes built meat storage on stilts to keep off wild animals. There were few comforts to be had in the way of material things during this time, but little was ever accomplished by complaining. or visit Help / Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) to discover more about the community. Despite his remote location and fierce independence, Dick was not a hermit; he maintained friendships and wrote back to anyone who sent him a letter.