Alone In The Wilderness....

[kickingfrog]

The phrase: Tough as nails; doesn't even begin to describe Mister Proenneke.

[solopaddler]

CHeck this video out Mike.

 

 

Nice find. I'm not a huge fan of Kevin Callan's but watching him virtually retrace my route makes me yearn for who I once was.

 

Man do I miss it.

 

A few shots at the end shows a bit of Wendell's craftsmanship. There's so much more though...

 

Thanks for posting this.

[atvaholic]

In a similar vein when I was on one of my lengthy solo canoe trips I stumbled onto Wendell Beckwith's cabins on an island on Whitewater lake north of Armstrong.

 

I believe Wendell lived a similar life although was much more eccentric.

 

He apparantly picked this island after performing complex calculations that proved to him that this island was the center of the universe.

 

However the level of construction and ingenuity in the series of cabins he built was breathtaking. Actually surpassing imo what was in this video.

 

Most ingenious I thought was his "snail" cabin. Built right into a hillside and more or less underground it was like a hobbit house from lord of the rings.

 

Octagonal shaped and lined with wood, it had an earthen roof where he supposedly planted vegetables for an early spring crop from the warmth.

 

The main cabin had a hand carved figurehead over the door like something out of Hansel and Gretel..just truly amazing in every detail.

 

I have tons of pictures in my scrapbook of these buildings. One day I'll get a scanner and post them properly.

 

Solo....is there any place you haven't been?

[pikehunter]

My first time to see this too. I was and am still amazed What he did was what I had often dreamed about when I was young. He did it at 51, I believe and spent 35 years out there! What a legacy.

 

Thank you for posting.

[walleyejack]

First time I have watched this,pretty amazing what one can do.

 

I am curious tho,if he was living by himself,how did "they"get the shots and clips,maybe he had a hat cam,with solar powered batteries.

 

good little movie tho.

[Governator]

First time I've watched this, what a great movie thanks. I wonder if Les Stroud got some inspiration from this? It's very inspiring

[umKthxbye]

Ive suddenly have the urge to build a log cabin and try that whole thing out. I would have a chainsaw though. And he lived there alone for 30+ years. I think i would need some company personally.

 

I love videos like this, it also doubles as a "how to", i learned allot on wood an what wood can make.

Edited April 18, 2011 by umKthxbye

[Tdel]

Great video Gerritt. It held my interest right to the end. Thank you for posting it. I enjoyed it tremendously.

 

Tom.

[BUSTER]

I watched it last night for the first time, I must say I thought about it all day today..man if I only had work ethic like that.

 

[workwear]

thanks bro. G!!!!!!...............GREAT VIDEO

[tibbs]

I saw that on PBS last year.

 

It's quite a compelling story.