"Alone in the Wilderness" on PBS

R

RicBrannon

Joined
Sep 27, 2001
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328
Hey all,

Has anyone seen this on PBS? It's about a man named Dick Proenneke who went into the Alaskan bush back in 1968 to homestead. Said he planned to stay a year to see if he could do it and ended up staying for 30 years. Did everything from scratch. Took some basic tools and made everything else from the handles for the tools he took to his cabin. Really an amazing story. He shot his daily life on old whined up cameras from the time he got there. It's out on VHS & DVD now through Bob Swerer Productions, http://www.dickproenneke.com/
Dick Proenneke also kept a meticulous journal every day, he wrote down everything from temp to snow depth and Bob Swerer Productions put all of it into the book "One Man's Wilderness". They also did a revisit to Dick Proenneke 20 years later in the DVD "Alaska: Silence & Solitude". I got them on order. I saw "Alone in the Wilderness" on PBS last month and loved it so I did a search on the web and found the web page with the other DVD and book. I would recommend it to anyone that’s really into the survival arts or just the outdoors for that matter. It was a great show. Let me know what you think if you've seen it and I'll post again after I see the second DVD.

Ric
 
Ric,

I agree. The first documentary was truly amazing. The cadence of his narration and the solitude and beauty of the area made for a mesmerizing experience.

Thanks for the information about the later DVD. I would like to hear about it after you watch it.

--SAK
 
RicBrannon said:
Hey all,

Has anyone seen this on PBS? It's about a man named Dick Proenneke who went into the Alaskan bush back in 1968 to homestead. Said he planned to stay a year to see if he could do it and ended up staying for 30 years. Did everything from scratch. Took some basic tools and made everything else from the handles for the tools he took to his cabin. Really an amazing story. He shot his daily life on old whined up cameras from the time he got there. It's out on VHS & DVD now through Bob Swerer Productions, http://www.dickproenneke.com/
Dick Proenneke also kept a meticulous journal every day, he wrote down everything from temp to snow depth and Bob Swerer Productions put all of it into the book "One Man's Wilderness". They also did a revisit to Dick Proenneke 20 years later in the DVD "Alaska: Silence & Solitude". I got them on order. I saw "Alone in the Wilderness" on PBS last month and loved it so I did a search on the web and found the web page with the other DVD and book. I would recommend it to anyone that’s really into the survival arts or just the outdoors for that matter. It was a great show. Let me know what you think if you've seen it and I'll post again after I see the second DVD.

Ric
Click to expand...


I saw a commercial last night that it's going to air on PBS on October 23rd again.
 
I saw it this spring. Very good. The man is amazing with a hand saw.

Glad they have it available now on DVD as it wasn't when first broadcast.

Phil
 
PBS has cool shows .

Dick Proenneke sure was a worker. I wonder if he ever got hurt while alone. Over 30 years in the bush, usually alone, means he would have to really have been careful as so many daily things can cause injury especially in winter.

You guys would like the book "Cache Lake Country" as it is similar with how-to build interesting projects.
 
Proenneke's book "One Man's Wilderness" is quite good, I don't know whether it is still in print. I got my copy on ebay. Ditto the recommendation on "Cache Lake Country", it's one of my favorites.
 
I'll have to try and catch this one...

Sounds pretty cool! Thanks for the heads up! :cool:
 
I think that the last of the mountain men about sylvan hart would be right up the same thinking if you want another good read
 
"Alone in the Wilderness" was on PBS again last night, but unfortunately I only saw part of it.

What a great show! Just seeing his wood working and primitive construction skills in action was amazing, but the rest ... the nature ... the narration ... a fantastic package.

I'm getting the book and orginal DVD for my father for Christmas.

Has anyone seen the follow-up DVD with the interview with Mr. Proenneke at age 82? If it's as good as the first, I may get it too, but it's a lot of $$$ to get both.

http://www.dickproenneke.com/
 
I enjoy it so much that even thoough I have the first DVD, I still end up watching it on PBS if it happens to be showing! Need a hotcake spoon? Just give 'ol Dick 45 minutes and you got one!
 
I've seen the show twice and wouldn't mind seeing it again.It's amazing!He makes it all look so easy,yet for sure it's a lot of hard work building like that.
 
Hey Guys...

Yaa this guy is a Real badass..
LIke a cross between Grizzley Adams, Davy Crockett, Bob Vila and McGyver all rolled into one..

Incredible show,, what a life he had...

ttyle

Eric....
 
rhino said:
"Alone in the Wilderness" was on PBS again last night, but unfortunately I only saw part of it.

What a great show! Just seeing his wood working and primitive construction skills in action was amazing, but the rest ... the nature ... the narration ... a fantastic package.

I'm getting the book and orginal DVD for my father for Christmas.

Has anyone seen the follow-up DVD with the interview with Mr. Proenneke at age 82? If it's as good as the first, I may get it too, but it's a lot of $$$ to get both.

http://www.dickproenneke.com/
Click to expand...

ok can some on tell me when the show is on again?!
 
Normark said:
Hey Guys...

Yaa this guy is a Real badass..
LIke a cross between Grizzley Adams, Davy Crockett, Bob Vila and McGyver all rolled into one..

Eric....
Click to expand...

you forgot martha stewart. :D
 
cheung_victor said:
ok can some on tell me when the show is on again?!
Click to expand...

I don't know ... you'll have to check your local PBS listings. It was an odd-hour "encore" performance during a pledge drive last week here.
 
If any of you guys want to read about Proenneke and a couple of people who actually knew him "back when," go over to 24hourcampfire.com, Forums, and into the Alaska Forum. Look for the thread , "DICK PROENNEKE." Check the posts by Brnbear and others.

Interesting read.

FWIW. L.W.
 
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