Added: 4 years ago
From: alyeskathecat
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  • He left the cabin to the National Park Service - he knew there would be people visiting.

  • Is that structure up on stilts some kind of food locker to keep the bears from getting his tucker?

  • I can understand the appeal of wanting to see this cabin. The man was an icon, and there is an obvious interest in seeing the workmanship, in order to (potentially) replicate it.

    What I do not get is the plane in the background. If you want to see this thing, and pay your respects to the man, surely you should hike/paddle in. Like he did.

  • @Sceadusawol He flew in all the time. He regularly had supplies flown in by his friend. Read his journals before you propose to criticize people for what you mistakenly believe to be Mr. Proenneke's habits or convictions.

  • @cogitaretoo Point conceded, but it does mean I lose respect for him, as well.

  • @Sceadusawol The great thing about a guy like Dick Proenneke is that he probably would've been polite as hell to you if you'd met him, but he wouldn't care one tick whether or not you or I "respected" him. Besides, he didn't move out there to "live off the land." He just wanted to live in a cabin in relative seclusion in the area he loved and see how much he could do for himself. Considering he lived there until he was about 72 years old, I'd say respect is in order, but that's just my opinion.

  • @cogitaretoo I believe He lived there till he was 82.

  • @MrDrjfan You're right--82. Sorry.

  • when dick was there, he was in total seclusion, now there are speed boats on the lake

    what has this world become?

  • @jman432432 so what exactlly do u suggest we do .wipe out the human race so only a select few can enjoy the wilderness in case it has escaped your attention those tourist as im sure u refer to em are the reason logging companys havent come in and cut every tree down in that area or drilled for oil in the middle tourism generates a shit ton of revenew that with out the state would find another means of sustaining itself like rapeing its natural resources

  • @jman432432 thats an airplane dumbass.

  • @jman432432 He wasn't in total seclusion. If you read his journals, you'll find that he was within shouting distance of a hunter's cabin, close paddling distance of his friends' cabin, and he had his friend Babe fly supplies and mail to him all the time.

  • i agree let the tourists appreciate it but hopefully they dont tear it down. its a great work

  • Dick said himself when he found some old stuff laying around that he found useful, one mans trash is another mans treasure. and yea i don't see why people wanting to go see and appreciate his work first hand is harmful. His cabin still appears to be in good shape and he'd probably be happy so many people appreciate it. Who wouldn't want to see a masterpiece before it's weathered away with time.

  • AIN'T NO PLACE SAFE FOR DAM TOURIEST.THEY TRUMP ALL OVER EVERYTHING AND DUMP THERE G/D TRASH.

  • Between the door and flag pole appears to be a small wooden cage. What is that for?

  • @mustang6172 Beats me. I wondered that too.

  • I love this video. The video is much more constructive than the negative comments about tourists.

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  • an american flag and tourists. poor dick must be rolling in his grave.

  • This is one of my favorite films i've ever seen, this guy was so cool! Is there anywhere online i can download or even watch these movies?? I have the first film Alone in the Wilderness, i didn't even know there were more films until recently, and im dying to see them..Would even consider paying someone to make me copies of all the movies and mail them too me..

  • @afghi420

    hey buddy, the only way to get dick proennoke authentic movies was through the public broadcasting station W.H.Y.Y TV. the movie you have was made available to the public some time now. there's a 2nd pt available now on their station. call them, you'll get all the info their. {same goes for anyone interested in this amazing mans journey in Alaska back in 1968 when he made a cabin for himself from scratch with minimun tools. hope this was helpful.

  • @tainopasiempre Actually i found a site that has all these movies for free, except the second part to Alone in the Wilderness

  • Man what a job on that chimney, looks like it hasn't moved an inch since he put it up.

  • ..ok?

  • I'm really curious how he did that fireplace. What would he use to keep the stones together?

  • @PkSage89 Pk, if you watch the video, he collected all the stones locally and put it together with quite a few bags of cement. It's an extraordinary job though.

  • @greeneyedsteamengine Ya i've since seen the film. An amazing film, one of my favorites now. Curious though if he didn't have the bags what he would use.

  • @PkSage89 you can get "alone in the wilderness" off the internet. It's an hour long video shot by Dick proenneke. All your questions can be answered there

  • Great testament to Dick's building-skill that the cabin still stands. I suppose it has been cared for to some extent, but the basic structure is clearly good. Impressive!

  • First Thought, Minecraft

  • What no Miley Cyrus music playing on their iPods?

  • i get so emotional when i hear of proenneke.

  • Next to the chimney you have like a small cabin really high what that? Sorry form my ignorance I'm from Puerto Rico.

  • @giovanyid It is to store food away from wild animals if I remember correctly!

  • @flack3 Thanks

  • @giovanyid being from Puerto Rico doesn't give you the excuse of being ignorant. not having a brain to look a story up 1st before wanting to be ...ALL IN THE COMMENTS & SHIT . makes "YOU" AN "IGNORANT IDIOT". show some respect for your peoples and just look up the amazing story of Dick Proennekes and then you'll understand why we all admire and appreciate what he made with very simple tools for that time, enjoyed it and his life and then left it for all to enjoy. tainopasiempre !

  • @tainopasiempre now im lost. Lol

  • dude thats the first time ive seen the food cabin on the stilts before awesome. i knew of the cabin and fire place. thanks

  • What's that structure around back?

  • whats the function of the little building on stilts?

  • @CanadianReich

    Food storage to keep the bears away.

  • @neverhoodyn

    that'd do it. likely "cold" storage too as the cabin is heated

  • what is waterproofing the roof? I see there are the 6 main roof logs with numerous smaller logs running from top to bottom and then what appears to be tarpaper or waterproof material of some sort followed by debris to hold it down/ protect it from sun and wind. Someone want to add to this or correct this?

  • @CanadianReich

    It's tarpaper and moss.

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  • I can only imagine the "high" this guy felt when he was done..... I would give all the electronics I've ever owned to feel what this guy felt for 5 minutes...

  • Cool to see him be honored and remembered for his simple yet truly SKILLED way of living. There is nothing wrong with different types of folk respecting the way you live.

  • I'm sure you've already heard this but I am truly envious of you to have been able to be there. God I would love to make that trip.

  • Damn, what's with all the hating of the tourists? I'm sure Proenneke would be proud for folks to see the results of all his hard work and talent. I can't see someone putting that insane amount of energy and stamina into something and not liking folks appreciating it....

  • @pantucci well you have to see both sides one, that other people appreciating someones work or two, random people walking around taking pictures on your property all day...

  • @pantucci mostly because many historical places get damaged because someone wants to chip off a piece and take it home or many tend to throw garbage on the ground thinking it's the local's job to clean it up. Case in point = a major forest fire in Custer State park / animal reserve was started because a tourist decided to just kick ashes around rather than make sure their camp fire was out. It burned almost 2000 acres of forest. So yea no matter where, people tend to get grumpy at tourists.

  • @pantucci I wouldn't be proud of tourists. "Alone","wilderness" and "nature" are antithesis of "tourism".

    If someone want to visit my saced and natural place he have to came ALONE, than he have to camping near by for at least 1 week and be part of it. Than he have to came back home and get ready to go wild and build his own cabin somewhere in wilderness.

    Than maybe I would be proud of it. I will go wild soon (tough I didn't visit Proenneke's cabin) so I know what I'm talking about.

  • @Astharot90 ....he did send out journals and films of himself on a regular basis, so I'm assuming he wanted to share his awesome experience...

  • @pantucci NO - YOU STUPID MOTHERFUCKER!...just NO...listne his hatred for FAGGOTS like you is what drove him away into the woods, and FAGGOTS like you mucking up his work would make him turn in his grave..dont respond

  • @pinksockjoey11 angry much?

  • @pantucci Conversely, i think the whole reason he left civilization was because he didn't give a damn about what the majority of people think....

  • ...maybe, but he wrote journals, filmed himself on a regular basis and send it to others to share....

  • @pantucci thats true, i would've liked to ask him myself!

  • just awesome

  • What is that fascinating structure at 0:48 used for!? And what is it called? My initial guess is bear proof food storage.

  • @conz000

    thats what it is. keeps the animals out of food stored outdoors.

  • @conz000 Thats a Cache, and yes it's to keep bears out.

  • I'd be interested to know how one can prevent the cracks in the wood that occur from expansion/contraction due to weather changes.

  • @Jahjjj Depending on the positioning, the type of wood, (and other factors). Simply making a hole at the bottom of the piece of wood will do the trick. It has to be wide and deep enough though. It worked for my railling ... is it good enough for an house, I'm not sure.

  • Yuppie fuck asses getting their photo opps in front of a true man's accomplishments, truly pathetic........

  • I wouldnt be able to live out there without a good stash of pornos.

  • incredible , just incredible

  • RIP brother Dick.

  • Damn he built the__ outta that cabin. Nothing is crumbling or looking like an eyesore. Unless someone is coming by and taking care of it

  • His place is holding up well!  Didn't know about the book on this. Thanks.

  • glad to see that everything is a fucking tourist attraction now. a man spent his life trying to avoid faggots like you just for you to take pictures near his cabin like it is disney world. i fucking hate people.

  • @tempestaisback i hear ya.....these tourists shouldent be there his family should take over if they dont then thats a middle finger right to dick proenneke and all his hard work i would fucking die or kill anyone to have that place and life like that

  • @wolvenblacktalon1 Then go. Do it. Nothing is stopping you.

  • @acoustechtony unfortaninatly here in germany you cant live like that unless you have a permit from the govt.

  • @wolvenblacktalon1 Then go somewhere else. Stop making excuses. If you REALLY want to do this, you can.

  • @wolvenblacktalon1 you would kill or die for it... but you won't leave germany to pursue this desire of having a place and life like that?

  • @happybuddyperson unfortianitly i cant no im not gonna leave germany to the land of the less fortinate to live like that when i can obtain the permit to do it here

  • @tempestaisback

    Totally agree... SO annoying to see these jackasses standing around his cabin taking photos like it's Disneyland.

  • @MrBadfish2 take it easy wtf is wrong with you they like it so they want a picture to mabye show there kids or just as a remembrance who cares. if they like it they can take all the pictures they want they seem really interested and whats wrong with that?

  • @borneo215

    Dick built the Cabin to get away from people like these in the video....if you watched his videos you'd understand the reasoning behind our comments.

  • @MrBadfish2 look i understand that i hate these tourists too but what harm can a picture do i mean they are not breaking anything or misplacing his stuff

  • @MrBadfish2 If people admire something, they want to see it close up. Surely it's just a testament to how much they respect the values of Dick Proenneke?

    I'm sure he wouldn't have minded if people wanted to see the stuff he'd made. That's surely why he made the film in the first place.

  • @karadan100

    It's not why he made the film, it was to show others what the life style was like. Back then, he never imagined that people would be flying planes to see his cabin turned disney attraction.

  • @MrBadfish2 Still, can you really imagine him being pissy about it? He was a man at peace, afterall. I'm sure he'd say something along the lines of; 'I've got no use for it anymore. let those folks enjoy what i built.'

  • @MrBadfish2 Well what the fuck are they supposed to do?

  • @MrBadfish2 See a therapist.

  • @MrBadfish2 How much time did he spend video taping it, himself? If he didn't want people to enjoy it, he wouldn't have bothered with his camera in the first place.

  • @MrBadfish2 okay so we should let it stand in the middle of no were unattended until it rots to the ground ? ohhh wait none would be worthy to look at his hard work and determenation of what a man can do when he puts his mind to it except the select choosen few that in your mind are worthy ? didnt know it was up to u to decide O great and worthy bushcraft master lol dude u are the jackass kind of people if u dont know that already

  • @MrBadfish2 photos evoke memories. if we have no memories we have nothing

  • America, this is your future. Buy your log home building kits now before inflation hits.

  • Why does it seem disrespectfull when dumb fucks wiith their cameras and their 30 thousand dollae cars and 200 thousand dollar homes go to see this cabin and film themselves by it?

  • @guitarraveboy What the fuck would you know about it assclown? have you ever built a log cabin?  You don't have any videos posted on youtube about log cabins... or anything else for that matter and seeing how it is a video file share peer network, nothing you say carries an ounce of validity. you are NOTHING but a non log cabin building lip flapper and know not what the fuck your lips are flapping about.

  • @dirtTdude have you built a log cabin?

  • @guitarraveboy It makes no difference how much money these people make, they could be poor or very wealthy, unless you have given everything up to do the same (which you haven't, since your on youtube), they have as much right as anyone, including yourself, to go and see a cabin of a man they clearly idolize... Would you stop a poor person from going to see a work of art??? ... Grow up.

  • @thecuriouscritic It makes all the difference in the world. One wonders how many of these rich pretentious slobs went out of their way to visit this cabin and the individual who lived in it when it was occupied. This causes me to vomit when those whos' futile attempt at a justification of their self righteous ideolgies is paved by an excuse as art. : Until these individuals show pictures of themselves donating to,helping, and visiting a homeless shelter they are worthless in every respect.

  • @guitarraveboy You have a very close minded view, that can only come from being a failure as an adult, or still being a teenager... I hope in time you grow up and realize how moronic you are.

  • @guitarraveboy I think you offended rich pretentious slobs lol

  • peace

  • Real life minecraft house?

  • what did he use for the fireplace? stones and cement?

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  • @0100110101001011

    Yes. BTW, you can Netflix the entire Proenneke documentary and see the cabin and the fireplace being built...pretty amazing craftsman. He lived there for 20 or 30 years as I remember.

  • @mytubesteakout Do you have the title of the specific movie on netflix? I searched everything i could think of and cant find anything

  • I've been fishing in Canada so I have had a -small taste- of what this might be like.

    I could handle it for awhile (except for the bears and mosquitos) while the weather was half way decent but not sure if I could handle the long cold dark winters...I have a hard enought time down here in the lower 48's.....besides which if there was a emergency you'd be a heck of a long way away from help.

    It might be good for him but not for the majority of us.

  • Want zombie survival lessons? Visit this guy!

  • I always wondered how he made the fire place and chimney, is that tstill he original chimney shown in the video?

  • I really like the cobblestone chimney and grass on the roof. The whole thing seems like it would be really cozy. I wonder if it sits there unguarded...

  • Guess you can just put these up anywhere over there?

  • what were all those little wooden poles sticking out of the ground behind the cabin

  • i wish i had the mental strength to go off on my own like that

  • nice angle. I never noticed how close the house was to the lake. thanks! now if i can figure out to whom i lent the video...

  • So the moss kept growing even on top of the tar paper on the roof, after he cut it and moved it when originally building the cabin?

  • BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! But what was the little cabin on stilts for???? Was it like a deer stand?:)

  • @wildeturkey03 . It's a food locker. You store your dry goods up high to keep the bears out of it. If it was in the cabin the bears could rip the door off to get to the food. In the documentary Dick kept beans, flour, oatmeal and other items in there.

  • @AndrewWayneV ahhh i should have thaught of that very cool.....but thx alot for the insite!=)

  • @wildeturkey03 I think it was for keeping food safe from bears

  • @JLDB1987 

  • hmmm raping one mans wilderness thats all everyone is doing commercializing his life

  • Is dick still alive????

  • @windofthegods no he died in 2003

  • what is the tower used for??

  • @SymAmineC8H11N

    It's a food cache.

  • @SymAmineC8H11N

    Bear-proof food storage

  • wow

  • i watched this on wgbh and i am glad you went there. i was wondering what it looked like now

  • SO AMAZING.

  • I've just read One Man's Wilderness and watched Alone in the Wilderness. I am so impressed with this man's skills, his attitude to life and looking after the wilderness area in which he lived for so long.

    He really did come over as a man at peace with himself. How rare is that.

  • How'd he feel when they put up star's and stripes over everything he built with his own two hands?

  • i dont think he would mind, he pretty much exemplifies the american spirit

  • thumbs up to you

  • It's good to feel proud of your country but this is just the wrong place to hang one of these flags up. He built his cabin to blend in with the country, not to look like the Town Hall.

  • @flaskandsarnies

    yes, flagwaving doesn't have to take place everywhere, and it spoils the natural-ness

  • @mytubesteakout Move to some other country where the government controls things like flag waving.

  • @tomperanteau ...a knee-jerk reaction. If you had read my post thoughtfully, you'd deduce that I have no problem with flag-waving. Furthermore, if Proenneke wante a flag there, he would have installed one. It's not up to others to decide for him. Freedom of choice--to wave or not to wave--is true freedom, and I love that about my country.

  • @mytubesteakout I knee-jerked? Sounds like your excuse for a post in poor taste.

  • @WILLYBMONEY He built it for everyone to enjoy... its meant to be a part of american history

  • @WILLYBMONEY

    He probably didn't get totally butthurt by it like you.

  • @WILLYBMONEY He would probably understand and not worry about it. After all he was an american.

  • awwh, when did he die?

  • @47Indigo47

    He died in April 2003.

  • IT DID NOT HAVE  GLASS WINDOWS

  • no it didnt have glass windows if you read the book it says he made the frame and covered it with plastic sheet and put silica gel in it to keep the fog out so it would stay clear

  • I didn't know he built it so close to the water, it seem much more of a distance in the video that I seen on Tv .He was a master .I loved the way he figured things out the door lock. Sorry that he is gone now.

  • Alone in the Wilderness -- this man was amazing. There was nothing he could not build or make with his own hands. I'm so happy the cabin is taken care of by the Park Service.

  • Where did he get the glass for the windows ?

  • great video thanks

  • That Guy was a legend!

  • awesome

  • i loved alone in the wilderness, this one man built that whole freaking thing! he was 51!!! he was the grampa version of Vin Diesel

  • Amazing build !!! Truely show cases what 1 man with will & resolve focus & dedication can achive , not many Dick proenneky's left in the world these days !!!

  • I'd love to see it too !!! Wow !!!! his Spirit must still be there tho- !!!

  • Actually, the roof is the one place that he "cheated" a little bit. he lined the top of the roof with tar paper and a plastic vapor barrier prior to putting the moss and grass on. He wrestled with the decision over whether or not to do it but, in the end, he decided it would be best not to risk a leaky roof in the Alaskan winter. If i remember the video correctly, it's the only place that he didn't use totally traditional methods and equipment.

  • And the glass for the window.

  • @hotrok1

    wrong...he used mylar

  • whats the thing thats way off the ground used for

  • @mojosmadness2

    Food

  • that a cache used to store things in it is high up to stop animals from geting in and to keep it out of reach even in deep snow.

  • @ wrightylaaad: the moss is the roof. i suggest checking out the dvd that highlights his building of the cabin. great stuff.

  • @metricinch so he didnt like have shingels he just had moss as the shingels wow lol

  • Thank you!

  • will the turf not cause the roof to rot? looks great , the lake in front of the cabin is just perfect , id love to raise my kids + grow old somwhere like that

  • ha! you couldnt survive one day without a cell phone!!!

  • Very beautiful cabin space. I am going to do that some day. Doing things the old school way, rocks. It empowers one and shows how much we really have become dependent upon a failed system of living. Peace be with us... Loving you all.

  • i watched an hour long vid on him building it on pbs its amazing... when he wanted a spoon he'd just carve one out of a log

  • bit like a shrine these days

  • It's amazing how he built that place with no power tools. If you like original rustic cabins, research Henry Steiner. He and his sons crafted some beautiful remote cabins in the 1930' and 40's in the Oregon forests using only hand tools.

  • I don't think you disrespected it but what do I know.

  • i wish it was to far into the bush for people to get to it !!except for park rangers,conservationists,etc

  • Me too! They don't deserve to tread on that holy ground!

  • Everyone I know who has watched this video in its entirety have come away with the same feeling of peace and happiness. its amazing to see him construct door hinges, sleds, meat hangers, etc from nothing but the elements that surround him, and in so doing, survives 30 years in the Alaskan wilderness!! do yourself a favor and get a copy.......... and then read the book.