Richard Louis Proenneke (1916-2003), known as Dick, has become an icon of wilderness living in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. Born in Iowa, he worked as a farmhand and rancher before joining the Navy the day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. After receiving a medical discharge in 1945 (following a bout of rheumatic fever), he again took up ranching. In 1949, he made his first visit to Alaska at the invitation of a friend. He lived and worked in Alaska off and on for years, making his first visit to Twin Lakes in 1962. By 1967, he had begun work on a cabin there. It was completed in 1968.

His was not the first cabin on Twin Lakes, nor was it the biggest. Proenneke's cabin, though, stands out for its remarkable craftsmanship, which reflects his unshakeable wilderness ethic. The cabin was built using only hand tools, many of which Proenneke himself had fashioned. Throughout the thirty years he lived at the cabin, Proenneke created homemade furniture and implements that reflect his woodworking genius.

Dick Proenneke had the foresight to film the construction of his cabin, intending to leave step-by-step instructions for creating a hand-built structure. He also kept detailed journals, recording everything from his daily activities to wildlife sightings and visits from friends and fans. His weather observations are one of the longest data sets available to park scientists.

Proenneke's wilderness ethic was simple: Twin Lakes and the wildlife therein should not suffer for his presence. He reused almost everything, even carefully crafting buckets and storage boxes from used gas cans. This off-the-grid lifestyle resonated with people around the world.

In 1973, Proenneke's friend, Sam Keith, edited a volume of Dick's journal entries entitled One Man's Wilderness. A documentary film, Alone in the Wilderness, was produced in 2003 from Dick's own film footage, and is often shown on Public Broadcasting stations. John Branson, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve historian and longtime friend of Proenneke's, edited a series of Dick's journals covering the years 1974-1980, an auspicious time when the area was being considered for designation as a National Park Unit. Branson's work was published as More Readings From One Man's Wilderness. Both books and the movie are available from Alaska Geographic.

Look for a new edition from John Branson covering Dick's journals from 1967-1973 currently at press and available Summer 2011 from Alaska Geographic.

More about the Proenneke site here.

If you go...

A visit to Proenneke's cabin is a real wilderness treat. You can do your part to help us keep it in great shape and open to the public! The cabin is managed like an outdoor museum - it is not a public use cabin and overnight stays are not allowed. Please resist the temptation to take artifacts with you, and don't leave anything behind. With your help, Proenneke's cabin will stand open and ready to inspire generations to come.

A few hardened tent sites with an "outcan" and suspension system for food containers are available for overnight camping on a first come, first served basis. The tent sites are across Hope Creek from the Proenneke site. You must be prepared for a creek crossing to access the Proenneke cabin. Bear resistant food containers are required and may be borrowed from the Port Alsworth Visitor Center. Leave No Trace principles strongly recommended.