Upon retiring in 1967, Dick Proenneke opted for a drastic change in lifestyle. Armed with a rugged survivor’s grit and a stationary 16mm camera, he built a log cabin on the shores of Twin Lakes and spent the next thirty years amid the beauty and harshness of Alaska. Alone in the Wilderness is the product of Proenneke’s adventure, illustrating the wisdom and perspective he gleaned from living in isolation – and entirely off the land.
Featuring excerpts from his journal and color footage shot by Proenneke himself, Alone in the Wilderness chronicles the first year of his survival story. Filled with abundant wildlife and stunning vistas, the film captures a wide variety of his activities – from building his famous cabin to hunting, fishing, and canoeing in the surrounding mountain lakes.
Proenneke originally recorded his daily routine to share with his family back home in Iowa, but in the years since the film’s release, he has become a national sensation with survivalists and conservationists alike.
Explore this fascinating glimpse into solitude and survival when Alone in the Wilderness returns on February 3 and February 26 at 8 p.m.
WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits over the air in high definition on digital 36.1; Cox 08 / 1008HD, Verizon FiOS 08 / 508HD, and Full Channel 08; Comcast 819HD and Verizon FiOS 18 / 518HD in MA; DirecTV 36, Dish Network 36.
