Alone in the Wilderness DVD - a film by Bob Swerer

While there have been several films released that feature Dick Proenneke and his life at his remote Alaska cabin, this is the quintessential film for woodworkers. Although it is not a how-to film, the footage does an amazing job of showing the various techniques he employed, as well as providing a fine overview of the many hand tools he used and how he crafted and cared for them. The film's producer relies heavily on Proenneke's own film footage and narration from Proenneke's daily notes to tell the tale.

Dick Proenneke retired at age 50 and headed to the backcountry of Alaska to build a log home and to "test" himself by attempting to live a full year on his own, "just me and the animals." He ended up living there for over 30 years.

A talented photographer who also brought with him exceptional carpentry, mechanical and backcountry skills, he documented his efforts with daily journal entries and images that he recorded on a tripod-mounted 16mm Bolex camera. "'Beyond' was all around me," he declares as the DVD recounts his daily life, which centered around the cabin's construction, but also included many hikes and canoe trips in the Twin Lakes Valley, which lay over 40 air miles away from the nearest settlement. The photography is superb.

The cabin was constructed entirely of wood which he had felled from a stand of nearby white spruce trees the previous spring, and all of it was shaped and carved with hand tools, most of which were fully or partially handmade by Proenneke right in the field. Proenneke often states, "You can't rush it," as he demonstrates how he methodically measured, marked, scored, shaped and set the logs for his 11' by 15' dwelling, using several types of saws, a mallet, chisels, and an axe, which were his main tools.

This DVD is a gem for anyone who has ever dreamed of picking up and leaving the high-pressured existence of modern urban life. Although the film recounts an adventure that took place in the late 1960s, its message will remain forever timeless.

By Bob Swerer
60 minutes
ISBN: 978-0-9816185-0-0

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