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Richard ProennekeRichard "Dick" Proenneke (1917–2003) was a naturalist and survivalist who lived alone in the high mountains of Alaska at a place called Twin Lakes. Living in a log cabin he constructed by hand, Proenneke made valuable recordings of both meteorological and natural data while enjoying his retirement. Early Life and Pre-Retirement Years Little can be found about the early life of Mr. Proenneke. It is known that he comes from the town of Primrose, Iowa. Mr. Proenneke served in the United States Navy during World War II. It was during this service that he contracted rheumatic fever and was bedridden for nearly six months. According to Sam Keith (not the illustrator Sam Kieth), a life-long friend, this down time was very revealing for Proenneke, who decided to devote the rest of his life to the strength and health of his body. Following his discharge from the Navy, Proenneke went to school to become a diesel mechanic. The combination of his high intelligence, unique adaptability, and strong work ethic turned him into a very skilled mechanic. Though quite adept at his trade, Proenneke succumbed to the call of Nature within him and moved to Oregon to work at a sheep ranch. Proenneke eventually decided to attempt a start at his own ranch. With an unnamed friend, he moved to Shuyak Island, Alaska in 1950. Proenneke soon discovered that Alaska is not ranch country for a reason and he abandoned this venture. Proenneke spent the next several years working throughout the state of Alaska as both a salmon fisherman and diesel mechanic. His skills as a mechanic were well-known and extremely sought after, and he was able to put away a modest nest egg for retirement. After some thought on the matter, Proenneke decided he would like to retire in the wilderness of Alaska, specifically at a place called Twin Lakes. In the summer of 1967, Proenneke was dropped off at Twin Lakes for the season so he could fell timber required for the building of his dream retirement home. He flew out before the lakes froze up for the winter and went home to Iowa to spend time with his family and prepare supplies and plans for his retirement. Retirement Life at Twin Lakes On May 21, 1968, Proenneke arrived at his new place of retirement at Twin Lakes. Before arriving at the lakes, he made arrangements to use a cabin on the upper lake of Twin Lakes owned by a friend of his. This cabin was well situated on the lake and close to the site where Proenneke chose for the construction of his own cabin. Proenneke spent May, June, and July of 1968 building his cabin by hand and with nothing but hand tools. The cabin was complete with windows, one of which was designed and built of mylar by Proenneke himself to face the lake and not fog up. He also built furniture including chairs, tables, a desk, and a bunk; a log cache built up on poles to store food and goods that needed to be kept away from wildlife; a stone and mortar fireplace; and many decorations such as a plaster of paris wolf track and moose and caribou antler decorations. Proenneke's friend and bush pilot, Babe Alsworth, returned occasionally to bring food and orders that Proenneke placed through him to Sears. While Proenneke lived largely off the land, he enjoyed things like red beans, bacon, and seasonings, all of which he proclaimed to be life's real luxuries. Several times during his life at Twin Lakes, Proenneke was attacked by brown bears. He also became quite adept at taming animals, befriending a squirrel, a weasel, many birds, and (almost) a wolverine. Proenneke remained at Twin Lakes for the next 16 months, when he left to go home for a spell to visit relatives and secure more supplies. He returned to the lakes in the following spring, and remained there for most of the next 30 years, coming to the lower 48 only occasionally to be with his family, of whom he cared a great deal. Death and Legacy In 1999, at age 82, Proenneke decided to come back to civilization for good. The -50 degree winters had become too much for his aged body to cope with and he returned to live the remainder of his life with his family. Proenneke was a wonderful journalist and recorded most of his life at Twin Lakes in film, photography, and written record. His findings seemed to agree with scientists concerning long-term trends of global warming and other climate changes. His earthquake reports helped scientists in civilization learn how seismic waves travel through the immense mountain ranges of Alaska. His recording of animal and hunter habits helped scientists realize how hunting affects wild animal populations. Proenneke died in 2003, presumably of natural causes. He left his cabin to the parks service and it remains today as a popular visitor attraction in the still-remote Twin Lakes region. In 1973, Sam Keith produced the book One Man's Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey (ISBN 0882405136), based on Proenneke's journals and photography. External links Proenneke, Richard Proenneke, Richard
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