| One man's wilderness: An Alaskan odyssey (Alaska geographic) |  | Author: Richard Proenneke
Publisher: Alaska Geographic Society
Category: Book
This item is no longer available
Avg. Customer Rating:  106 reviews
Pages: 107
Publication Date: 1973
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
To live in a pristine land ... to roam the wilderness ... to choose a site, cut trees, and build a home ... Thousands have had such dreams, but Richard Proenneke lived them. Here is a tribute to a man in tune with his surroundings who carved his masterpiece out of the beyond.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 101 more reviews...
 REQUIRED READING December 3, 2008
THERE AREN'T ENOUGH STARS TO GIVE THIS BOOK. SIMPLY SAID THIS BOOK SHOULD BE REQUIRED READING FOR THE HUMAN RACE. WELL WRITTEN AND EASY TO READ, YOU CAN PROBABLY FINISH IT IN ONE OR TWO SITTINGS. BUT THE MESSAGE OF THE BOOK WILL STAY WITH YOU FOR A LIFETIME, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A WORKER AND LIKE DOING THINGS ON YOUR OWN.
THE BOOK IS A VIRTUAL MANUAL FOR BEING A DECENT PERSON: USE ONLY WHAT YOU NEED, BE SELF RELIANT, RESPECT THE EARTH AND ALL OF IT'S INHABITANTS, LEARN HOW TO BE ACCOMPLISHED AT MORE THAN ONE OR TWO THINGS, WORK HARD, EAT WELL, RESPECT YOUR BODY...I COULD GO ON AND ON.
BUY THIS BOOK AND READ IT MORE THAN ONCE. IF YOU DON'T GET WHAT I AM SAYING THEN YOU ARE PROBABLY BEYOND THE INSPIRATION OF ANY BOOK TO BEGIN WITH. IF YOU DO GET IT YOU WILL KNOW WHAT EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN.
AT WORST AN ENTERTAINING STORY ABOUT A TRULY GREAT MAN( SADLY BECOMING FEWER AND FARTHER BETWEEN) AT BEST AN INSPIRING STORY THAT WILL CHANGE SOME OF YOUR VIEWS ON LIFE.
What a story November 30, 2008
I was not prepared for this book but it totally consumed my outdoor longing. I couldn't put it down.
Massive impact on my dreams
/PJ
Inspiring and factual November 23, 2008
A fantastic account of this man living in Alaska all alone. Most of the book is basically a diary of day to day activites, but if this is interesting to you, you will enjoy it. He built his own cabin 100% by hand, hunted, hiked, and just immersed himself in the outdoors. Very interesting. Its hard to fathom how he did it all.
Must Read October 24, 2008
This is a great book. It was delivered quickly and was in excellent condition. A must for any library.
 Preserving Alaska's Wonders September 3, 2008
Preserving Alaska's Natural Wonder
Based on the 1960's journals kept faithfully by Dick Proenneck, an archetype of the Sierra Club's advocate, this book presents an amazing story with glorious color photographs. "I don't think a man knows what he can do until he is challenged," p. 211) concludes the man who hewed out a log cabin single handedly in the wilderness. This is a succinct statement of Proenneck's motivating philosophy of personal achievement. Readers follow his non-boastful narrative of trial and error during a remarkable 18-month sojourn in wild Alaska. His survival odyssey (physical and emotional) presents him as the quintessential Mountain Man.
Satisfied to rely on Nature to supply his basic needs (and more contemporary items being flown in at irregular intervals by a cheerful bush pilot, faithful Babe, Proennecke realizes his dreams of carving out a pioneer life in the wilderness near Twin Lakes. Several chapters are quite long but fall into natural, timely categories. I am always interested in How-to descriptions involving caareful planning and manual labor, so I found the BIRTH OF A CABIN chapter fascinating. Even many of his actual tools were made by his own hands, as he started from scratch; his rustic creation is now part of a State Park which tourists may admire 40 years later. The cabin, fireplace and chimney, and cache-on-stilts all bear testimony to his skill and craftsman dedication--proving that a determined man can carve out a hearth after his own heart.
A conscientious chronicler of his own activities (and thoughts) Dick used both his still and movie cameras to capture the cabin in various stages of completion, as well and the flora and fauna of the relatively unspoiled Alaska. With tongue-in-cheek humor he shares his attempts (successful and otherwise) to peacefully interact with the curious or persistent creatures who tried to share his digs and provisions. He seems to feel that critters are a lot like some people-- drawing stoic or amusing conclusions about his attempts to coexist. His gripes with the callousness of humans (seasonal hunters, flown in to bag moose, caribou and Dall sheep) indicate his deep awareness of the fragility of an environment and man's duty to preserve it intact as much as possible--not only out of respect for the animals that inhabit the area, but for future generations of tourists and residents. When he was flown out after his 18-month odyssey he realized that many of the smaller creatures would suffer Hand-Out withdrawal, now that Dick's Welfare was about to dry up. Hats off to a pioneering environmentalist who made us all Aware of Alaska's potential.
Sept. 2, 2008
|
| Camping, Backpacking, Hiking Articles & News from About.com | About Camping
Camping
5 Jan 2009 at 8:32am
Camping Recipe of the WeekHere's a hearty skillet breakfast.One Pot - a recipe from HappyCampr. "This just came together one day when my husband and I wanted to finish up...
2 Jan 2009 at 3:00am
According to Dictionary.com, epiphany is a noun that means: a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely,...
31 Dec 2008 at 10:54am
Here are the most recent campground reviews submitted by fellow campers. Click on a campground name to read the full review.Bowdish LakeW. Glocester, RI "My husband and I loved this...
30 Dec 2008 at 9:09am
The economy may be bad, but 2009 looks like a great year to take the family camping. A camping vacation fits easily into anybody's budget. Campground costs are much cheaper...
29 Dec 2008 at 7:09am
Camping Recipe of the WeekHere's an easy dessert for the Dutch oven.Gingerbread and Applesauce - a recipe from Back Roads. "This dessert is also good for breakfast the next morning."More...
26 Dec 2008 at 3:00am
The holidays are a great time to get together with family and friends. I hope you all are enjoying this festive time of year. The weather in December can be...
23 Dec 2008 at 3:00am
Got a camping photo that you would like to share? Here is an example of a photo submitted to the Camping Community Gallery. Submit a photoGolden Eagle RV Ranch"This is...
22 Dec 2008 at 3:00am
Doesn't food taste great when cooked outdoors? I enjoy cooking at home and at the campground, and I am always looking for new recipes to try. Have you got a...
|
|
|
|
|
| |
