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I watched this amazing documentary on PBS last night. It is mesmerizing. It tells the tale of Dick Proenneke, who retired at age 50 in 1967 and decided to build his own cabin on the shore of Twin Lakes in the Alaskan wilderness. He used no power tools and built the entire thing with hand tools, some of which he created on-site. He also filmed the process and kept a daily log. This is a must-see film for every man. I could not recommend it enough.

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6 comments

  • skilletboy

    skilletboy 7 years, 10 months ago

    I saw this many years ago... its mesmerizing. Like Bob Ross mesmerizing... I am seriously in awe of this guy's skills. To quote Eugene Sledge, this guy was truly one of the last of the "old breed".

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    • Razorback

      Razorback 7 years, 10 months ago

      "Like Bob Ross mesmerizing..."

      That is a great way to describe it. You just sit there and watch in silence, knowing you are seeing a master at work.

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  • daemon

    daemon 7 years, 10 months ago

    I also have enjoyed this documentary. I distinctly remember him waking up one morning in the winter and simply saying, "It was a balmy warm 45 degrees in the cabin today. Prolly won't need a fire."

    From building his sled, to the cabin, making jam out of wild berries, the high food stand, his ingenuity on the design of hinges for his front door, all of the footage he shot of himself and the surrounding beauty in the wilderness, so many things stuck with me after so many years. Thanks for the reminder of this man and his work.

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