Book Report: One Man’s Wilderness
The first 100 pages of One Man’s Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey always make me so happy. It’s about a man (Dick Proenneke), building a cabin from mostly natural materials, living his dream in the wilds of Alaska. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Crafted from Proenneke’s journals of his 18-month odyssey, Sam Keith’s One Man’s Wilderness chronicles Dick’s day-by-day efforts to make his dream a reality. Written in the first person, Keith lets Dick tell readers each part his story, beginning with the selection of the cabin site on the banks of Twins Lakes in what in 1968 was not yet the Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. Dick then walks readers through each step of the cabin’s construction—cutting the trees from the local “lumber yard,” fitting the logs together (notched on the bottom to keep water out), building the roof, constructing a Dutch door (with hollowed-out stumps for hinges), crafting an assortment of interior and exterior furniture, and building the hearth and fireplace from cement and local stones. Through it all, the reader comes to appreciate Dick’s dedication to his craft and admire the intricate work one man can do with a set of simple tools. Moreover, Dick understood the concept of selfies long before my generation popularized the term, and the book treats readers to an ample helping of inspiring construction photos.
Whether it’s to celebrate a monumental episode in the cabin’s construction or just for a change of pace, Dick frequently ventures onto Twin Lakes and the surrounding wilderness, and the stories about his explorations and observations are a recurring theme in the book. Readers meet the local critters (the “camp robbers” (his nickname for the gray jays), squirrel, and weasel) as well as the “wilder” animals, like wolves, grizzly bears, and sheep that he tracks and photographs around the region. They also plumb the depths of the lakes for trout and other fish, which Dick catches to supplement food stores that a friend (Babe) semi-regularly flies in via float plane. As he documents each of these interactions with his camera and in his journal entries—a form that Keith adopts in the narrative—Dick’s interest in wild Alaska jumps off the page, capturing his deep feeling for the animal’s beauty and lifestyle.
With these companions, Dick is hardly alone, even though Babe is the only actual human he interacts with during the 18-months documented in the book. That’s not to say, however, that other folks aren’t in the region too. Hunters “from away” are occasional guests at the far end of Twin Lakes, and Keith utilizes several passages from Dick’s journals to juxtapose the hustle and bustle of modern life with the peace, simplicity, and single-mindedness that Dick finds at his cabin. The sport hunters fly in for weekend hunting trips, take just a portion of the “big game” they shoot, and then rush away, failing to appreciate their surroundings and leaving a giant mess in their “camp.” By contrast, Dick, the more permanent fixture, scavenges the rest of the animals the hunters shoot and makes regular passes through their camp to bury their trash. Most importantly, his “trophies” are the lifetime of experiences and observations he’s makes and has during his incredible odyssey.
Alaska’s fickle weather and changing seasons are another prominent part of the book. Upon his arrival in May 1968, Dick’s efforts—building the cabin, planting crops, collecting berries and foodstuffs, and testing his equipment—are all done in preparation for spending the upcoming winter in the unrelenting Alaskan wilds. Dick’s journal entries convey his apprehensiveness for the upcoming cold and darkness, then share his excitement as he learns to cope and thrive in this extreme environment. Readers follow along as he photographs the aurora borealis, measures the depth of the ice, experiments with homemade winter clothing, and tracks a wolverine (among other wildlife) across the desolate and silent landscape.
Of course, winter in Alaska is hard and after spending one winter (and then spring and summer) at the cabin, Dick finally flies back to civilization in late September 1969, marking the end of One Man’s Wilderness. That is not, however, the end of Dick’s story. He becomes a mostly permanent resident at Twin Lakes thereafter, although he finally stops staying for the winter once he reaches his 80s. His cabin is now a historic site in Lake Clark National Park.
These are among the many reasons why One Man’s Wilderness received the National Outdoor Book Award in 1999. And they are the same reasons why my copy of the book has passed from family member to family member, with everybody having the same reaction—it’s powerful, moving story about one man living his dream. You should discover it too.
All of the reviews and recommendations on The Whites Room are testing-driven and objective. We only earn money when you click on our affiliate links and purchase products. If you click on a product link on our site and make a purchase, the retailer will contribute a percentage of the sale to help support the fantastic content we are creating on The Whites Room. We appreciate your support!
