[mellow acoustic music]
*
- It was good to be back in the wilderness again,
where everything seems at peace.
I was alone, just me and the animals.
It was a great feeling,
free once more to plan and do as I pleased.
Beyond was all around me.
My dream was a dream no longer.
I suppose I was here because this was something
I had to do.
Not just dream about it, but do it.
I suppose, too, I was here to test myself.
Not that I had never done it before,
but this time, it was to be a more thorough
and lasting examination.
What was I capable of that I didn't know yet?
Could I truly enjoy my own company
for an entire year?
And was I equal to everything
this wild land could throw at me?
I had seen its moods in late spring,
summer and early fall,
but what about the winter?
Would I love the isolation then,
with its bone-stabbing cold, its ghostly silence?
At age 51, I intended to find out.
[serene music]
Another hundred yards and I broke out of the brush
to my pile of cabin logs I had cut last July.
I sat down and leaned against them,
and while I chewed on a chunk of smoked salmon,
my eyes wandered over the peeled logs.
That had been a big job last summer.
Hard work, but I enjoyed it.
It was cool at the timber,
and there were mornings I could see my breath.
I had harvested the logs from a stand of spruce
less than 300 yards
from where they were now piled.
The logs were a great deal lighter now
than they were then
and could be handled easily enough.
female narrator: It was in the late spring
of 1968 that Dick Proenneke decided
to leave civilization behind
to live in a pristine land yet unchanged by man
and to roam a wilderness
through which few other humans have passed.
While carving out a new life in this remote valley
known as Twin Lakes,
Dick would not only keep daily journals,
but would film his Alaskan odyssey
with the help of a tripod-mounted camera.
- It was time to be moving on.
I was anxious to get to Spike's cabin
to see if it was the way I had left it last September.
[crow cawing]
About 500 yards more
through the spruce and the willow brush,
and there it was.
Its weather-grayed moose antlers
spreading just below the peak of the roof.
A tin can on its stovepipe,
and its windows were boarded up.
The cabin had everything needed
to set up housekeeping
until my own cabin was completed.
A good stove, two bunks and a roof that didn't leak.
[birds tweeting]
It's May 22nd.
Up with the sun at 4:00 to watch the sun rise
and the sight of the awakening land.
It seems a shame for eyes to be shut
when such things are going on.
Especially in this big country.
I don't want to miss anything.
*
Today, I would hike the five miles
down to the lower lake
to pack my third and last load of gear.
My tools, with which to build my cabin.
This time, with the binoculars along,
I would have an excuse to stop now and then
and glass the slopes for game.
From this high vantage point,
the hills seem to come alive with animals.
I suddenly didn't feel so alone anymore.
Almost noon before I got back to the cabin.
The rest of the day I devoted to my tools.
I carved a mallet head out of a spruce chunk,
augered a hole in it, and fitted a handle to it.
This would be a useful pounding tool.
And I hadn't had to pack it in either.
The same with the handles I made for the wood augers,
the wide-bladed chisel, and the files.
Much easier to pack
without the handles already fitted to them.
[water gushing distantly]
Hope Creek has cut a big opening
into the lake ice.
Was it too early to catch a fish?
I took the casting rod along to find out.
It didn't take long.
After several casts, it happened
with the suddenness of a broken shoelace.
I slid the 19-inch trout onto the stones.
Fish with my beans tonight.
[wind gusting]
It's May 25th.
Break-up is not the spectacular sight
it was last year.
A big wind would have cleared the thin ice out yesterday.
As I loaded tools on the packboard this morning,
the rotted ice began to flow past in quiet exit.
[tranquil music]
*
[waves crashing gently]
When you have miles and miles of lake front
and picture views to consider,
it's difficult to select a building site.
The more a man looks, the fuzzier it gets.
I cleared the brush and hauled up beach gravel
and spread it to a depth of several inches
over an area roughly 20x20 feet.
I felt I had made the best possible choice.
It would be 11x15 feet.
Its front door would face northwest.
And the big window would look down to the lake.
A pile of logs.
Which ones to start with?
To make a notch fit properly, you can't rush it.
Make several saw cuts an inch or two apart,
almost down to the pencil line,
and whack out the chunks with an ax
until the notch is roughly formed.
Then comes the finish work.
A careful custom fit.
I have just the tool for the job.
[tender violin music]
*
One log in particular required considerable hewing
to straighten it.
I must say white spruce works up nicely
with an ax and draw knife.
Enough for this evening. The job has begun.
Tomorrow should see more working
and less figuring.
It's May 29th.
Only a few chunks of ice
floating in the lake this morning.
By noon there was no ice to be seen.
It was good to see the lake in motion again,
and it was even better
to slip the canoe into the water
and paddle to work for a change.
[peaceful music]
*
I glided silently along over a different pathway.
The cabin is growing.
28 logs are in place.
44 should do it,
except for the gable ends and the roof logs.
It really looks a mess to see the butts
extending way beyond the corners,
but I will trim them off later.
You can't rush it.
I don't want these logs looking
as though a Boy Scout was turned loose on them
with a dull hatchet.
I was making good progress today
when I heard a plane.
It was Babe Alsworth.
I watched the plane glide in for a perfect landing
on the calm lake.
Plenty of groceries this time,
and among the supplies, rhubarb plants.
They should be put in the ground right away.
I found the frost about four or five inches down.
[bird tweeting]
I planted 15 hills of potatoes,
tucked in some onion sets,
and put in a few rows of peas, carrots, beets and rutabagas.
Not much of a garden by Iowa standards,
but it would tell me what I wanted to find out.
Finally, back to the cabin building.
I'm a better builder than I am a farmer anyway.
38 logs are in place,
and I'm almost ready for the eave logs.
I cut the opening for the big window,
the two smaller ones and the opening for the door.
Five logs were very special.
These were the 20-footers
which, along with the gable ends,
would be the backbone of my roof.
Two would be eave logs, two would be purlin logs,
and the last and the straightest
would be the ridge log.
As it stands now, the cabin looks as though
logs are sticking out all over it,
like the quills of a riled porcupine.
I have made good progress today.
My cabin logs have magically changed form
in the ten days since I cut the first notch.
It's June 7th,
and I do believe the growing season is at hand.
The buckbrush and willows are leafing out fast now.
The rhubarb is growing.
And I noticed my onion sets are spiking up
through the earth.
Those window frames have been on my mind.
Decided to do something about it.
First, I build a sawhorse workbench.
Then selected straight grain sections of logs
cut from the windows.
With a thin-bladed wide chisel,
I cut deep along the line on each side.
Worked fine.
I smoothed the split side with a draw knife.
The result was a real nice board,
so I continued to fashion others.
Put them in place and nailed them in.
I finished the day cleaning the litter of woodchips.
I mounted them in front of the door,
beaver-lodge style.
Quite a pile for 11 days' work.
Enough to impress that beaver.
It's June 9th.
Today would be a day away from the job of building.
I'll look for the pole timber for the roof uplake.
[low-key spiritual music]
*
After beaching the canoe, I walked through the timber,
crossing and recrossing the creek
that had its beginnings in the far-off snows.
Good piles were not as plentiful
as I had figured,
and I worked steadily to get 48 out,
and back to the beach by noon.
The mosquitoes were out in force.
To peel the poles, I made a tripod of short sticks
on which to rest one end,
and put the draw knife to work.
I rafted them up
and moved them down the lake to my beach.
A good pile, but I doubt there will be enough.
[bird tweeting]
Today I would secure the roof poles
over the gables.
A cabin roof takes time.
Soon, I will be ready to saw the ends
and fill the slots between the pole butts
It's J
>> HI.
I'M JAMES STEINBACH.
I'M A VOLUNTEER HERE AT PBS
WISCONSIN.
AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I LOVE
THIS SHOW.
I'VE BEEN WATCHING THIS SHOW NOW
FOR, I DON'T KNOW, 20 YEARS,
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND IT'S JUST REMARKABLE TO ME
BECAUSE IT NEVER GETS TIRED.
AND INTERESTING ASIDE, WE WERE
ONE OF THE FIRST STATIONS IN THE
COUNTRY TO RUN THIS SHOW.
NOT THE FIRST, BUT ONE OF THE
FIRST.
AROUND THE COUNTRY WE'D TALK TO
OTHER PEOPLE AT OTHER PBS
STATIONS AND THEY'D GO SO LET ME
UNDERSTAND THIS.
YOU'RE GOING TO RUN THIS PROGRAM
OF A GUY BUILDING A CABIN AND
BEING OUT IN THE WOODS FOR A
YEAR AND PEOPLE ARE GONNA LIKE
THIS?
WE SAID, YEAH, IT'S GOING TO BE
GREAT.
THAT'S WHY IT'S BEEN LASTING ON
PBS WISCONSIN FOR ALL THIS TIME,
BECAUSE PEOPLE LOVE TO SEE THIS.
JUST LIKE ME.
SO CALL US.
MAKE A PLEDGE FOR THIS PROGRAM,
1-800-236-3636.
>> THANKS, JAMES.
I'M ERIC GREILING, DIRECTOR OF
FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.
THIS IS A SPECIAL PROGRAM AND
TONIGHT IF YOU MAKE YOUR GIFT OF
SUPPORT TO PBS WISCONSIN, WE'VE
GOT SOME VERY SPECIAL WAYS TO
SAY THANK YOU.
AT THE $10 A MONTH LEVEL WE CAN
SAY THANK YOU WITH A DVD OF
TONIGHT'S PROGRAM SO YOU CAN
WATCH IT AGAIN.
OR, BETTER YET, SHARE IT WITH
SOMEBODY ELSE WHO DOESN'T LIVE
IN WISCONSIN.
IF THEY DON'T LIVE IN WISCONSIN
THEY MIGHT NOT BE SEEING THIS
PROGRAM BECAUSE PBS WISCONSIN
GOES THE EXTRA MILE TO BRING YOU
EXTRA PROGRAMS LIKE THIS.
SO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A GIFT OF
$10 A MONTH AND YOU CAN RECEIVE
THAT DVD OF TONIGHT'S SHOW.
ALSO AT THE $10 A MONTH LEVEL,
WE'VE GOT A SPECIAL SPOON
CARVING SET.
SO THIS IS EASY TO CARVE AND YOU
CAN TRY YOUR OWN HAND AT CARVING
YOUR OWN UTENSILS JUST LIKE DICK
PROENNEKE.
AT $15 A MONTH WE'VE GOT A
BEAUTIFUL PHOTO BOOK.
YOU CAN LOSE YOURSELF IN THE
IMAGES, SOME OF WHICH YOU'RE
SEEING IN THE FILM TONIGHT.
AT $20 A MONTH IT'S A PO POE POTPOURRI
OF WAYS WE CAN SAY THANK YOU,
"ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS," THE
SEQUEL, THE FROZEN NORTH AND THE
ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT
THIS PROGRAM IS, LIKE JAMES WAS
SAYING, IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR 20
YEARS, DID YOU SAY?
20, 30 YEARS.
AND YET IT WAS SO AHEAD OF ITS
TIME.
IT IS SORT OF THE ORIGINAL
REALITY SERIES, THIS MAN WHO
GOES OUT TO TRY AND SURVIVE IN
THE WILDERNESS, FILMS IT ALL
HIMSELF.
YOU WOULDN'T THINK IT WOULD BE
FASCINATING, BUT IT IS
FASCINATING.
AND IT'S ALSO AHEAD OF ITS TIME
IN THE IDEA OF NOWADAYS SO MANY
MORE PEOPLE WANT TO GO OFF THE
GRID, BEYOND THE GRID, LOOKING
AT MORE OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL
BENT.
HE WAS DOING THAT 30 YEARS AGO,
EVEN BEFORE THAT.
THAT'S BECAUSE PBS IS CUTTING
EDGE.
YOU HELP MAKE THIS TYPE OF
PROGRAMMING POSSIBLE.
YOU ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART
OF OUR FUNDING BUDGET.
SO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT RIGHT NOW.
1-800-236-3636.
>> I LOVE THAT, WHAT MICHELE WAS
JUST SAYING, THAT THIS IS LIKE
THE ULTIMATE EARLY REALITY SHOW.
IT'S ACTUALLY TRUE.
I HADN'T THOUGHT OF IT THAT WAY
BUT IT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
HERE'S A GREAT IDEA.
BECOME A SUSTAINER.
THIS IS WHERE EVERY MONTH A
CONTRIBUTION IS MADE BY A CREDIT
CARD OR FROM YOUR BANK TO PBS
WISCONSIN.
YOU SET THE AMOUNT.
WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT THIS IS THAT
EVERY MONTH YOUR CONTRIBUTION IS
SOMETHING WE CAN RELY ON AND, AS
YOU KNOW, RUNNING ANY BUSINESS
-- AND THIS IS A BUSINESS.
WE HAVE TO STAY IN BUSINESS.
IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO
HAVE SOME PREDICTABILITY.
IT'S GOOD FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU
DON'T HAVE TO THINK DID I PLEDGE
THIS TIME?
TRY BEING A SUSTAINER.
CALL.
THEY CAN HELP YOU OUT WITH THAT.
1-800-236-3636.
>> AND WHEN YOU CALL AND MAKE
YOUR GIFT TO PBS WISCONSIN RIGHT
NOW, WHETHER YOU'RE WATCHING
"ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS" FOR
THE FIRST TIME OR YOU'RE
FASCINATED BY IT EVERY TIME IT
COMES ON PBS WISCONSIN, WE'VE
GOT SOME WONDERFUL WAYS TO SAY
THANK YOU WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR
GIFT OF SUPPORT FOR VERY SPECIAL
PROGRAMS LIKE THIS.
AT $10 A MONTH WE'D LIKE TO
THANK YOU BY SENDING YOU THE DVD
OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAM, GIVES YOU
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A
PROGRAM LIKE THIS WITH SOMEBODY
ELSE AND SAY THIS IS A
FASCINATING PROGRAM AND I DON'T
KNOW WHERE ELSE YOU'RE GOING TO
SEET LET MTOSEE IT, LET ME SHARE IT WITH
YOU.
OR THE SPOON CARVING KIT.
DOESN'T COME WITH KNIVES OR
SHARP OBJECTS SO YOU CAN GIVE
THAT TO SOMEBODY ELSE WITHOUT
WORRYING TOO MUCH.
AT $15 A MONTH BEAUTIFUL PHOTO
ALBUM BOOK FEATURING ALL THESE
PHOTOGRAPHS OF DICK PROENNEKE
BUILDING HIS CABIN, BUILDING
TOOLS, ENJOYING THE WILL DER NSZ WILDERN
IN ALASKA.
AT $20 A MONTH, WE HAVE THE
PROGRAM DVD, WE HAVE A SEQUEL,
WE HAVE TWO MORE DVDs ABOUT
DICK PROENNEKE AND HIS LIFE IN
ALASKA AND THE SPOON CARVING AND
THE PHOTO ALBUM BOOK ALL AT $20
A MONTH AS A SUSTAINER.
THAT'S ALL YOURS,
1-800-236-3636, WITH YOUR GIFT
TODAY.
>> AND FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN ANY
AMOUNT, YOU AUTOMATICALLY BECOME
-- GET ACCESS TO PBS PASSPORT.
IT'S WONDERFUL.
IT'S A STREAMING SERVICE, LIKE
NETFLIX OR HAD YO HULU, BUT IT'S ALL
THE GREAT PROGRAMMING YOU LOVE.
THOUSANDS OF HOURS.
IF YOU LIKE WATCHING LIVE TV BUT
YOU REALLY WANT TO BINGE WATCH
SOMETHING, PBS PASSPORT IS FOR
YOU.
IT'S AUTOMATIC.
WHEN YOU BECOME A MEMBER, YOU
HAVE ACCESS.
GIVE IT A TRY.
1-800-236-3636.
>> SO PROENNEKE SAID A COUPLE
THINGS I THOUGHT WERE STRIKING.
ONE IS THIS IS SOMETHING I HAD
TO DO.
I THOUGHT, WOW, YOU HEAR PEOPLE
SAY THAT A LOT, BUT THIS WAS A
PRETTY EXTRAORDINARY THING THAT
HE HAD TO DO.
AND THEN, I WROTE IT DOWN, I HAD
TO TEST MYSELF.
WHAT AM I CAPABLE OF THAT I
DON'T KNOW YET.
WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO PUT
THIS.
WHAT AM I CAPABLE OF THAT I
DON'T KNOW YET.
NOW, I'M NOT GOING TO GO OUT AND
BUILD A CABIN.
BUT THAT THOUGHT ABOUT SETTING
THOSE THINGS UP FOR YOURSELF,
WHAT DON'T I KNOW YET THAT I CAN
DO, THAT'S A PRETTY WONDERFUL
THOUGHT.
IT'S GREAT FOR KIDS.
IT'S GREAT FOR ANYBODY TO THINK
THROUGH WHAT'S POSSIBLE FOR ME.
SO THIS PROGRAM REALLY TO ME
BRINGS SO MANY THINGS TO BEAR.
I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL.
GIVE US A CALL, 1-800-236-3636.
>> WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO
THIS VERY SPECIAL PROGRAM SOON,
BUT THERE'S STILL TIME FOR YOU
TO MAKE YOUR GIFT, WHETHER YOU
WANT TO GO ONLINE TO
pbswisconsin.org OR GIVE US A
CALL AT 1-800-236-3636.
WE CAN SAY THANK YOU TO YOU FOR
YOUR CONTRIBUTION AT $10 A MONTH
WITH A PROGRAM DVD OF TONIGHT'S
SHOW FOR THE SPOON CARVING SET,
TWO BASSWOOD BLANKS WHERE YOU
CAN PRACTICE YOUR OWN CRAFT OF
CREATING OUR OWN TOOLS OUT OF
WOOD.
$15 A MONTH, A LOVELY PHOTO
ALBUM BOOK FILLED WITH STRIKING
PHOTOGRAPHS OF DICK'S LIFE IN
ALASKA.
AND AT $20 A MONTH, THE PROGRAM
DVD FROM TONIGHT, "ALONE IN THE
WILDERNESS," PART TWO, SEQUEL
AND THE FROZEN NORTH, ALL
FEATURING DICK PROENNEKE AND THE
BLANKS AND THE PHOTO ALBUM BOOK.
GIVE US A CALL AT 1-800-236-3636
Everything looks as though it had a bath last night.
Must have been a good shower.
And I never even heard it.
A check on the livestock this morning
before going down to the roof job.
A few caribou cows and their calves
just up country from Low Pass Creek.
Nothing else in sight.
Should be a bear passing through
one of these days.
These fillers should be called squirrel frustrators.
Give those characters an entrance,
and they can ruin a cabin.
I finished filling the slots between the roof poles
and cocked joints with oakum.
I chinked around the blocks on the outside.
Any place I could get a table knife blade in got oakum.
Next was a job I had been thinking about:
a countertop,
some window ledges and some shelves.
I decided ripping them with the ripsaw
was the answer.
I could go down the middle of a log 5 inches in diameter
and 42 inches long in 15 minutes.
Couldn't complain about that.
I think I have sawed nearly everything that I need.
Now to trim the edges and start building.
I need a fish for supper,
so I took the fly rod down to Hope Creek.
The grayling were feeding greedily.
Fins and tails swirling all over the surface.
A fish snapped the fly from the leader
the very first cast.
A handsome grayling,
17 1/4 inches long.
Enough for my needs.
It's July 2nd.
After a peaceful trip downlake,
I located ten seasoned spruce stumps.
I was anxious to try making hinges for the door.
I worked the wood to shape with an ax and draw knife.
Now to saw the fork and the butt end.
45 minutes, and I had half my hinge made.
Not bad.
[soft music]
*
I put some finishing touches
on the door planks I made Sunday.
Now the door is ready to put together.
Too many men work on parts of things.
Doing a job to completion satisfies me.
My roof poles are still too wet for the tar paper,
so I will work on my double-deck bunk.
Four posts with two rails on each side,
and two large and two small on each end.
I augered 1 1/2-inch holes,
and trim the rail poles to fit.
Now when I get some glue,
I will knock it apart
and glue it back together.
With a few leftover poles,
I built myself a chair and a bench.
It's June 27th.
A good rain it was last night.
Today would be a pole-hunting day.
I need about 30 to make the slats for my bunks.
After peeling the poles, the wind came up strong.
It brought rain, and it furrowed the lake
as rough as a cob.
This lake can really change its personality in a hurry.
Like a woman.
All smiles one minute,
and dancing a temper tantrum the next.
Tomorrow is Sunday.
I will go someplace.
Next morning, I loaded my camera gear
and started up the trail to the hump.
It was good to take a break away from the cabin.
As I topped the ridge along a dry wash,
a wolf came up from the other side,
30 or 40 paces away.
Then, in a wink, she was gone.
The wolves had made a kill.
All that was left of the young caribou
was a backbone and rib cage.
The skin was badly torn
and pulled down over the front legs,
as you would peel back a rubber glove.
[bird squawks]
It looks like the wolves aren't the only problem
the caribous have.
What was a bull caribou doing down there,
where not a breath of air was stirring?
Insects were whirling around me
like sawdust blown from a power saw.
The bull also was having a battle with the tiny fiends.
Stomping and shaking and twisting and turning,
and shivering his hide.
[insects buzzing]
He would lie down and get back up again.
No rest at all.
Why doesn't he climb to a breeze or take a swim?
Anything but stand and fight something
that he can't hope to kill or scare away.
With a yell and a waving of arms, I spooked him.
He threw his antlers back and off he clattered,
over the stones and up the creek.
Good luck to you, old boy.
It's July 3rd.
A cool, damp morning with fog coming off the slope
like the smoke from many campfires.
No wind now,
so it's a perfect day for the tar paper job.
I lapped the felt paper four to five inches.
I need just one more strip, 20 feet long.
I must admit the cabin looks better already
with the start of a roof.
Next, I unrolled the polyethylene
and tucked the edges to get at least four thicknesses
to tack through.
And I fastened her down.
Next, I built a carrying rack for the moss.
I filed the blade of my round-point shovel,
then I was ready for the moss-cutting detail.
I cut out rectangles about, oh, 18x36 inches,
and 8 inches thick.
Two chunks double-decked on the rack made a good load.
Once around the edge of the roof,
and the cabin took on a new look.
I feel guilty about the tar paper
and the polyethylene, because
they're not true wilderness cabin materials.
But I am convinced they will do a better job
of keeping the weather out.
It seems I have cleared two acres of moss,
and still the roof isn't covered.
A beautiful, still evening.
The cabin is beginning to look as though it belongs.
This morning I cut,
hauled and peeled 11 logs by noon.
I would spend today on the construction
of the john,
an important consideration in any new home.
Materials to finish the front required lots of time,
ripping boards from the last of my cabin logs.
It was 12:00 when I finished the last cut.
Four boards would make the door,
and the fifth would make cleats
to hold it together.
I made the hinges from a gas can,
and they looked almost store-bought.
And then the final touch:
saw out the crescent.
And the john was done.
July 23rd.
A day to hang the door.
I put the door into the opening
and fastened the top and bottom hinges.
I checked and re-checked my hinges
to see that they were in line.
I pulled the hinge pins, set the door on an edge,
and sawed it nearly through for a Dutch door,
which I intended it to be.
I dobbed on some glue and nailed it fast.
Door works quiet and easy, with all four hinges secure.
Not perfect, but plenty close for rural work.
I must devise a latch for it.
Not just hooks, like a barn door.
[serene music]
*
All I needed was a lock.
I would like to see a bear try to figure this thing out.
But I suppose he would just solve the problem
by wiping the door clean from the wooden hinges.
After finishing the latch,
I went blueberring up on the Cowgill Bench.
I found a good patch.
I fear the blueberries really took a nipping
with the heavy frost not so long ago.
I find some berries big and healthy.
But many are small and shriveled.
When my can was nearly full,
I noticed a movement across the creek.
Something yellow and brown.
A big bear, not 50 yards away.
I think I've picked the wrong blueberry patch.
[tense music]
*
Lucky for me, and him, he didn't like my smell.
July 31st.
A tin-bending day.
Made a water bucket, a wash pan, a dishpan,
a flower pan and storage cans.
My cabin kitchen is shaping up.
I needed a big wooden spoon to dip hotcake batter
onto the griddle.
One spoonful, one hotcake.
In the woodpile I found scraps of stump wood
that looked suitable.
It took me no more than an hour
to turn out a good-looking spoon.
I must make a wooden bowl or two later on.
Today is the big day.
I will load all my remaining gear
into the canoe and paddle down
to my new home.
[bird squawking]
The lake is dead calm.
A perfect day for moving.
Everything found its place,
and there was lots of room for everything.
Not a cluttered look at all.
Five inches of foam rubber on my new bunk
will make it just about right.
I can hear Hope Creek real plain.
That will be a pleasant sound to go to sleep by.
And the view from my window isn't too bad either.
Best sleep in a long time.
The sound of the waves lapping the gravel beach,
and the never-ending rustle of Hope Creek.
No better sleeping pill.
The woodpile needs attention.
I must drop a few spruce nags
and buck them into the sections.
Dry standing timber makes the best firewood.
There is a rhythm to the saw
as its teeth eat back and forth
into the deepening cut.
But I must admit, I enjoy the splitting more.
I heard a plane.
It was Babe, at last, with supplies.
He had brought in some fresh groceries
that needed refrigeration.
I had dug down a foot into the moss just yesterday
and found frost,
and lined the hole with a gas can box.
The thermometer in my cooler box
under the moss reads 40 degrees,
and here it is close to 80 degrees today.
While cultivating the garden,
I rolled out a few potatoes that looked like walnuts.
Not record-breakers for size,
but they had real smooth skins.
The crops to grow at Twin Lakes
are potatoes, rhubarb, lettuce,
onions and radishes.
My green onions looked pretty respectable.
I am getting hungry for a fish.
After many casts at the mouth of the Hope Creek,
I was onto one.
I worked him in easy,
for I was fish-hungry
and I didn't want to lose this lake trout.
I could see him browning in the pan
as I dressed him out,
and I left his entrails for the birds.
Fried potatoes, onions and fish.
You can't beat that.
[wind gusting]
Time to take a break away from the cabin.
I would go up high today.
There were many bands of sheep, ewes and lambs
scattered here and there.
I spotted six big rams on Black Mountain.
Two had better than a full curl.
A man could lose himself up here.
One bad step, and I would keep right on going
down the mountain.
But risk now and then is good for a man.
One misstep here,
and a man would have to settle with the Lord,
right here on the mountain.
[tranquil music]
*
Close at hand, the mosses and grasses
were full of tiny flowers.
It is another world of beauty.
The more I see as I sit here among the rocks,
the more I wonder about what I am not seeing.
A flickering movement off to my left.
The stone seemed to move,
and turned into a mother ptarmigan and her brood.
The young were just as camouflaged as their mother
in her plumage of summer.
They were feeding,
huddled like chickens as they worked along the slope.
[squawks]
Not too far away,
I spotted a mother brown bear with two cubs.
It was probably the same family
I had seen at different times during the spring.
She was rounded out like a cask.
Must be lots of vitamins along those slopes.
It was getting late and a little chilly,
and it was time to leave.
I had taken a long look into the heart
of the high places.
It's September 6th.
This would be the morning to start the fireplace.
I had been packing flat stones from the bed of Hope Creek
for the past few days.
[geese honking]
The sound of geese heading north
made me even more anxious to get the project underway.
The lake was moon-still.
A good morning to haul some sand.
Four loads of sand.
I won't cut that hole in the back of the cabin too high
until I find out how this rock-laying is going to go.
Today is spent on the outside.
The chimney is a good 12 inches high
and 9 inches thick.
I hated cutting into those logs
that I had fitted with such care,
but it had to be done.
It's September 8th.
I roughed out my arch today with my ax,
and then finished it off with the jack plane.
I set it in place and spiked it to the post.
All my stones in front of the fireplace
had been collected in my travels
up and down both lakes,
the high country and the low.
So they are representative of the entire area.
Today, while it was still frosty,
I cut the notch in the rear overhang of the roof
to let the chimney through.
My collapsible form couldn't have worked better.
I'm glad I took the time to make it.
By tomorrow evening I had better be done,
since the last cement sack will be empty.
After two weeks,
with fingertips worn thin and tender,
I am ready for the cold weather.
>> HI.
I'M JAMES STEINBACH.
I'M A VOLUNTEER HERE AT PBS
WISCONSIN.
AND JUST TAKING A QUICK BREAK
FROM THIS TERRIFIC SHOW THAT HAS
BEEN NOW A FAVORITE WITH
AUDIENCES, WITH ME, WITH US, FOR
MANY, MANY YEARS.
AND IT'S PRETTY CLEAR WHY,
BECAUSE IT'S A UNIQUE STORY.
IT'S JUST WHAT THE GUY DID IS
UNIQUE, BUT ALSO THE STORY THAT
IS TOLD IS REALLY EXTRAORDINARY.
AND THIS IS A CHALLENGE BREAK.
THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE MEMBERS
OF PBS WISCONSIN HAVE SET ASIDE
$2,000 TO MATCH YOUR
CONTRIBUTION DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR.
SO THIS IS THE TIME TO MAKE A
CONTRIBUTION BECAUSE IF YOU GIVE
$1, IT'S $2.
$120 TO $240 TO PBS WISCONSIN.
IT'S A GREAT TIME TO PLEDGE.
YOU'RE SHOWING SUPPORT FOR THIS
PROGRAM, ALL THE PROGRAMS, BUT
THIS PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR THAT
IS REALLY A FAVORITE FOR PBS
WISCONSIN.
SO CALL US, 1-800-236-3636.
>> THANKS, JAMES.
I'M ERIC GREILING, DIRECTOR OF
FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.
THIS IS A CHALLENGE BREAK, SO
IT'S A GREAT TIME FOR YOU TO
CALL AND MAKE YOUR GIFT BECAUSE
YOUR DOLLAR IS GOING TO GO TWICE
AS FAR AS A NEW MEMBER OF PBS
WISCONSIN AND IT'S ALSO A GREAT
TIME BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME
SPECIAL WAYS TO SAY THANK YOU
DURING THIS SPECIAL PROGRAM.
WITH YOUR GIFT OF $10 A MONTH,
WE CAN SAY THANK YOU WITH A DVD
OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.
YOU CAN SHARE THAT DVD WITH
SOMEONE ELSE AND SOMEBODY WHO
MIGHT LIVE OUTSIDE OF WISCONSIN
WHO DOESN'T GET A CHANCE TO SEE
SPECIAL PROGRAMS LIKE THIS THAT
PBS WISCONSIN BRINGS TO YOU.
ALSO AT $10 A MONTH, SPOON
CARVING ET IS.
SET.
YOU CAN TRY CARVING YOUR OWN
SPOON.
THIS IS TWO BASSWOOD BLANKS YOU
CAN CARVE YOURSELF.
AT $15 A MONTH, THIS BEAUTIFUL
PHOTO ALBUM IS FILLED WITH
PHOTOS OF SCENES FAMILIAR AND
NEW AND REVEALING SIMILAR TO THE
PROGRAM.
AND AT $20 A MONTH, TONIGHT'S
PROGRAM DVD AND THREE MORE
DVDs, THE SEQUEL TO "ALONE IN
THE WILDERNESS," ALASKA SILENCE
AND SOLITUDE ALONG WITH THE
SPOON CARVING SET AND PHOTO
ALBUM BOOK.
IT'S A CHALLENGE BREAK.
GIVE US A CALL RIGHT NOW AT
1-800-236-3636.
>> HI.
I'M MICHELE GOOD FROM WISCONSIN
PUBLIC RADIO.
AND IT'S HIGHLY LIKELY THAT YOU
HAVE BEEN WATCHING PBS WISCONSIN
FOR SOME TIME NOW.
MAYBE YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WATCHING IT
WITH YOUR KIDS, DANIEL TIGER.
OR YOU DISCOVERED THE DRAMA
PROGRAMS OR OUR INCREDIBLE NEWS
PROGRAMS THAT GIVE YOU HONEST,
ETHICALLY-SOURCED NEWS.
OR MAYBE YOU'RE LIKE ME, WHO
KIND OF GREW UP ON PBS WITH ZOOM
AND ELECTRIC COMPANY.
WHATEVER IT IS, THIS PROGRAM,
THIS STATION, HAS BECOME AN
INTEGRAL PART OF YOUR LIFE.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT RIGHT NOW.
AND WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR DONATION,
YOU CAN GET YOUR PLEDGE DOUBLED.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS MAKE A
CALL.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT MEMBER
CHALLENGE.
1-800-236-3636.
>> PBS WISCONSIN IS REALLY A
STORYTELLER.
AND WE'RE THE STATE'S BIGGEST
STAGE.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE
OPPORTUNITIES PEOPLE HAVE.
FOR EXAMPLE, NOT EVERYBODY IS
GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET TO
BROADWAY TO SEE A SHOW.
OR EVEN MADISON OR GREEN BAY TO
SEE A SHOW.
BUT YOU CAN SEE IT ON PBS
WISCONSIN.
NOT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE
ABLE TO CERTAINLY GO TO ALASKA
AND BUILD A HOUSE, BUT YOU CAN
SEE IT ON PBS WISCONSIN.
OPENING THE WORLD IS REALLY
SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ABOUT.
EDUCATION IN THE BROADEST SENSE,
REALLY SORT OF MORE LIKE
INSPIRATION I THINK IS A BETTER
WORD FOR IT.
THIS PROGRAM IS A GREAT EXAMPLE
OF THAT.
SO MANY OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE
HAVE.
MICHELE WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT
KIDS' PROGRAMS.
THINK ABOUT IT.
I MEAN, THEY'RE REALLY
EXTRAORDINARY PROGRAMS FOR YOUR
KIDS, YOUR GRANDKIDS, MAYBE FOR
YOU WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP.
THAT'S WORTH INVESTING IN.
AND THAT'S WHAT IT REALLY IS
WHEN YOU CONTRIBUTE TO PBS
WISCONSIN.
IT'S AN INVESTMENT NOT JUST IN
WHAT WE HAVE DONE, BUT IN WHAT
WE ARE GOING TO DO, FOR YOU, FOR
YOUR COMMUNITY.
SO CALL US DURING THIS CHALLENGE
BREAK, 1-800-236-3636.
>> AND WHEN YOU CALL THAT
NUMBER, OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE READY
AND WAITING TO TAKE YOUR CALL
AND SAY THANK YOU TO YOU.
AND WE HAVE OTHER WAYS THAT WE
CAN THANK YOU AS WELL.
WITH EVERY ONE OF THE GIFT
LEVELS THAT WE'RE MENTIONING
TONIGHT, YOU'LL RECEIVE
"AIRWAVES," OUR MONTHLY PROGRAM
GUIDE.
IT WILL COME TO YOU IN THE MAIL
EVERY MONTH.
IT'S PAPER, BUT IT'S REALLY
HANDY AND OUR MEMBERS REALLY
ENJOY IT.
IT LETS YOU KNOW WHEN "ALONE IN
THE WILDERNESS" MIGHT BE BACK ON
AGAIN.
OR LETS YOU KNOW ABOUT A NEW
PROGRAM THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO
CIRCLE AND WATCH LATER.
AT $10 A MONTH WE CAN THANK YOU
WITH THE DVD OF TONIGHT'S
PROGRAM OR THE SPOON CARVING
SET.
AT $15 A MONTH, THE LOVELY LARGE
COFFEE TABLE SIZE BOOK DEPICTING
DICK PROENNEKE OUT IN THE
WILDERNESS REALLY, REALLY
GORGEOUS SHOTS OF ALL THE THINGS
YOU SEE IN TONIGHT'S PROGRAM AND
MORE.
AT $20 A MONTH, WE COULD SEND
YOU THE PROGRAM DVD, THREE
RELATED DVDs, INCLUDING THE
SEQUEL TO "ALONE IN THE
WILDERNESS," AND THE SPOON
CARVING BLANKS AND THE PHOTO
ALBUM BOOK.
SO GIVE US A CALL DURING THIS
CHALLENGE BREAK AT
1-800-236-3636.
>> SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY IS
STREAMING PROGRAMMING NOWADAYS,
WHETHER YOU WATCH IT, YOU HAVE A
ROKU PLAYER OR YOU WATCH NETFLIX
OR YOU WATCH ONLINE.
AND PBS HAS ITS OWN.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU
DOWNLOAD THE PBS APP.
YOU CAN FIND IT IN THE APP STORE
OR IN YOUR GOOGLE PLAY.
IT IS -- IT'S AMAZING.
HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF PBS
PROGRAMMING AS WELL AS SOME OF
THE PBS WISCONSIN'S VERY
WISCONSIN-SPECIFIC PROGRAMMING,
LIKE "HOME DOWN STORIES" AND
"WISCONSIN FROM THE AIR."
WHEN YOU BECOME A MEMBER, WHICH
YOU REALLY SHOULD DO RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE YOU CAN GET YOUR
DONATION DOUBLED THANKS TO
MEMBERS WHO ARE TRYING TO
INSPIRE YOU TO DO SO, WHEN YOU
BECOME A MEMBER, YOU GET PBS
PASSPORT.
SO THAT 100 HOURS OF STREAMING
THAT YOU CAN WATCH TURNS INTO
THOUSANDS OF HOURS.
AND IT'S THE STUFF THAT YOU ARE
WATCHING RIGHT NOW ON
TELEVISION.
YOU CAN WATCH IT AGAIN AND
AGAIN.
YOU CAN WATCH EVERY SINGLE
EPISODE IF YOU WANT TO.
IT ALL HAPPENS WHEN YOU BECOME A
MEMBER.
DO IT NOW, pbswisconsin.org.
>> YOU KNOW, WATCHING THIS SHOW,
THIS TERRIFIC PROGRAM, TWO OF
THE THINGS THAT I LOVE ARE WHEN
HE MAKES THE HINGES FOR THE
DOOR, AND I THINK, THAT'S A
BEAUTIFUL DESIGN.
SO THIS GUY HAS THOUGHT ABOUT
THIS.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING HE'S JUST
KIND OF COME UP AND DONE.
AND THE OTHER IS WHEN HE MAKES A
SPOON.
WHAT COULD BE MORE SIMPLE THAN
MAKING A SPOON?
AND IT'S EXACTLY THE SIZE HE
NEEDS.
IT'S PERFECT FOR WHAT HE NEEDS.
THIS IS WHAT HE'S ABOUT IS WHAT
DO I NEED.
WHEN I USE THE WORD PERFECT, I
DON'T MEAN PERFECT IN AN
ABSTRACT SENSE.
I MEAN PERFECT FOR WHAT HE NEEDS
OUT THERE.
THAT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY
ACHIEVEMENT, NOT SOMETHING MANY
OF US CAN THINK ABOUT BEING ABLE
TO DO IN OUR LIVES.
BUT WE CAN AT LEAST THINK ABOUT
THAT ASPIRATION.
SO CALL US.
ASPIRE TO CALL US.
1-800-236-3636 DURING THIS
CHALLENGE BREAK.
>> AND YOU CAN TRY YOUR OWN HAND
AT CARVING A SPOON OR EVEN TWO
SPOONS FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR
OWN HOME.
THERE'S NO NEED TO GO TO ALASKA.
THE ONLY THING YOU NEED TO DO IS
LOG ON TO pbswisconsin.org OR
GIVE US A CALL AT
1-800-236-3636.
MAKE A GIFT OF $10 A MONTH AND
ONE OF THE WAYS WE CAN SAY THANK
YOU IS WITH THIS BASSWOOD SPOON
CARVING SET SO YOU CAN TRY YOUR
OWN HAND AT SPOON CARVING.
ALSO AT THAT SAME LEVEL OF $10 A
MONTH, WE COULD SAY THANK YOU TO
YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT WITH A DVD
OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.
GREAT WAY TO SHARE SOMETHING
FASCINATING WITH SOMETHING ELSE.
YOU'D LIKE TO SAY I JUST SAW
THIS AMAZING PROGRAM ON PBS
WISCONSIN AND I WANT TO SHARE IT
WITH YOU BECAUSE I THINK IT'S
AMAZING TOO.
AT $15 A MONTH, WE COULD THANK
YOU WITH THE BEAUTIFUL PHOTO
ALBUM BOOK DEPICTING ALL THE
DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF DICK
PROENNEKE'S LIFE IN ALASKA.
$20 A MONTH, WE'D LIKE TO THANK
YOU WITH THE PROGRAM DVD OF
TONIGHT'S SHOW AND THREE MORE
DVDs, ALL ABOUT THE LIFE IN
ALASKA OF DICK PROENNEKE AND THE
SPOON CARVING BLANKS AND THE
PHOTO ALBUM BOOK.
IT'S OUR WAY OF SAYING THANK YOU
FOR YOUR GIFT DURING THIS
CHALLENGE BREAK WHEN YOU CALL
1-800-236-3636.
>> PBS WISCONSIN IS MORE THAN
JUST THESE NATIONAL PROGRAMS OR
THINGS WE GET FROM OVERSEAS THAT
YOU LOVE AND WE ALL LOVE.
I THINK THE THING THAT IS SO
UNIQUE ABOUT THIS STATION IS
IT'S A PBS STATION FOR THE
ENTIRE STATE.
AND WE REALLY, REALLY TAKE THE
TIME TO HELP YOU MEET YOUR
NEIGHBORS, TO HELP YOU GO OUT
AND SEE THINGS AROUND THE STATE
THAT YOU MIGHT NEVER GET THE
CHANCE TO.
LIKE "WISCONSIN FROM THE AIR."
WHO HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE
JUST HOW BREATHTAKING THIS STATE
IS.
THAT WAS TOTALLY PRODUCED HERE
IN-HOUSE THANKS TO YOUR GENEROUS
SUPPORT BY PEOPLE WHO MADE
DONATIONS DURING THE MEMBER
CHALLENGE TO GET THOSE DONATIONS
MATCHED.
IF YOU LIKE THE FACT THAT WE
FOCUS ON THIS STATE, IF YOU'VE
COME TO APPRECIATE IT, NOW IS
THE TIME TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT.
1-800-236-3636.
>> SO I'M JUST LOOKING THROUGH
THE BOOK HERE.
THIS IS REALLY TERRIFIC.
THE "ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS"
BOOK, IT IS NOT ONLY ABOUT DICK
PROENNEKE, SOME OF HIS FRIENDS,
SOME OF HIS FAMILY.
IT'S GOT REALLY WONDERFUL
STORIES IN IT AND, OF COURSE,
THE VISUAL STORIES ARE JUST
STRIKING.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST -- THIS IS
REALLY -- I KNOW I'M PROBABLY
GIVING A REFLECTION HERE.
I'M SORRY.
BUT THIS IS REALLY SOMETHING
THAT YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT
AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.
AND AS MUCH AS I LOVE TV, AND I
DO, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A BOOK.
BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE
YOU GO AT YOUR OWN SPEED AND
LOOK THROUGH IT AND YOU CAN STOP
AND THINK AT ANY MOMENT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO HIT A BUTTON.
THIS IS A GREAT THING.
THE BOOK IS TERRIFIC.
THE TV SHOW IS TERRIFIC, TOO.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
DURING THIS CHALLENGE BREAK.
WE ARE AT TEN.
TEN?
COME ON.
20 PEOPLE.
WE NEED 10 MORE FOLKS TO CALL.
1-800-236-3636.
>> WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE
PROGRAM IN JUST A COUPLE OF
MINUTES AND THAT MEANS THE END
OF THE CHALLENGE BREAK IS COMING
UP, SO IT'S YOUR CHANCE TO CALL.
IT'S YOUR CHANCE TO GO ONLINE,
1-800-236-3636,
pbswisconsin.org.
LET US SAY THANK YOU TO YOU FOR
YOUR SUPPORT OF FANTASTIC
PROGRAMMING LIKE THIS.
AT $10 A MONTH, WE'D LIKE TO
THANK YOU WITH THE PROGRAM DVD
OF TONIGHT' TONIGHT'S SHOW OR THE
TWO-PIECE SPOON CARVING SET SO
YOU CAN TRY YOUR OWN HAND AT
SOME WILDERNESS CRAFT.
$15 A MONTH THE BOOK JAMES WAS
JUST SHOWING YOU, WONDERFUL,
WONDERFUL BOOK OF DICK'S LIFE
AND ALL OF HIS VISITORS, ANIMALS
AND FAMILY AND FRIENDS ALIKE UP
IN ALASKA.
AND FOR $20 A MONTH, THE PROGRAM
DVD OF TONIGHT'S SHOW, "ALONE IN
THE WILDERNESS," THE SEQUEL TO
THAT, "ALASKA SILENCE AND
SOLITUDE,," AND THE SPOON
CARVING BLANKS AND THE PHOTO
ALBUM BOOK, ALL OUR WAY OF
THANKING YOU FOR A GENEROUS GIFT
OF $20 A MONTH.
1-800-236-3636.
>> PLEASE DON'T LET THIS
OPPORTUNITY PASS YOU BY.
SEIZE THE MOMENT, LIKE DICK.
YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO DO IT WHEN
YOU CAN DO IT.
THE WEATHER'S GOING TO TURN BAD
AND SNOW IS GOING TO COME AND
THE MEMBER CHALLENGE IS GOING TO
GO AWAY AND WE STILL HAVE ROOM
FOR SEVEN MORE PEOPLE TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THIS AMAZING
OPPORTUNITY.
SHOW THE LOVE TO PBS WISCONSIN.
WE KNOW YOU ENJOY THE
PROGRAMMING.
WE KNOW YOU COUNT ON THE
PROGRAMMING.
WE KNOW THAT YOU TRUST THAT IT'S
GOING TO BE QUALITY, THAT IT'S
GOING TO BE FAMILY-FRIENDLY,
AMAZING PRODUCTION VALUES,
INCREDIBLE CASTS AND STORIES.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND GET THAT
DONATION DOUBLED.
SEIZE THE DAY.
1-800-236-3636.
AND YOU CAN ALSO GO ONLINE TO
pbswisconsin.org.
THANK YOU SO MUCH Fis new day is clear, calm and 28 degrees.
There is white frost on the brush
and on the gravel of the beach.
The lake is like a huge puddle,
grinning with the reflections of the fall colors
well along on the mountains.
Today was meant for canoe travel.
I would go to the lower end of the lower lake
where the Chilikadrotna River begins its long, swift journey
to merge with the Mulchatna and the Nushagak.
It would be a paddle of 8 1/2 miles, one way.
[paddling slowly]
It was a joy to travel the flat lake.
I dug the paddle deep
and the canoe slid along easily,
furrowing ripples to either side.
Near the lower end of the lake,
I spotted a fine caribou bull.
He was acting strangely.
When I saw him wade into the lake,
it dawned on me.
He wanted to cross to the other side.
The race was on.
He would show me how fast a bull caribou can swim.
I didn't want to get too close,
in case he turned on me.
He could overturn my canoe with no trouble.
Maybe he figured he couldn't get rid of me on land,
so he did what he would have done with a wolf in pursuit:
take to the lake, swim, and lose the enemy.
The caribou is an animal of the open country.
It seems he likes to get up on the high ridges,
where the breeze blows to keep the insects away.
[calm, spiritual music]
*
The bull moose, which I haven't seen much of
all summer long,
doesn't seem to fear me, or much of anything, now.
After several hours of violent thrashing
and destroying a patch of willow bushes,
the bull was free from the blood-covered,
velvet-like material.
It seems this time of year,
the bulls lose all their good sense
during their rutting season
and come right out in the open.
Afraid of nobody.
And that's when hunting season opens.
And that's the end of him.
[wind gusting]
I woke up this morning surprised to see
four inches of snow on the ground.
Looks like I finished my fireplace just in time.
It's a frosty morning at 23 degrees.
35 degrees in my cooler box.
And the lake water at 42 degrees.
But the pressure is off.
The fireplace is built,
and what little there is yet to do
can be done regardless of the weather.
[mellow ethereal music]
*
It's the end of September now,
and if I was going to stay the winter
I would need more meat.
Today was the last day of sheep season,
and the sight of four good rams
in a bunch convinced me.
Although this handsome bull makes it tempting,
lucky for him I like sheep meat
better than caribou.
I open and close the season with one shot.
The search for meat is over.
I hated to see the big ram end like this,
but I suppose he could have died
a lot harder than he did.
The pelt must have weighed a hundred pounds
when I dragged it from the water.
Nearly all the blood
had soaked out of the beautiful white hide.
I put my smoker into operation,
and I kept it going all day.
Sheep liver and onions for supper.
A satisfying day.
September 23rd.
Clear, calm, and a frosty 20 degrees.
Hope Creek is beginning to ice up.
I put the thermometer in the creek mouth.
31 degrees.
If the creek stopped moving, it would freeze up in no time.
Today I would cut wood to build up my supplies.
This business of taking wood out of savings bank
and putting none back
has been bothering me to no end.
Plenty of meat hanging from the meat tree.
Plenty of wood.
My cabin, tight and warm.
I looked forward to freeze-up.
[wolf howling]
[howling continues]
[cawing]
It's November now,
and in preparing for freeze-up,
I made a sled out of spruce poles
using the spruce runners I had put in traction.
The frame was held together with pegs
and short pole bracings.
I planed the runner smooth
and painted them with a film of wood glue.
With its deck poles, handles and crossbars,
it would be a vehicle in which I could push
a good-sized load.
Too bad I didn't have a caribou to pull it.
[wind gusting]
[calming wind music]
*
Dead calm and zero degrees.
The wind and snow died during the night.
It's important that I keep my pathway to the lake open.
I chipped through three inches of ice
to fill my water bucket.
In a short time I will have a safe highway
for miles in each direction.
Freeze-up has arrived.
It's warm inside my cabin.
A toasty 40 degrees.
Peppery ram stew for supper.
Just the way I like it.
It's got everything in it but the kitchen sponge.
[mellow acoustic music]
*
Dead calm and zero degrees.
The lake ice has increased one inch in 24 hours.
It took one hour to the gravel bank of the connecting stream.
Not quite as fast as paddling.
I saw big wolf tracks in the drifted snow.
Then I saw many more wolf tracks.
A bad sign.
[wind gusting]
About a hundred yards farther on,
a calf, dead on the bank.
They had not fed on the carcass at all.
I butchered it up into sections.
Blood was frozen on his hind legs.
Evidently, one of the wolves had hamstrung him
while the rest of the pack had held his attention.
Had they done it just for sport?
Suddenly, the wolves lost a few points with me.
I loaded up the sled and headed for home.
I chopped off a chunk of moose hindquarter.
The meat shattered like ice.
The magpies soon took command.
But there would be plenty for all.
[chittering]
December 31st.
32 degrees below zero during the heat of the day.
Today, I hiked a couple of miles down the lake.
I do believe winter at Twin Lakes
is better than summer.
I crossed a wolverine track
that was headed for Low Pass Creek.
I must be on the lookout for that character.
[footsteps crunching in snow]
On such a trip, snowshoes are a must.
With no wind, I could travel all day
in -45 degrees and be comfortable.
It is warmer on top of the pass
than it is along the lake.
Moisture must make the difference.
My face and fingers felt the bite and the cold
as soon as I reached lake level.
It was good to be back at the cabin.
January 2nd.
45 below.
A land without motion.
In the dead of winter, nothing seems to move.
Not even a twig on the willows.
The thickness of ice is now a strong 28 inches.
In this very cold weather,
the hole in the ice gradually closes in from the sides
until it is a hole no longer.
January 9th.
What do you know?
Here comes Babe in the T-craft on skis.
He brought a burlap sack half full of butter beans,
50 pounds of sugar and a big box of dried apples.
Also, some mail.
He also brought me two pairs of heavy socks
that his wife, Mary, had knitted for me.
It was just like Christmas.
[wind gusting]
February 21st.
Plus-26 degrees.
Snowing and blowing.
27 inches of snow on the level.
My snow shovel works well.
My paths are beginning to look like small canyons
with steep white walls.
I wish brother Jake could be up here to see this.
February is almost gone, and that didn't take long.
Still, the snow depth stays at 27 inches
at my checking station.
It settles between snows.
On the way back to the cabin,
I cut across the wolverine track.
The one that's been eluding me for so long.
And then, there he was.
The one with the ferocious reputation.
[tense music]
*
He didn't look so ferocious to me.
It's very warm in the sun,
but cool in the shadow of the mountain
as I snowshoed back to the cabin.
The end of March.
The sun was warm and the eaves dripped.
I do believe the days of snow and ice are numbered.
[chirps]
On one of my trips, I had noticed a huge burrow
on a dead spruce tree.
Today, I would go back and salvage it.
I slabbed it with a four-inch cut next to the tree.
The cap would be about seven inches deep,
and perhaps from that I would carve a bowl.
Two slabs on the packboard, and in for lunch.
The slabs will make interesting tabletops.
After lunch, I dumped
the two-pound coffee can of cranberries
I had picked
into a pan to cook them in their own juice.
A fistful of sugar was next,
followed with a shot of corn syrup.
When the mixture cooled,
I poured it off into empty bottles.
Now those sourdough pancakes
would have an elegant topping in the morning.
April 22nd.
It is good to see bears on the mountain again.
A mother and two fine-looking cubs.
Good company for a man out here.
Most people would think a bear den
to be a smelly place.
On the contrary,
I have found them to be clean and fresh.
As if the bear walked in, laid down,
got up and walked out.
With the receding snow,
the caribou are starting to show themselves again.
And I am sure the wolves are not too far behind.
There are many ptarmigan in the willow flats.
The roosters are full of cackle,
and they are fast coming out of their winter plumage.
[peeping]
I have made it through my first winter at Twin Lakes.
With the arrival of spring,
it feels good to get back to work
on the projects that have been on hold.
And the new cache will keep the bears
and other critters out of my food supplies.
narrator: Dick Proenneke would spend
the next 35 years alone in the wilderness,
carefully documenting life at Twin Lakes until 1998.
At the age of 82,
Dick decided that the minus-50 below winters
were becoming too much of a chore,
and it was time to leave this one man's wilderness.
Dick has since formally entrusted his homestead
to the Park Service of Lake Clark National Park.
His cabin will be maintained as a historic site,
and he may return to stay in it
at any time he wishes.
And while he may not make the trip physically again,
his spirit will always linger
in the perfect notches of his logs.
[ethereal music]
>> HI.
I'M JAMES STEINBACH.
I'M A VOLUNTEER HERE AT PBS
WISCONSIN.
AND THIS PROGRAM, THIS
REMARKABLE PROGRAM THAT WE'VE
BEEN WATCHING, THINK ABOUT THIS,
HOW MANY FOLKS THINK ABOUT
HAVING A SIMPLER LIFE, YOU KNOW?
DECLUTTERING, WHATEVER IT MIGHT
BE.
WELL, THIS GUY ACTUALLY MADE IT
HAPPEN.
IT'S SO EXTRAORDINARY TO ME THAT
HE SAID AT THE VERY BEGINNING,
WELL, I WANTED TO SEE IF I COULD
DO IT.
AND THEN HE DID, FOR 35 YEARS.
IT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
WHEN HE BUILT THIS CABIN, JUST
WATCHING THE WAY THE LOGS FIT
TOGETHER, AND THEY WERE ALL
PERFECT.
IT'S A SKILL.
IT'S AN ABILITY TO SEE SOMETHING
THAT YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE AND
THEN TO ACTUALLY DO IT.
THE ADMIRATION THAT I HAVE FOR
THIS GUY IS, WELL, IT'S
EXTRAORDINARY BECAUSE WHAT HE
DID IS EXTRAORDINARY.
I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT.
I'M NOT INTERESTED IN DOING
THAT, BUT I LOVE WATCHING IT.
AND THIS IS WHAT PBS WISCONSIN
BRINGS YOU.
IT OPENS UP SO MANY WORLDS THAT
YOU WOULD NEVER GET A CHANCE TO
SEE OTHERWISE.
THAT'S WHAT'S EXTRAORDINARY
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND ABOUT PBS
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING YOU
TO CALL 1-800-236-3636.
>> THANK YOU, JAMES.
I'M ERIC GREILING.
I AM THE DIRECTOR OF FRIENDS OF
PBS WISCONSIN.
PLEASE DO GIVE US A CALL AND
SUPPORT EXTRAORDINARY PROGRAMS
LIKE THIS ONE ON PBS WISCONSIN.
AND WE HAVE SOME GREAT WAYS TO
SAY THANK YOU TO YOU WHEN YOU DO
MAKE THAT CALL.
AT $10 A MONTH, WE'D LIKE TO
THANK YOU WITH THE PROGRAM DVD
OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAM, A GREAT
WAY TO SAY THIS PROGRAM WITH
SOMEBODY ELSE, SAY I SAW
SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY AND I
WANT TO SHARE IT WITH YOU AND
GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE
IT, TOO.
WE HAVE A SPOON CARVING SET,
EASY TO CARVE BLANKS SO YOU CAN
TRY YOUR HAND AT YOUR OWN
CRAFTSMANSHIP.
YOU CAN JUST TRY CARVING A
COUPLE SPOONS.
AT $15 A MONTH WE HAVE A LOVELY
COFFEE SIZE TABLE PHOTO ALBUM
BOOK DEPICTING DICK PROENNEKE'S
ADVENTURES IN ALASKA AND THE
WILDLIFE AND SCENERY HE'S SEEN
AND SPECIAL GUESTS HE HAD.
AT $20 A MONTH, YOU GET THE DVD
OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAM AND TWO
COMPANION DVDs WITH EVEN MORE
FOOTAGE, EVEN MORE OF DICK'S
EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENTS AND
REMARKABLE INGENUITY AND THE
SPOON CARVING BLANKS AND THE
PHOTO ALBUM BOOK.
ALL THAT IS OUR WAY OF THANKING
YOU WHEN YOU MAKE A GIFT OF $20
A MONTH.
EASY TO GO.
YOU CAN GO ONLINE TO
pbswisconsin.org OR GIVE US A
CALL RIGHT NOW, PLEASE, AT
1-800-236-3636.
>> SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS
AMAZING PROGRAM AND ALL OF THE
GREAT PROGRAMMING HERE ON PBS
WISCONSIN.
THE EASIEST WAY TO DO THAT IS TO
BECOME A SUSTAINING MEMBER.
WHEN YOU BECOME A SUSTAINER, YOU
NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IF
YOUR MEMBERSHIP IS CURRENT.
I USED TO RUN INTO THAT ALL THE
TIME.
I'D SEE A MEMBERSHIP DRIVE ON
AND I'D THINK WHEN IS THE LAST
TIME I PLEDGED?
I WANT TO STAY CURRENT.
I WANT TO SUPPORT.
WELL, WHEN YOU'RE A SUSTAINER
YOU NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
THAT.
YOU ARE SET.
AND ANYTIME YOU WANT IT TO END,
YOU CAN DO THAT AS WELL.
YOU ALSO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SOME
OF THESE GREAT THANK YOU GIFTS.
YOU JUST HAVE TO CALL IN, PICK
THE ONE YOU WANT ONCE A YEAR.
OR IF THERE'S SOMETHING YOU CAN
LIKE THAT'S A LITTLE BIT ABOVE
YOUR SUSTAINING LEVEL, YOU CAN
MAKE AN ADDITIONAL GIFT.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT BY BECOMING A
SUSTAINER RIGHT NOW.
1-800-236-3636.
>> SO DICK PROENNEKE LEFT -- I'M
GOING TO READ THIS BECAUSE I
WANT TO GET IT RIGHT.
HE LEFT TWIN LAKES FOR THE LAST
TIME IN 1999, WHEN HE WAS 82
YEARS OLD.
THE COLD AND THE HARD PHYSICAL
WORK JUST GOT TO BE TOO MUCH.
SO HE LIVED WITH HIS BROTHER IN
CALIFORNIA FOR THE LAST YEARS OF
HIS LIFE.
HE DONATED HIS CABIN TO THE PARK
SERVICE, NOW PARK OF LAKE CLARK
NATIONANATIONAL PARK.
BUT OF COURSE HE LIVES ON IN THE
DONATED CABIN, IN THE BOOK, IN
THIS PROGRAM AND IN THE STORIES
PEOPLE TELL ABOUT HIM AND WHAT
HE'S GIVEN AS A GIFT FOR WHAT
HE'S DONE TO ALL OF US.
THAT'S SOMETHING WHICH I REALLY
VALUE ABOUT PBS WISCONSIN, IS IT
REALLY IS A GIFT.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THESE
PROGRAMS OFTEN ARE THINGS THAT
MOVE YOU, THAT INSPIRE YOU, THAT
BRING YOU TO A PLACE YOU'VE
NEVER BEEN, INTRODUCE YOUR KIDS
OR GRANDKIDS TO SOME IDEAS THEY
MAY NEVER HAVE ENCOUNTERED.
THIS IS WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT
THIS STATION AND THIS IS WHY
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO
SUPPORT IT.
1-800-236-3636.
>> MICHELE JUST INVITED YOU TO
BECOME A SUSTAINER AND BEING A
SUSTAINER REALLY HELPS US FUND
THESE WONDERFUL PROGRAMS LIKE
JAMES WAS TALKING ABOUT, TO FIND
A FASCINATING PROGRAM LIKE
"ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS" AND SO
MANY OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN
BRING TO YOU BECAUSE WE THINK
YOU'LL BE INTERESTED IN THEM.
WE THINK YOU'RE CURIOUS AND YOU
WANT TO DISCOVER THEM.
WE'VE GOT GREAT WAYS TO THANK
YOU.
AT $10 A MONTH WE'D LIKE TO
THANK YOU WITH THE DVD OF
TONIGHT'S SHOW OR A GREAT CHANCE
TO TRY YOUR OWN HAND AT SOME
CRAFT WITH BASSWOOD SPOON
CARVING BLANKS.
AT $15, WE'D LIKE TO THANK YOU
WITH A LOVELY PHOTO ALBUM BOOK
DEPICTING MORE OF THE PHOTOS AND
SOME OF THE DESCRIPTIONS BEHIND
THAT OF ALL OF DICK'S ADVENTURES
AND INGENUITY AND DISCOVERIES IN
ALASKA.
AT $20 A MONTH WE'D LIKE TO
THANK YOU WITH THE PROGRAM DVD,
WITH ADDITIONAL DVDs OF SEQUEL
TO "ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS" AND
EVEN MORE FOOTAGE AND DEPICTIONS
OF THAT LIFE IN ALASKA AND THE
WILDERNESS AND REALLY JUST A
SPECIAL KIND OF WAY OF EMBRACING
LIFE AND NATURE.
AND IN ADDITION TO THOSE FOUR
DVDs, THE SPOON CARVING BLANKS
AND THE PHOTO ALBUM BOOK, ALL
WITH YOUR GIFT OF $20 A MONTH,
ALL BY CALLING 1-800-236-3636.
>> SO ERIC HAS TOLD YOU ABOUT
ALL OF THOSE GREAT THANK YOU
GIFTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
I PARTICULARLY LIKE THE SPOON
CARVING SET BECAUSE YOU LEARN A
SKILL AND THEN YOU CAN GIVE IT
AS A PRESENT TO SOMEBODY.
NICE, RIGHT?
BUT WITH EVERY DONATION THAT YOU
MAKE, REGARDLESS OF THE LEVEL,
WE HAVE TWO AMAZING BENEFITS.
ONE IS "AIRWAVES," THE PROGRAM
GUIDE.
IT'S REALLY PRETTY INCREDIBLE
CONSIDERING YOU DON'T FIND THESE
THINGS THAT OFTEN ANYMORE.
BUT IT'S THIS GREAT LITTLE GRID
LAYOUT WITH ALL OF OUR STATIONS
HERE.
YOU CAN PLAN YOUR VIEWING.
YOU CAN PLAN WHAT YOU WANT TO
SEE WITH YOUR FAMILY.
AND THERE'S ALSO LITTLE --
THERE'S STORIES ABOUT WHAT'S
GOING ON AT THE STATION, WHAT'S
GOING ON IN THE STATE.
VERY VALUABLE BENEFIT THAT YOU
GET WITH ANY LEVEL THAT YOU MAKE
A DONATION AT.
THE OTHER BENEFIT YOU GET IS PBS
PASSPORT, WHICH GIVES YOU
THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF PBS
PROGRAMMING AVAILABLE TO YOU
STREAMING LIVE ONLINE THROUGH
THE INTERNET.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE GREAT
GIFTS BY BECOMING A MEMBER RIGHT
NOW.
>> YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS
WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT IS HOW PBS
WISCONSIN TAKES YOU TO FAR-AWAY
PLACES YOU WOULD NEVER GO.
BUT IT ALSO TAKES YOU TO PLACES
RIGHT HERE IN THE STATE.
JUST THINK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT
PROGRAMS WE HAVE, ALL THE
PROGRAMS WITH JERRY APPS,
"AROUND THE FARM TABLE,"
WISCONSIN FOODIE, "HERE AND
NOW," WISCONSIN FROM THE AIR,
WISCONSIN LIFE.
THESE ARE PROGRAMS ABOUT US,
ABOUT ALL OF US, ABOUT OUR
COMMUNITY.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING WHICH YOU
WILL ONLY FIND ON WISCONSIN
PUBLIC TELEVISION -- ON PBS
WISCONSIN.
I DID IT AGAIN.
PBS WISCONSIN.
SO CALL US NOW AND PLEDGE AT
1-800-236-3636.
FOR THIS PROGRAM THAT YOU'VE
JUST SEEN, BUT ALL THE PROGRAMS
THAT WE HAVE ON DAY AFTER DAY,
WEEK AFTER WEEK.
THIS IS -- IT'S OUR GIFT TO YOU
BUT IN EXCHANGE WE NEED YOU TO
SUPPORT THIS.
SO PLEASE CALL US AT
1-800-236-3636.
>> OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE WAITING TO
TAKE YOUR CALL WHEN YOU CALL
THAT NUMBER, 1-800-236-3636.
AND THEY WANT TO THE SAY THANK
YOU.
BUT GO AHEAD AND TELL THEM IF
YOU HAVE OTHER FAVORITE PROGRAMS
THAT YOU LOVE ON PBS WISCONSIN.
GO AHEAD AND TELL THEM.
THEY'D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT THAT,
WHETHER IT'S OUR OWN WISCONSIN
PROGRAMMING HERE AT PBS
WISCONSIN OR GREAT PROGRAMS LIKE
"ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS."
WE'D LOVE TO THANK YOU IN
ADDITIONAL WAYS.
WITH YOUR GIFT OF $10 A MONTH,
WE'D LIKE TO THANK YOU WITH THE
DVD OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAM OR THAT
WONDERFUL CHANCE TO TRY YOUR OWN
CRAFT, TWO BASSWOOD BLANKS TO
TRY CARVING YOUR OWN SPOONS.
AT $15 A MONTH A BEAUTIFUL PHOTO
ALBUM BOOK BASED ON "ALONE IN
THE WILDERNESS."
AT $20 A MONTH, THE PROGRAM DVD,
THREE MORE DVDs, THE SPOON
CARVING BLANKS AND THE PHOTO
BOOK.
PLEASE GIVE US A CALL.
1-800-236-3636.
>> ONE OF THE BEAUTIES OF THIS
PROGRAM IS YOU REALLY GET DRAWN
INTO IT.
IT'S GOT A ZEN-LIKE QUALITY,
TOO, ABOUT IT.
THERE'S THIS NATURE.
YOU'RE LEARNING THINGS ABOUT NOT
ONLY NATURE, BUT ALSO JUST BASIC
SURVIVAL SKILLS.
I FIND THAT FASCINATING.
AND THERE'S SO MANY PROGRAMS ON
PBS WISCONSIN THAT HAVE THAT
EFFECT, THAT YOU'RE LEARNING
ABOUT STUFF YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE
EVEN THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO LEARN
STUFF ABOUT, WHETHER IT'S PANDAS
OR HORSES OR SUDDENLY YOU'RE
LIKE THIS IS THE MOST -- WHY DID
I NOT KNOW THIS BEFORE?
AND THAT'S BECAUSE PBS WISCONSIN
IS KNOWN FOR SPARKING CURIOSITY.
THE PEOPLE WHO WATCH PBS
WISCONSIN ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO
LEARN ABOUT THE WORLD, WHO ARE
OPEN TO THE WORLD.
IS THAT YOU?
IF SO, SHOW YOUR SUPPORT RIGHT
NOW.