Home Travel Inside a remote cabin in Alaska that one man built by hand and lived in for 30 YEARS with no electricity or running water – and is only accessible by plane

Inside a remote cabin in Alaska that one man built by hand and lived in for 30 YEARS with no electricity or running water – and is only accessible by plane

by Merry
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Richard Proenneke built his simple lodge on the shores of Upper Twin Lake in Alaska during the summers of 1967 and 1968.

Could you live in a house like this?

This is the question YouTube creator Salina Alsworth poses to viewers as she gives a tour of a very remote cabin built by the late naturalist Richard Proenneke.

Proenneke built the simple lodge on the shores of Upper Twin Lake in Alaska during the summers of 1967 and 1968 using mostly local materials and simple hand tools.

While he only planned to spend a year at the cabin, he found beauty in the simplicity of living in harmony with nature and spent 30 years there until he was 81.

The adventurer lived there for decades without electricity, running water, telephone or other modern “necessities.”

Richard Proenneke built his simple lodge on the shores of Upper Twin Lake in Alaska during the summers of 1967 and 1968.

He mainly used local materials and simple hand tools.

He mainly used local materials and simple hand tools.

Although he only planned to spend a year at the cabin, he found beauty in the simplicity of living in harmony with nature and spent 30 years there until his 81st birthday.

Although he only planned to spend a year at the cabin, he found beauty in the simplicity of living in harmony with nature and spent 30 years there until his 81st birthday.

The adventurer lived there for decades without electricity, running water, telephone or other

The adventurer lived there for decades without electricity, running water, telephone or other modern “necessities.”

Although he lived alone, he received visitors often and kept in touch with friends around the world by writing letters.

In the YouTube film, Salina, who lives in a remote village nearby, explains that the only way to get to the cabin is via seaplane and that her grandfather helped transport supplies for Proenneke from time to time.

As he approaches the characterful abode, he reveals that it cost Proenneke just $40 to build and that he was inspired to move to the location after meeting someone who had a cabin nearby.

Proenneke used his friend’s cabin to stay while he built his own shelter.

There are several documentaries made by Bob Swerer, which document Proenneke’s unconventional lifestyle and show him in action.

In a grainy image, Proenneke can be seen building his cabin using harvested spruce logs.

He explains that he had decided that the cabin’s front door would “face northwest and the big window would look out toward the lake.”

In Salina’s new video tour of the cabin, she reveals how Proenneke’s original hinged front door is still in place and the interior is pretty much as she left it after her last visit in 2000 at the age of 84 years old.

Could you live in a house like this? This is the question YouTube creator Salina Alsworth poses to viewers as she gives a tour of Proenneke's cabin.

Could you live in a house like this? This is the question YouTube creator Salina Alsworth poses to viewers as she gives a tour of Proenneke’s cabin.

In the YouTube film, Salina, who lives in a remote town nearby, explains that the only way to get to the cabin is via seaplane and that her grandfather would help transport supplies.

In the YouTube film, Salina, who lives in a remote town nearby, explains that the only way to get to the cabin is via seaplane and that her grandfather would help transport supplies.

In Salina's new video tour of the cabin, she reveals how the interior is pretty much how she left it after her last visit in 2000 at the age of 84.

In Salina’s new video tour of the cabin, she reveals how the interior is pretty much how she left it after her last visit in 2000 at the age of 84.

In Salina's video tour, the camera pans to show Proenneke's bunk, with his tools arranged on the lower level.

In Salina’s video tour, the camera pans to show Proenneke’s bunk, with his tools arranged on the lower level.

Concluding her tour, Salina watches as her family's lodge, Lake Clark Resort, offers trips to Proenneke's cabin.

Concluding her tour, Salina watches as her family’s lodge, Lake Clark Resort, offers trips to Proenneke’s cabin.

The Proenneke cabin and outbuildings were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.

The Proenneke cabin and outbuildings were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.

He died in 2003 of a stroke at age 86 in Hemet, California, where he lived with his brother Raymond.

While at his cabin in Alaska, Salina points out the desk area, where he said Proenneke liked to sit and journal.

The conservationists’ diaries were later arranged chronologically and made into three books; A life at full speed 1981 – 1985, Your life here is an inspiration 1986 – 1991 and Reaching the end of the road 1992 – 2000.

In a film made by the National Park Service, a narrator reads a passage from one of Proenneke’s diaries that offers insight into his views on modernization and urban life.

He says: ‘Needs… I guess that’s what bothers so many people. They keep expanding their needs until they become too dependent on too many things and too many other people.

‘I wonder how many things in the average American home could be eliminated if the question were asked, “Should I really have this?”

‘The funny thing about comfort is that most people no longer work hard enough physically and it’s not easy to find comfort.

“It’s surprising how comfortable a hard bunk can be after you’ve come down from a mountain.”

In Salina’s video tour, the camera pans to show Proenneke’s bunk, with his tools arranged on the lower level.

In addition to keeping a diary, Salina reveals that the naturalist also “recorded weather patterns and the faces of the moon even before they appeared on a calendar, and tracked animals.”

Proenneke seen on his last visit to his cabin at age 84

Proenneke seen on his last visit to his cabin at age 84

He died in 2003 of a stroke at age 86 in Hemet, California, where he lived with his brother, Raymond.

He died in 2003 of a stroke at age 86 in Hemet, California, where he lived with his brother, Raymond.

Wildlife photography and cinematography were among his other passions.

Before leaving the cabin, Salina points out that it has a gravel floor and Proenneke ‘actually sifted the gravel that was on the beach’ to make it.

“I took out the stones and washed them periodically to keep the ground clean,” he added.

Outside, Salina shows some of the outbuildings, including an outhouse, a log store and a tall structure where Proenneke would store food to prevent animals from eating it.

At the end of her tour, Salina observes how her family’s shelter, Lake Clark Resort, offers trips to Proenneke’s Cabin.

Many viewers have thanked him for providing the video tour and many consider Proenneke’s legacy to be “beautiful” and inspiring.

The Proenneke cabin and outbuildings were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.

The National Park Service notes that the site is “nationally recognized for its significance as an excellent and well-known example of an Alaskan log cabin.”

“He is also recognized for Richard Proenneke’s voice in the preservation of nature in Alaska,” he added.

“Proenneke’s interests, talents and circumstances made him influential in training and educating the public about the wisdom of conserving our natural world.”

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