Dick Proenneke's Cabin | I'm Finally Here on Day 5 of My Alaska Adventure 

Dick Proenneke was the OG of life below zero! There was something about that video you took inside of Dicks cabin with the guitar music playing that made me well up with emotion, looking at all the work he did and thinking of the joy he must have felt living there for so many years… what a legacy!! Something about that touched my soul and made me actually miss the man I never knew in person, but knew intimately from his journals and videos. Thanks for “virtually” filling something on my bucket list! It’s amazing; as time goes on, Mr. proenneke’s legend GROWS!!

Shawn, this detailed recording and presentation is a beautiful tribute to, Dick Proenneke, and is a great gift for those that admire his ways. Your own journey, all the way to your meticulous video capture of, Dick’s cabin and its surroundings, is documentary gold! Your mentor must be smiling upon you for sharing that which he valued greatly and shared himself. May this journey serve to add fuel your own.

Walking in the footsteps of giants. The most humble of giants. You, Mr James, should be remembered in a similar fashion. You might lack the solitude, but you exert every bit as much effort

I was 8 years old when those words were written and already dreaming of what life would be like alone in the wilderness... the days of watching "Charlie the Lonesome Cougar" and always building my own camp when on family camping trips. It pleases me so much to see you up there in Alaska, appreciating the environment and the history of the place. I first found your RU-vid videos after watching some of Dick Proenneke that have found their way onto the internet... keep on keeping on Sean... your journey is very inspiring and enriching a lot of lives in the here and now.

Thank you for this video, Shawn. It is every off-gridders dream to see Proeneke's cabin in person. I was in Alaska years ago, but never was able to see that area. I really appreciated the slow, intimate look around his cabin. Awesome video!

Man, I looked up to Mr Proenneke ever since I saw how he lived. His cabin, and way he fished for food, and how resourceful he was. Don’t sell yourself short in any way, your cut from the same stock that he was. I admire that your living your dream. You rock.

This is just a fantastic vlog series Shawn, especially for those of us who have not made the pilgrimage to Dicks Cabin in the Twin lakes to pay respect to the man! It's a real humbling insight and for those who cannot travel there for whatever reason it feels like we're there.. To see that cabin, his boots, snowshoes and the fireplace he built along with everything else so well preserved is such a privilege! Congratulations on this bucket list achievement!

The greatness of the generations of builders

Its so awesome that you were there. :)

Man, dick proenneke was a legend !! He did something most of us only talk about ! But he actually done. When I first watched his videos part 1 and then part 2 it’s like it opened me up to a whole new realm of possibility, and peace that I never knew existed ! I mean u really have to be brave to go really where no one else has ever been ! To land that had never been truly settled ! I am happy they made it a landmark and they are preserving it because I am 100 percent going to visit someday soon ! What an absolute gorgeous place it was to build on !! Wow so much inspiration

I first heard about Dick Proenneke's life back when he was up there for about 20 years. Now I see you get to do what I also wanted but never did. What a life he led. Thanks Shawn!

I don't think is enough to tell you a million times to thank you for uploading your adventures they are better than going to the movie theater

Shawn, You may not have the same exact thing as what Dick proenneke had, but you are the Dick proenneke of Canada. It's not what you have, or what he had,..it's the fact that you have the same heart & Passion as Mr. proenneke, and you are just as gifted as Mr. proenneke himself. I think he would have admired you, as much as you did him. never feel short of others accomplishments in life,..you are in the same league as Mr. pronneke, and every viewer who has followed you long enough,...would agree. ~Kevin

Hi Shawn, the majority of us will never get the chance visit this magnificent place. Thanks for taking us along on your journey!

Its so nice to see this place in detail.........Dick Proenneke was a special man for sure!!!! I watch his videos of his life on twin lakes often.They bring peace and tranquillity every time!!!! Thanks Shawn for this wonderful journey!!!!

Shawn I’m a new subscriber and love your program.I was at a lodge on Lake Cark in 1981 fora medical conference and fly fishing getaway(more fishing).One day we flew float plane to Twin lakes and did some fly fishing.Dick Proenneke was canoeing on the lower lake heading to his cabin on the upper lake.Hecanoed over to us,came ashore and we talked with him for awhile.What a nice man!I’ll never forget that or the beauty of that place.

Shawn I believe that you do well balancing your love of nature and your love of your family!!! 👍

Hello Shawn. Another awesome video. It's amazing to see how the 4 wooden hinges on the door to Mr. Proenneke's cabin have stood the test of time. True crafmenship! Be well.

I really like how Mr. Proenneke made those hinges on the front door. I remember watching it on pbs. Nice video Shawn thanks

Shawn" I know that was at top of yer bucket list ! Kodo's to you. Incredibly breath taking beauty. 10 thumbs up .

You now got me hooked on Dick Proeneke videos. It’s amazing how similar your style of videos are to his. You’re very much alike and that’s wonderful. DP was truly amazing, thank you for opening our minds to this adventurous nice man. My gosh he didn’t have a dog!

Few people are blessed to live the dream.

Proenneke's the OG of self reliance.

D.P. really impressed on me in the 80's . . . I am creating the same, home is where your heart is. 💖🙏🌻

...and the Academy Award goes to Shawn James🏆

"there's no sleeping pill like a hard day's work" - Dick Proenneke

When you caught the Grayling, I could feel your emotions! What a wonderful blessing to 'right off' catch the Grayling!

I too was very touched by the series on PBS . Seen it several times. I knew this is where you were going as soon as you said you had a trip planned. Very great series, thank you.

The sound of nature in Alaska. I seriously could live there forever.

Beautiful!! Dick is still such an inspiration and will be for a long time... great video

Every video of this series exceeds expectations. And my expectations are high, considering it's Shawn James.

I can’t thank you enough for sharing this experience with us all! It is very much appreciated! Safe travels Shawn!

I have watched all of his films. The visit to his cabin is on my bucket list.

I chuckled when you said you were born in "70. I was born in '46. I think I first heard of Proenneke on a PBS program, so sent off a check to buy the book. Pre-internet. I'm happy that you were able to fulfill a dream and visit the cabin. Even though I've watched the Proenneke video, I'm enjoying you're video from a different/historical perspective. Looking forward to the rest.

I have watched Richard Proenneke movies on RU-vid when your channel popped up. In this video you had a connection and reverence with Richard Proenneke. After watching your Self Reliance channel. You are today's version of him plus 'family.". Keep up the good work as you always do.

IT IS SOLITUDE !! You have been to the mountaintop!! Solitude is what your life is about, we ALL jealously admire that. Pioneer ways is the way our lives should be.The hairs on your neck must ve stood up when you sat down where Dick sat day after day writing his journal. What you have is just as good...….. because YOU did it, just like Mr. Proeneke!! Keep doing what you are doing, God bless.

I've lived here off grid Trapper Creek Alaska now for 17 years. It's kept me happy! I'm new to this internet stuff. It's so nice to see all the learning tools here. I ordered cheep solar panels from Harbor freight. This is great! I'm going to subscribe to this channel. Thank you. Built a cabin out of shipping crates back 17 years ago. I've been in Alaska 21 years.Bless you and yours. I've learned how to put in my septic on RU-vid. This is what I'm doing now. 💋

I saw the series' of Dick Proenneke many years ago. He was an absolutely amazing man !

Holy cow, Shawn. This is a bucket list moment for you. I am so glad you shared this, but man, I am so envious. Congratulations! Now I can understand why coming home to all your projects and your future was so exciting for you.

This video was beautifully done. Enjoyed this very much. Wish I could send my husband for a few days, he would be in heaven. (A dream of his)

In case anyone's interested, the blue and white plane that Shawn took from Port Alsworth is a 1978 Cessna U206G. 6 seats, 285 HP, top speed 132 mph.

People don't realize what they're capable of until they just do it. Dick put more work in on a daily basis than most do in a year. I have personally been making goals I thought were never possible. Buying a cabin and land here in Michigan's UP this fall

So beautiful again so wonderful to see you doing the things like Proenneke who was a wonderful man,and so are you i love watching everything you do, i would of love living your life, thanks for showing this life to us, oh that was beautiful with the bear.Have a wonderful time Shawn Thanks

I remember watching the Dick Proenneke series on PBS as a teenager. I could not image ever living such a life of solitude. I remember watching with my step dad who was a carpenter. We were both impressed and amazed. As I am now in my 50's I can completely understand Dick's point of view now. I really don't think I am that tough though. Your cabin build reminded me of that. Very impressive and this is the year I begin building my own cabin on a leased camp lot. Patience is the key and I will take my time and do it right. I won't be posting on RU-vid though.

Sunrise at 11:30pm??? You mean sun set and sunrise around 4:30am! I love what you do. Those views, the photos, the landscapes ...beautiful!

I remember the first time I saw his video started watching it and ever since then I have watched it over and over just amazing. Thanks Shawn for being there in Dicks foot steps. When you walk in to the cabin and the music started gave me goosebumps and I also have the DVD and the book one mans wilderness 👍👍👍👍👍👍

Just Fascinating!!..Thank you for sharing this wonderful part of our country that only a few get a chance to see.

Proenneke is a legend. Thanks Shawn.

That fish looked delicious! I remember rustic camping with my family as a child. My Mom and Dad did this every year in August before us kids went back to school. Off to Canada in the back bush rustic camping with nothing but a tent and camping gear. Us kids were in heaven......we hunted for frogs, tunnels, and swam and bathed every night in the lakes.....wonderful memories.....I’m 68 now....Thank you for the memories......:)

COOL Thanks for this update !!!!

Before I was in Cub Scouts, the file of Dick Proenneke was shown and as a boy too young for scouts, I fell in love with log cabins and Alaska.

I wonder just what you wrote in the Proenneke journal. I know it was highly respectful. Perhaps one day folks will be writing in your journal. Good for you, Mr. James!

That’s awesome. Thanks for the tour of the Proennekke cabin.

My sister lives in North Pole Alaska. I have only seen pictures of it. But seeing a video of Alaska is much better. She loves it up there and talks of the beauty. Ty for showing me what 24 hrs of daylight is like.

I am so glad you got to go! I watch his videos and about cry. Most wonderful place we ever got to live, was Canada. Alaska is a dream. Especially to Twin Lakes. I love Mr. Proenneke! His cabin is awesome!!!!!! Thank you!

I really am truly happy you got to experience this. There’s something to be said when the inspirer becomes the inspiree...it’s humbling and it’s a pleasure to watch. God bless Shawn. This was epic.

Thanks Shawn for the great video speaks volumes wow

Thanks for the great pictures and impressions. Good night LG Sabine😊

Epic videography.... with the float planes. It's like you were in 3 places at once. I'm so happy for you getting to see Mr. Proenneke's cabin. The view is amazing. I'm blessed that you took us along. Thank you for sharing. God Bless.

Omg I can taste that greying. Your experience rocks. No words ......

just amazing,thank you,

Did a book report on One Man's Wilderness as a freshman and it impacted me greatly. Visited the Twin Lake area the year after I graduated high school in '87 with my brother and two friends. Did the float and fishing trip down the Chilikadrotna River, the Coho, Grayling and Trout were abundant. Although we did not get to visit Mr. Proenneke's homestead we did view it from the air and that was plenty magical for us. The best 16 days of my life. Often when I watch your videos, I think back to those wonderful memories of the Alaskan bush. For some reason I feel proud of you for fulfilling a dream that many have but few achieve. Thank you Shawn for not letting my own memories be forgotten. Blessings to you sir, a true steward of the wilderness.

-52 degrees but a toasty 40 degrees in the cabin. Dick Proennoke an amazing man!!!

Shawn, I have watched your videos since well. pretty much you started. Your comment on this vid where you stated that you may not appreciate where you are at because of Alaska's beauty is understandable but, not real. You are living this 51 year old man's dream. I work 6 days a week 12 hours a day to keep my middle class American life. Live to work, work to live... I am so inspired by what you have created that I really hope to do something similar. I live in Oklahoma …not quite Canada but, there are places to build that a man could survive. I have so many questions but would be too long here...I was FORTUNATE to have spent 20 days in Alaska when I was a young teen. My step-dad was a baseball umpire. He went to Alaska every year and would umpire games in the Alaska league. That is during the time that the salmon are running. He took me , my mom and step-brother one year, I flew in the scariest plane ever there...We went from Anchorage , Fairbanks and Kenai...several other places that I do not remember the names. did get to go to Denali National Park. The fishing there ruined me. Nothing has compared since. This has got too long but, over the years I have tried to explain to people how overwhelming Alaska is and never could get the picture across in words. Oh yeh...we caught Graylings also. Great tasting fish!! Would love to have a conversation with you sometime. Good luck in all you do!!!! God bless!!! Sorry for the Grammar and long comment. It is early Sunday morning and I just woke up on my day off....God bless,

Another magical historical place!!👍

FINALLY!! I have been waiting for this particular vid since I first started watching you!! The 21st century version of Dick Proenneke (Shawn James ) visits the home of the first....Wooohoooo!! Shawn, If I may offer an Idea that I have had for 50 years... I believe if you were to grow some Apple Tree's, Hickory Nut, Walnut, as a food source for yourself but more importantly for the Animals around you perhaps you could grow the population of Squirrel type and deer type critters. These now more numerous game Animals would really help the self sufficient garden.

Very envious !!! Definitely a bucket list trip for me.

That fish reminds me of the blazed salmon (loimulohi in Finnish) I made last week: only smoke from the wood and juniper branches, no pepper or salt or anything else. It's awesome :) And welcome to 24 hours of light a day!

Hi Shawn. I hope you do investigate thoroughly his cabin and hope you find one of my favorite gadget’s he made “the blueberry picker”. I have picked a lot of blueberries in my life and when I saw him build that gadget years ago I wish I had one. Thanks for these great videos. I helped my grandfather and my dad build 2 log cabins many years ago and watching Dick’s videos when I was in my thirties and now watching you build your cabin, I am so grateful that I had the privilege of learning these skills, although I did not think so at the time. Thank you for rekindling all the fond memories that I had forgotten.

You have a talent putting the footage together, beautifully done!

I stumbled on Proenneke's Documentary on PBS a few years ago. It changed my life and made me realize how unhappy I am with conventional living. Sadly I never changed anything and I continue to live unhappily while the yearning to live the way he did day by day is slowly fading. But just knowing there are people like you and Dick out there helped me realize I'm not the only one yearning for that kind of life. Sadly I don't see myself taking a chance. I wouldn't even know where to start.

So awesome that you got a chance to visit and stay there! I loved the PBS series and the book.

I nearly cried ,I loved this guys living since I saw his videos I bought from proennkes productions who I spoke with 24 yrs ago !

Awesome! My daughter and son in law will be going that way from Australia next year. Your videos are therefore priceless. Thanks so much!!! x

Beautiful Alaska, well done Shawn, Thanks!

Awesome, Shawn...So happy for you to experience this...We can tell it means so much to you, that at times it gets emotional.. Just amazingly beautiful area, and it's awesome to be able to see it and with your perspective and experience...This was an awesome video...Thanks so much for your Channels...once again...

Glad you started adjusting to the summer daylight. Now that you have experienced the midnight sun you can understand the feeling. Its like you are full of energy and the sun is your fuel. Before I moved to Alaska if you would have told me about that feeling I would have been skeptical, but once you experience it there is nothing like it. Love your experience so far, I look forward to the rest of the series.

Unreal Bro 👍 Walking on Hallowed ground , making us all proud. Great work .

I've watched Proenneke's videos and admire how he worked so hard to live a simple life. He seemed like such a character too. Now there is you, with so many similarities. Following in his footsteps while making your own, must be a mix of so many different emotions. I hope you savor each and every moment. Let the boy within roam wild and free because in doing so, he discovers himself. Remember that you are someone's "Proenneke".

Have never caught a grayling but just seeing you do it does me good.

Finally Shawn gets a few days of a true restful vacation time with a bonus admiring Dick P s local… I was graduating high school spring 1967… starting college 1968. My first child born 1970 so … it s not that long ago… i

I am sure you got a LOT of building ideas from that trip ;)

What a blessing to be able to have those experiences. Thank you so much for sharing them! #unwind #therapy #bushcraft #onemanswilderness

Thank you Shawn! I'm so happy to see this amazing experience through your eyes.

To watch your videos and Dick Proenneke’s biography is such a breath of fresh air, given today’s headline news. Thank you for reminding me of what life can be outside of the so called norm Shawn!

Thank you for the amazing videography Shawn! I'm going to have to find the book that Mr. Proenneke wrote. His cabin is incredible!

good video flat lander one of my bucket list too

Beautiful country Shawn. I am glad for you finally being able to make it to Alaska. You know, we live where we live because it's home. Sure there's places that are more exotic. Places that are more romantic, but when you sum everything up, there's no place like home. Enjoy! Vaughn

Proenneke was a total stud.

The Water looks Crystal Clear....It's Breathe Taking..The View, Clean Air ... It's understandable the overwhelming feeling that can come over anyone...Ur Right home is Special Family...

Goodness the two men in the lake to catch the plane reminded me of a lad here so eager to learn to fly a float plane. He was so eager he jumped out of the plane and walked on the float towards to front to catch the dock with his foot to slow the plane down. He jumped out to early and didn’t heed the pilot yelling for him to wait until the propeller stopped.

Long intro..But a great production!!!Thank you for taking the time to walk the same grounds as Dick Proenneke,North American icon!!!..

44:04 I was born in 1967; my brother in 1970... Shawn, you inspire me, and thank you for sharing your journey!!!

That must have been amazing to have got to go to Dick Proenneke's cabin! I remember watching the documentary on PBS about Dick building his cabin and his life, several times when I was a kid.

1968 Dick Proenneke builds his cabin.....I watched Alone in the Wilderness tonight. I saw his aluminum canoe, the meat cash, snow shoes for deep snow and the shelves made with dowels. He believed in safety when you work alone and loved peaceful solitude.......I have a new perspective and am enjoying your videos of this historical place. I see a lot of similar characteristics in you and the Tilley hat that is your trademark! :)

Your journey has become my journey....such a pleasure watching your videos every day and feeling the joy and freedom of being in the wild. Again, thank you for bringing me along. 😊

Dick is the grandfather of CABIN LIFE film documentation. Nobody did it before him that I know of. He is a inspiration to many...including Shawn. I own Alone In The WIlderness parts 1 & 2 and a part 3 is apparently in the works as there was so much footage that he made over the years he spent there.

Far out, what a bucket list completion

Exiting. I was living in soviet Kamchatcka in childhood in the 1981-1984. Very the simmilliar feeling of nature around and colors

Really good stuff Shawn, keep it coming!