WELCOME to the Friends of Dick Proenneke maillist. We welcome those that are interested in communicating about the man, his life, his history and how he has inspired so many. Richard (Dick) L. Proenneke was a very special, unique individual that retired at 51 moved to Twin Lakes (150 air miles due west of Anchorage, just above Lake Clark area), Alaska in 1968. He hand-built a fabulously well-made log cabin out of white spruce there on the shores of upper Twin Lakes and then lived there alone for over 30 years. Hunting, fishing, hiking, observing and filming. He was a gifted and talented craftsman and the life he crafted out of the Alaskan wilderness there has inspired many. And contiues to...today. His ability to manage sucessfully alone in the Alaskan bush wilderness of the majestic Twin Lakes area is truly...an amazing story. Dick Proenneke came to world acclaim before an admiring global audience when he and Sam Keith, a long-time friend of Dick's, wrote and had published One Man's Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey. Dick was a fine example of how one man could live with the geography and the wildlife of the area and preserve it...not disturb it...while still meeting many of his needs. Dick Proenneke's story and adventure had been told in both book form and several movies...the latter including many thousands of feet of film he shot himself of the scenery and wildlife in the area. Dick made an almost impossible life-style seem so easy with his many talents and skills. While many admire his backwoods tenacity and bush acumen...all who come to know his story also admire his philosophy on Alaskan wilderness conservation, as well as, life itself. Many, many people who read and see his story in one way or another feel a sense of joining with him...and here is a place we can talk about it, what he did, what he means to us and how his amazing wilderness story has affected us and inspired us.