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Richard Proenneke 1917-2003
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To live in a pristine land ... to roam the wilderness ... to choose a site, cut trees,
and build a home ... Thousands have had such dreams, but Richard Proenneke lived
them. Here is a tribute to a man in tune with his surroundings who carved his
masterpiece out of the beyond.
and build a home ... Thousands have had such dreams, but Richard Proenneke lived
them. Here is a tribute to a man in tune with his surroundings who carved his
masterpiece out of the beyond.
In 1968 at the age of 51 Richard
(Dick) Proenneke constructed a log
cabin at Upper Twin Lakes and lived
there alone for almost 30 years. In
1980, Twin Lakes became part of
the Lake Clark National Park and
Preserve, and Dick became a
volunteer backcountry interpreter
and naturalist. A diesel mechanic by
trade, decades of living in wilderness
would transform Dick into what
some might call a landscape ecologist.
(Dick) Proenneke constructed a log
cabin at Upper Twin Lakes and lived
there alone for almost 30 years. In
1980, Twin Lakes became part of
the Lake Clark National Park and
Preserve, and Dick became a
volunteer backcountry interpreter
and naturalist. A diesel mechanic by
trade, decades of living in wilderness
would transform Dick into what
some might call a landscape ecologist.
A keen observer and meticulous
recorder, Dick was fascinated by
weather phenomena, annual
phenological events, cyclic natural
fluctuations in animal abundance,
and plant-animal interactions.
recorder, Dick was fascinated by
weather phenomena, annual
phenological events, cyclic natural
fluctuations in animal abundance,
and plant-animal interactions.
Inquisitive and deliberate, he not only observed and recorded but also asked
the question, “Why?”.
the question, “Why?”.
A wolverine carcass found in spring at the head of a valley would be
systematically probed for weeks. What was its sex and age? Was there
evidence of emaciation or broken bones? Was the carcass in an avalanche
zone? In A Sand County Almanac Aldo Leopold wrote:
systematically probed for weeks. What was its sex and age? Was there
evidence of emaciation or broken bones? Was the carcass in an avalanche
zone? In A Sand County Almanac Aldo Leopold wrote:
“Keeping records
enhances the
pleasure of the
search, and the
chance of finding
order and meaning
in these events.”
enhances the
pleasure of the
search, and the
chance of finding
order and meaning
in these events.”
At Twin Lakes, Dick found order and meaning by recording natural events. He
began recording his observations and measurements in 1968 and continued to
do so until 1995, the last full year he spent at Twin Lakes.
began recording his observations and measurements in 1968 and continued to
do so until 1995, the last full year he spent at Twin Lakes.
He wrote most of his notes on wall calendars, the type that rural Iowa hardware
stores give to loyal customers at the start of the new year. Entries included
dates of lake freeze-up; lake ice break-up; den entry and den emergence by
brown bears; first calving by moose; first lambing by Dall sheep; and nest
initiation by Gray Jays. Dick also recorded daily high and low air temperatures;
monthly winter snow pack and lake ice thickness; and random events such as
severe storms, earthquakes, and landslides. Dick had a special interest in
wolves and annually recorded winter pack size, number of kills, and
composition of kills.
stores give to loyal customers at the start of the new year. Entries included
dates of lake freeze-up; lake ice break-up; den entry and den emergence by
brown bears; first calving by moose; first lambing by Dall sheep; and nest
initiation by Gray Jays. Dick also recorded daily high and low air temperatures;
monthly winter snow pack and lake ice thickness; and random events such as
severe storms, earthquakes, and landslides. Dick had a special interest in
wolves and annually recorded winter pack size, number of kills, and
composition of kills.
Sustained and simple like the monitoring program we aspire to build, Dick’s
calendars and journals are among the longest continuous data sets for any
Alaska National Park. Trends in the duration of lake ice cover on Upper Twin
Lake plotted from Dick’s records (1969-95) parallel those of other Northern
Hemisphere sites and provide evidence that freshwater ecosystems are
responding to a warming climate.
calendars and journals are among the longest continuous data sets for any
Alaska National Park. Trends in the duration of lake ice cover on Upper Twin
Lake plotted from Dick’s records (1969-95) parallel those of other Northern
Hemisphere sites and provide evidence that freshwater ecosystems are
responding to a warming climate.
Dick’s love for wilderness, passion for observing and understanding the natural
world around him, and his dedication to keeping records are an inspiration to all
of us as we develop and implement long-term monitoring in the Southwest
Alaska Network.
world around him, and his dedication to keeping records are an inspiration to all
of us as we develop and implement long-term monitoring in the Southwest
Alaska Network.
If you are interested in learning more about the life of Richard Proenneke,
we recommend:
"One Man's Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey"
we recommend:
"One Man's Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey"
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One Man's Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey
