In a remote cabin in Alaska that a man built by hand and lived for 30 YEARS without electricity or running water – and which is only accessible by plane

Could you live in such a house?

This is the question YouTube creator Salina Alsworth asks viewers as she serves 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 in the summers of 1967 and 1968 using mostly local materials and simple hand tools.

Although he intended to spend only a year in the cabin, he found the beauty in the simplicity of living at one 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'.

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

In the YouTube video, Salina – who lives in a remote village nearby – explains that the only way to get to the hut is by seaplane and that her grandfather occasionally helped fly in supplies for Proenneke.

As she approaches the characterful home, she reveals that it only cost Proenneke $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 in while he built his own shelter.

Several Bob Swerer documentaries exist, documenting Proenneke's unconventional lifestyle and showing him in action.

One grainy footage shows Proenneke building his hut with harvested spruce wood.

He explains that he decided that the front door of the cabin “would face northwest and the large window would look out onto 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 virtually as he left it after his last visit in 2000 at the age of 84.

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

While in his cabin in Alaska, Salina points to the desk, where she said Proenneke liked to sit and journal.

The conservationist's diaries were later arranged in chronological order and turned into three books; A life in full swing 1981 – 1985, Your life here is a source of inspiration 1986 – 1991, and Reaching the end of the path 1992 – 2000.

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

It says, “Needs…I think that's what bothers so many people. They continue to expand 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, 'Do I really need to have this?'

'The funny thing about comfort, most people no longer work hard enough physically and comfort is not easy to find.

“It's surprising how comfortable a hard bed can be after descending a mountain.”

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

In addition to journaling, Salina reveals that the naturalist also “recorded weather patterns and moon faces before they were even on a calendar, and he tracked the animals.”

Nature photography and cinematography were among his other passions.

Before leaving the hut, Salina points out that it has a gravel floor and that Proenneke “actually sifted through the gravel that was on the beach” to get it.

“He took out the stones and washed them regularly to keep his floor clean,” she added.

When she goes outside, Salina shows off some outbuildings, including an outhouse, a wood shed, and a tall structure where Proenneke stored food to keep animals from eating it.

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

Many viewers have thanked her for offering the video tour, with many finding Proenneke's legacy '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 status as an outstanding and well-known example of an Alaskan bush log cabin.”

“It is also recognized for Richard Proenneke's voice in Alaskan wilderness conservation,” he added.

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