Meet the 82-YEAR-OLD man who has been dwelling in an isolated off-grid cabin in the forest for 46 YEARS – relying on wood fires for heat and a homemade waterwheel for electricity on ‘dark winter nights’
A man has revealed how he spent 46 years living off-grid in a remote cabin in the woods, using a homemade waterwheel to power his gadgets.
Simply referred to as “Al,” the 82-year-old Washington state outdoorsman stars in a short film created by YouTuber Diego Tries Hard.
In the documentary, he shows viewers the eco-friendly home he created on a 40-acre lot.
He starts by explaining how his waterwheel works and how he first started generating his own power using the current system on December 13, 1996, with the date etched into his wheelhouse.
A man has revealed how he spent 46 years living off-grid in a cabin in the woods, using a homemade water wheel to power his gadgets
Dubbed simply “Al,” the 82-year-old Washington outdoorsman stars in a short film created by YouTuber DiegoTriesHard
In the documentary, he shows viewers the eco-friendly home he created on a 40-acre lot
He begins to explain how his waterwheel works and he first started generating his own power on December 13, 1996, with the date etched into his wheelhouse
While Al started out with a water wheel as his main energy source, he has since purchased three solar panels that do most of the work.
Now he says: ‘Usually it’s solar energy.
“The water wheel is for dark winter nights, I use it maybe two, three hours.”
In terms of energy consumption, the forest dweller says it is ‘very low’.
At breakfast he usually has his laptop on while listening to the radio “and then I don’t use anything until probably six in the evening.”
In the evening, he says he likes to put on his laptop to watch the news and uses a few lamps. If there is a breakdown, there is a generator in a shed, but it is rarely used.
To heat his house and sauna, which he built in an outbuilding, Al says he has an abundance of wood at his doorstep, for which he does not have to pay.
His property is primarily surrounded by mature elder trees, but there are also cedars and other species amidst the mix.
He explains in a clip: “(I have) 40 acres of fallen trees, they are falling down faster than I can cut them down. I have a lifetime supply.
“I never have to cut living trees.”
Al also has no water bill, because there is a natural spring on his land that provides fresh drinking water.
While Al started out with a water wheel as his main energy source, he has since purchased three solar panels that do most of the work
To heat his house and sauna, which he built in an outbuilding (pictured), Al says he has an abundance of wood at his doorstep that he doesn’t have to pay for
When it comes to wildlife, Al says some of his neighbors in the wooded area include beavers, minks, otters, kingfishers and great blue herons
In one scene, he takes YouTuber Diego to the well and they both drink directly from the well using two camping cups.
It has a pipe that goes from the well to the house and another to the sauna cabin.
Since there is no main pipe, Al also built two outdoor toilets.
When it comes to wildlife, Al says some of his neighbors in the wooded area include beavers, minks, otters, kingfishers and great blue herons.
After living in the woods for 40 years, he also encountered a black bear recently.
He says in the documentary: ‘(It) walked along the bank there a few years ago. (It was) a little small, probably feminine.
“The only thing I haven’t seen yet is a cougar.”
Another interesting thing Al saw while living on his current lot was the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.
In one scene, he opens one of his photo albums and points to a photo he took with plumes of smoke rising.
He also shows how the forest has thickened over the years, with older photos showing a sparse environment.
While off-grid living isn’t for everyone, Al says he loves living in a remote location.
Another interesting thing Al saw while living on his current lot was the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.
While off-grid living isn’t for everyone, Al says he loves living in a remote location
In one scene, he takes YouTuber Diego to the well and they both drink directly from the well using two camping cups
The only external connection he has is a landline phone and a laptop.
He muses, “I hate going into town for groceries even once a week, it’s hard to do.”
“I’ll be lucky if I make it to the mailbox a few times a week.”
At the end of the documentary, Diego asks Al what his secret is to being so vibrant at his age, to which the octogenarian replies “being outside.”
He says he keeps fit by walking and chopping firewood, and he’ll get out and about regardless of the weather.
To date, the YouTube video documenting Al’s lifestyle has been viewed more than two million times, with many viewers applauding his dedication to nature and the outdoors.
One viewer commented: ‘Al is a very smart man, it was very wise of him to buy/acquire that land in 1977.
‘It must have been wonderful to live in nature all those years and to build and develop the property with all those amenities to make life very comfortable for himself, you are a wonderful person Al.’
Another fan wrote, “Great video here. I can appreciate Al’s dedication and work for such a magnificent and sustainable property.
Hats off to your vintage car and many thanks for sharing and inspiring so many of us trying to catch up to your perfect example. You are a leader and pioneer.’