A far cry from the current metrosexual model...
Posted on 04/24/2010 5:32:41 AM PDT by driftdiver
Known as the "Salmon River Caveman," Richard Zimmerman lived an essentially 19th century lifestyle, a digital-age anachronism who never owned a telephone or a television and lived almost entirely off the land.
"He was in his home at the caves at the end, and it was his wish to die there," said Connie Fitte, who lived across the river. "He was the epitome of the free spirit."
Richard Zimmerman had been in declining health when he died Wednesday.
Few knew him by his given name. To friends and visitors to his jumble of cave-like homes scrabbled from a rocky shoulder of the Salmon River, he was Dugout Dick.
He was the last of Idaho's river-canyon loners that date back to Territorial days. They are a unique group that until the 1980s included canyon contemporaries with names like Beaver Dick, Cougar Dave and Wheelbarrow Annie, "Buckskin Bill" (real name Sylvan Hart) and "Free Press Frances" Wisner. Fiercely independent loners, they lived eccentric lives on their own terms and made the state more interesting just by being here.
(Excerpt) Read more at idahostatesman.com ...
This is a great story...take the time to check it out.
Nice find. I love to read about folks who manage to thrive off the grid. Those little caves look a bit ramshakle for a city slicker like me - but heck, the guy lived a lot longer than most. 94! Raised goats and chickens, grew his own veggies and made his own yogurt and rented out his spare caves to passers-by. Cool.
RIP “Caveman”.
Or was his name really Rancid Crabtree?
A far cry from the current metrosexual model...
I agree; he should be buried in the valley he loved.
Obviously the life in the rough didn’t hurt him any, if he was capable of walking out of a nursing home at the age of 93, he was in good shape. After all, he lasted into his nineties; many of us might wish to do as well.
To be capable of walking out of a nursing home and hitch hiking home proves he had the capacity to take care of himself. Or at least make a decision.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.