I know a similar story from a documentary of a naturalist guy named Richard Louis "Dick" Proenneke. He lived in Alska for more than thirty years. His life there is equally inspiring because he never stopped learning and honing his skills.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0437806/

http://www.aloneinthewilderness.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2-ms5OZKC4