One of the greatest influences in my life, and one person I was honoured to call my friend passed away in the morning hours of June 21, 2011...

The Woodmaster

Ron Hood, B.A. M.S. Ed.D. (ABD)

Coeur D'Alene, Idaho

Ron developed his early wilderness interests as a member of the Military Intelligence Community while in the Army Security Agency (ASA). After training, Ron spent a year in the Middle East and nearly 18 months in Vietnam. After the military Ron taught accredited classes in Wilderness Skills and survival training at two Universities for over 20 years, authored numerous survival and informational articles for National magazines, published a Guidebook to the Sierra as well as appeared on many TV and Radio Programs. Ron spent much of his time learning, practicing and studying wilderness and survival skills with native populations around the world.

Ron has organized and led month long expeditions to the Andean Cordillera of Chile in search of ancient Inca sites, as well as two long term expeditions to reach, research and film the isolated Chapra/Candoshi tribes of Peru. You can learn more about the Peruvian expeditions in his Woodsmaster video series. Ron was also the Team Captain of “Team Johnny G during the hyper endurance "Race Across America”.

Ron has been featured in dozens of TV programs including special 30 minute programs with Backpacker Magazines “Anyplace Wild”, Myth Busters, Ultimate Survival, Nickelodeon and Japanese Televisions NHK network as well as many others. Ron had also written a survival column for SWAT magazine. At the time of his passing he was editor. creator, and co-owner of Survival Quarterly Magazine.

Ron's survival training videos are widely considered to be the best survival training aids in the world with tens of thousands of customers located around the globe.

Ron also had the largest heart, the greatest sense of humour, and one of the quickest wits I have ever encountered. To all of those who knew him Ron was a decent, upstanding gentleman who had a never ending store of information regarding wilderness survival. He was a loving father, a devoted husband, and one of the greatest friends I could have ever asked for...

"For this alone on Death I wreak
The wrath that garners in my heart;
He put our lives so far apart
We cannot hear each other speak."

                     -Lord Tennyson

Ron and his wife, Karen were the co-owners of Hood's Woods. This was, and still is, one of my favourite sites to visit. If you are so unfortunate not to have known Ron, and do not know Karen...please drop by using the link in the left margin...you will be glad and bitter sad at the same time.

Karen: May the days to come envelop you in a peace and serenity, and may you continue refreshed with the knowledge that all parting is but a temporary thing.

Jesse: Keep your chin up, and hold your head high in the realisation that your father was truly a giant among men.

Ron:  My friend, my teacher, I just want to wish you a safe journey, wonderful adventures, and the perfect peace of knowing you have mastered this game of life. For now, Ron...

"Come, let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees."

Always remembering you, my friend,    Brian P