About the Ridge Runner

RR with Hawken

About The Ridge Runner

I became interested in Primitive Wilderness Survival and the Outdoors at a young age. It started with my Grandfather who was among other things an avid hunter and hiker. He did such interesting jobs as a lumberjack in the 9 mile Swamp near North Brookfield to farm hand , Machineist and cook. He is an artist, outdoorsman, wood worker and WWII Vet. He has pictures he drew during the Invasion of Laite Gulf on display in the Smithsonian. He showed me alot about the basics of shooting, whittleing, hunting and camp craft and told me ALOT of wonderful stories. His influences include Col. Townsand Wayland (of Cal .35 Wayland fame) and Bradford Angier. I have also read alot of these author's works. Also
I went hiking and camping with a friend of mine, Jamie Poyle in Westmoreland N.Y.

He Sparked my interest with the book "Tom Brown's Field Guide to Wilderness Survival. I ate that book alive taking in as much info as my 14 year old mind could take! It was at this time I was also introduced to George Washington Sears AKA "Nessmuk" and his book Woodcraft and Camping and this book also truly had an effect on me.
We spent two years camping and tracking the woodlands around our homes
and spent lots of time at a primitive Camp we called "Pine Home". After a while we parted ways as boys do.

At this point I was living in shall I say an unsavory family situation and during the summers I left for the back of
beyond with a small amount of gear. Mainly an old sheath knife, a hatchet I found in the woods,

a cheap mess kit and some blankets in an old East German rucksack. A single shot .22 LR completed my rig.Im sure there were other odds and ends and I did procure a Kukri toward the end but I was basically living off the land during my summers to stay away from home only comming in once every two weeks to visit my father. Once in a while, R.H. would stop in and say howdy and spend a night or two. He showed me alot about camp craft that his father had showed him. Such things as thes survival belt wherein you keep certain necessitys on a belt so that you always have it with you (this nifty double belt system where you rivet a leather belt to a pistol belt for a secure way to carry your knife and other goods)
Of Course I got out of the bad family situation and moved away.
However, my interest in the outdoors continued to burn. After a while I found this wonderful place called the Internet and
Ron and Karen Hood's Web Site.
It got me started all over again !
I got on the Hoodlum's Forums there and found that there were
many other men and woman out there who shared my interest in living simply!
Since then I have come in contact with many interesting people from Deer Runner from Mid-Atlantic Primitive Skills to Marty Simons from Wilderness Learning Center along with MANY other wonderful people who have tought me much about my chosen field of interest.

Oudoor Videos and Books I have Read:
Woodcraft and Camping By George Washington Sears "Nessmuk"
Tom Brown's Field Guide to Wilderness Survival
Wilderness Survival Skills by Bradford Agier
On your own in the Wilderness by Col. Townsand Wayland
Participating in Nature: Thomas J Elpel

The Woodsmaster Series with Ron and Karen Hood

****** The Ridge Runner ******
A man is not a warrior by steel alone, ethics, courage intelligence, compassion and honor are the true tests of a warrior's prowess. Once these are achieved, the spirit will guide the sword.
'Kahless

Part of the Pine Home Family of Outdoor Sites