Based on the core philosophy expressed in the forthcoming documentary film of the same name, The Zone details the emotional and physical struggles of renowned mountaineer, naturalist and architect Rob Wood as he deals with the ravages of Parkinson’s disease on his body and mind.
With an unshakeable belief our need to reconnect with the natural world, Rob Wood takes the reader on a step-by-step journey documenting how — through the author’s deep connection to what he calls a “universal consciousness” — even the most difficult physical limitations can be dealt with effectively and successfully, with limited medical or pharmaceutical support. The Zone is nothing less than a manifesto of human resilience and a love song to the power of nature.
“Inherent in nature’s spontaneous flow is a wisdom that can teach us how to be more alive and more loving. If we know anything of real value, it is how to tune in to that universal intelligence, as do the animals, plants and birds. When we are so present in the moment and attuned to ourselves and our surroundings that we feel at one with them, the universe opens its doors of possibility to us.”
—The ZONE
Rob Wood was born in England in 1945 and grew up in a village on the edge of the Yorkshire Moors. A profound love of nature developed into a lifelong passion for mountains and wild landscapes.
He trained at the Architectural Association School in London with a particular interest in vernacular architecture. He graduated in 1970 with a design thesis on villages which advocated an ecologically sound alternative to cities and suburbia.
His ongoing reflections on what it is that we learn when traveling in the mountains and his dedication to a sustainable lifestyle have elevated his stature in the outdoor community for almost 50 years. He and his wife, Laurie, moved to British Columbia‘s Campbell River area in 1975 and built a self-sufficient homestead on Maurelle Island.
Despite health issues, Rob continues to teach and mentor students year-round on wilderness self-reliance and living in alternative communities. He is a founding member of the Friends of Strathcona Park, a protest group that helped stop logging and mining in the park. He is also the author of At Home in Nature: A Life of Unknown Mountains and Deep Wilderness. Rob and his wife still live on Maurelle Island.
The Zone is available here.
