In honor of Earth Day, I wanted to share an excerpt from the introduction to my book of essays, Grizzlies On My Mind. May we put some of this COVID-19 fire into our efforts to protect our wild planet and fight climate change.
‘It is my hope that your journey through the pages of this book will in some way imprint Yellowstone in your mind and on your heart. Regardless of your physical state, I want to inspire you to get out and explore the most enigmatic, powerful, and magical place I know—a place known by a single word: Yellowstone. And what is humanity without the spirit of adventure? At its core, adventure is the nutrition and spiritual sustenance that feeds the soul.
The preservation of Yellowstone resides in the most important single piece of habitat left on our wild planet: that of the human heart. We only fight to save what we love, and we only love what we know. In the end, the fate of a wild Yellowstone is in your hands. The wild heartbeat of Yellowstone; its scenic rivers, valleys, and mountains; its grizzly bears, wolves, bison, elk, trout, and countless other species of plant and wildlife will only be here in the future if we want them here badly enough—if we are willing to advocate and be a champion on their behalf. I believe the symbolism represented by the integrity of the Yellowstone Ecosystem extends far beyond its boundaries. If we can’t inspire a commitment to Yellowstone, I fear we won’t find the audacity to preserve the last of our world’s iconic wildlands. The fate of our wild planet is intertwined with the fate of a wild Yellowstone.
The rugged vastness of the Northern Rockies transforms the soul of those who know its wild splendor. Its harshness and magnificence inspire a gritty determination and burning desire to explore all that we may become.
When you experience the raw power of wilderness, your soul awakens to the essence of love. Wilderness, my friends, is a love worth fighting for. . . .
For a wild Yellowstone.
Michael W. Leach, Grizzles On My Mind, West Margin Press.’
With nothin’ but love, mwl