An Invitation

Join Mary and me on our next journey

Photo by Julianne Baker

Mary and I finally reached our first summit of the summer. Mt. Washburn is a scenic walk-up that Yellowstone visitors of all ages enjoy. As a subscriber to The Wilds of Cancer, you have read how important being in Nature is to Mary and me. Last summer, while recovering from treatment for prostate cancer, I set a goal of a peak a week. But this summer has been different in that regard. A number of readers have also noticed another difference: I’ve been posting less to The Wilds of Cancer. I want to explain what’s happening in our lives.

In February, Mary and I, along with many others, decided to begin actively protesting against what we saw as an authoritarian takeover of our democracy. Along with two friends, we founded Indivisible Park County, a local chapter of the national organization Indivisible.org.

I’m no stranger to activism. For ten years, I wrote, photographed, and spoke out to defend wildlife and wild lands. During that time, I published two Substacks, Love the Wild and Save the Wild. I authored two award-winning books, one about Yellowstone wolves and the other addressing environmental issues surrounding Yellowstone National Park. You might be familiar with some of this writing.

When I was diagnosed with and treated for aggressive prostate cancer, my focus shifted. During that difficult time, I journaled every morning. Those entries, along with thorough research, evolved into The Wilds of Cancer.

I’m happy to report that the conventional medical treatment was successful. Mary and I helped my medical team fight the cancer by developing what we call our DARE approach, using diet, attitude, rest, and exercise, as well as time in Nature to make my body a hostile environment for cancer cells and a friendly environment for healthy cells. I’ll follow that approach for the rest of my life.

While we fought the aggressive cancer in my body, an aggressive cancer attacked our democracy. Donald Trump and his billionaire buddies, power-hungry politicians, and Project 2025 supporters started attacking our federal government, constitution, and democracy, just as those aggressive cancer cells had attacked my body.

We believe that the treatment for fighting this Trump-cancer requires me and Mary and millions of others, We the People, to take to the streets and meeting rooms, phones and emails, and letters and postcards to keep this cancer from spreading. We must make our country a hostile environment for the Trump-cancer cells and a friendly environment for those who want to protect our federal government, our constitution, and our democracy.

Mary has gone deep into her protesting journey. Initially, she took to the phone and email, persistently contacting the all-Republican and Trump-supporting federal delegation in our corner of Montana. Her message was clear: I’m one of your constituents and I want to talk with you. None accepted her invite. Her message became stronger: Stand up to Trump. Defend our democracy. Still ignored, she began to organize and ask others to join in this fight.

As Mary organized, I helped her and returned to activist writing. I created a weekly Facebook post titled "What Can We Do to Save Democracy?" I shared stories of our protesting journey and presented facts about what others are doing. The response was heartwarming and led me to create a new Substack publication, A Protesting Journey.

However, as the attack on our democracy intensified, so did our time spent protesting. That left less time to reach summits. And less time to write, edit, and publish preview chapters of The Wilds of Cancer.

Writing about my journeys is restorative for me; it helped me fight and survive prostate cancer. Now I want my writing and Mary’s writing to help in the fight to survive Trump-cancer.

If you’re interested in saving our democracy, I invite you to click over and subscribe to A Protesting Journey and join us. I’m sure you’ll find much to relate to. You’ll find links that quickly take you to other sources you can learn from. You’ll find personal stories that will help you continue resisting, and may even increase your motivation to fight for this country we love. You’ll be reminded that you are not alone and that together we have great power.

Hoping you join us,

Rick