"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find resources of strength that will endure as long as life lasts."
-- Rachel Carson
Welcome to the Official Website of Walkin' Jim Stoltz ... long-distance hiker, adventurer, author, painter, photographer, poet, wilderness activist, musician, songwriter, and troubadour for the Earth.
Please join Walkin' Jim on his 27,000 miles of wilderness walking!
Come in off the trail and sit down by our campfire for a while and look around. Catch up on Walkin' Jim's latest news by reading his blog. Browse through the Wild Wind catalog of music and books. Listen to some of Jim's wilderness music while you read about the inspiration for his songs and discover the message in his lyrics. You'll find chords and lyrics to every song he's ever recorded. Start your Wild Wind collection now with a secure online purchase.
"So live each day like you mean it, Grab hold of each dawn that comes your way. And if it's blessings you're a-countin' Try a morning in the mountains, There ain't no better way to start the day." --- from "Morning in the Mountains" by Walkin' Jim Stoltz
Take a look at Jim's artwork or read excerpts from his book Walking With the Wild Wind. Join him On The Trail. Enjoy the Wild Images he has photographed and enter the Name That Wild Place contest. Read through Jim's Tales of the Trail or stop by Poet's Place for some special backcountry poetry. If you're planning a trip be sure to check Jim's Tips From the Trail. Ask Jim questions about trekking, music, or anything you'd like to know.
Join Jim on Kids Korner for songs, art, stories, and fun things for kids to do. If you're a kid, share your favorite animal experience with everyone at Critter's Encounters.
Visit Keeping it Wild and learn about issues that are facing our wild places and environment. Learn what you can do to Make a Difference. Support organizations that are working for the planet.
Part of Walkin' Jim's standard trail gear is a good book. What a luxury to wake up to the sound of rain on the tarp (or tent) and to snuggle in that cozy sleeping bag with a good book! Visit Jim's Bookshelf for reviews and suggested reading of his favorite books for wild places.
Bring the wild to your community gathering with one of Walkin' Jim's award-winning multimedia concerts of music, poetry and slides from his long treks. Check the On Tour page for information about the Forever Wild show, tour schedules and booking information. And don't forget his wonderful school assemblies for your local elementary school. His school visits have touched the lives of children all across America.
"With a rich voice that sounds as deep as some of the canyons he's walked, he's sung of mountain lions, grizzly bears, the coyote, and other critters. Great stories, good songs, and fun sing-a-longs." -- Variety
Get Jim's Wild Wind Newsletter. You'll get cd specials, tour schedules, inspiring quotes, Jim's poems and stories, and more. He promises never to send more than twelve issues a year (it is usually 6 or 7) or to share your email with others. Just click here and send Jim a note asking to be on the Wild Wind list.
Latest News
August 14, 2008 Back From The Trail
Hello Friends --
And welcome to my new website! I started this in late June, but then headed out into the mountains for six weeks and left everything undone. I apologize to those of you who have tried to order music or books from the old site. I hope I didn't cause too much of a headache.
I hope you'll all be patient with me as I slowly bring various parts of the new site into operation. Just off the trail and it seems like a wave of "things to do" has crashed upon me. But I'm still riding high from the most spectacular summer hike I just finished. The feelings of joy, gratitude, and general thankfulness will walk with me for many a day, I'm sure.
My journey began July 5th when I started walking north from Nez Perce Pass in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness. 458 miles and 37 days laters I followed an elk trail into the boundary cut between the U.S. and Canada at Monument 223. I was 20 pounds lighter, but weighed down with the love I felt for all the beauty I'd been living in. The hike was the ultimate ridge walk, much of it along the Idaho/Montana state line. In the weeks ahead I'll try to get some details onto this website and share with you how special of a trip it really was.
For now, I hope you'll explore the new site and enjoy the new pictures. If you live in the East I'll be touring with my show this fall. Please consider bringing me to your area to perform for your local church, environmental organization, or school. Just connecting me with the PTO of your local elementary schools can be a great help in keeping me going. And believe me, after last winter's cancer treatments and hospital bills, I need all the gigs I can get this fall. Thanks for your help.
