Legendary American
Folksinger
and Backcountry Traveler
James "Walkin'
Jim" Stoltz
Returns to Earth
Walkin’ Jim Stoltz set off on his last forever wild hike on Friday,
September 3, 2010. Our master troubadour and dear friend fought a
heroic battle with cancer in Helena, MT. He was 57 years old.
Walkin’ Jim is widely known throughout the U.S. for his unique
combination of long-distance hiking, original songwriting, and
photography. Jim was an adventurer, artist, poet, photographer,
author, and environmental activist.
In his lifetime, he accomplished numerous long-distance treks including
the complete lengths of the Pacific Crest Trail, the Appalachian Trail,
an east to west cross-continent hike, the entire U.S. Continental
Divide, trips from Yellowstone to the Yukon, and many others. In
total, he hiked over 28,000 miles of long-distance trips.
When not on a long trip, Walkin’ Jim could be found on any of the many
trails in southwest Montana for a day hike with family and friends. He
was also an avid cross-country skier. Jim also enjoyed wilderness
travels by canoe.
Between trips, Jim would create, produce and perform original shows of
his travels with photography and music, always incorporating his keen
sense of environmental awareness and justice for all things wild. His
musical, hiking, and environmental career spanned 45 years.
Jim was born in Royal Oak, MI, June 8, 1953, to Wilbur and Audra
Stoltz. He graduated high school from Royal Oak - Kimball High School.
Walkin’ Jim began playing the guitar when he was in the 4th grade. He
performed in several bands during the 1970s. He attained his love for
the outdoors and hiking beginning with the Boy Scouts. His first
long-distance hike was on the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine
in 1973.
The following year, Jim began his Ocean to Ocean walk beginning in West
Quodyhead, ME, and ending on the Olympic Pennisula, WA. The entire
trip followed dirt roads, railroad tracks, and trails.
Jim’s first recording was “Spirit is Still on the Run,” in 1986. He
also recorded, “Forever Wild,” “Listen to the Earth,” “The Long
Trails,” and many others. Walkin’ Jim produced over eight musical
albums and one music video for children, “Come Walk With Me.”
Jim was an accomplished poet. His poetry was published as, “Whisper
Behind the Wind.” Walkin’ Jim wrote a book, “Walking with the Wild
Wind: Reflections on a Montana Journey,” highlighting his inspirational
travels and wilderness philosophy.
A few year’s ago, Jim discovered his talent for painting. He developed
an extensive array of work in oils specializing in interpretive
environmental themes. He liked to work in the medium of oil-based
cattle markers on canvas. Many of his paintings reflected themes from
his songs and poetry.
Walkin’ Jim founded Music United to Sustain the Environment (MUSE) with
Craig Wagner, and Joyce Rouse. MUSE is a group of professional touring
musicians who are concerned about the health of our planet. Many of
them draw their inspiration from the land, and feel the need to give
something back toward protecting it. Walkin’ Jim stood at the
forefront of many environmental causes throughout the U.S.
Jim helped with the planning and design of several trails throughout
the American Southwest. A short segment of U.S. Forest Service trail
in northern Arizona was recently created and named the Walkin’ Jim
Trail.
To spread his love of people and song, Jim was employed for nearly 30
winter seasons at Lone Mountain Ranch, Big Sky, MT, driving horse-drawn
sleighs to festive dinners where he performed his extensive repertoire
of music.
Jim’s life is richly entwined by a web of countless dear friends,
including thousands of children throughout the country who have learned
and loved his stories and songs.
Walkin’ Jim is survived by his true friend Leslie Stoltz, Big Sky, MT,
brother Mark Stoltz, Honor, MI, and sister’s Susan Grace Stoltz, of
Fairbanks, AK, and Lisa Mohr, Wixom, MI, and many nieces and nephews.
Jim’s life work and dreams centered on his desire to share the beauty,
the unique character, the mood, and the value of wilderness through his
music, writings, art, and activism. He leaves a special and enduring
legacy to his family, friends, and enumerable list of fans. A legacy
directing all of us to live lives of happiness while sharing in and
protecting all things wild.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, September 8, 4:00 p.m., Last Chance Ranch, 2884 Grizzly Gulch, Helena, MT.
1.Please click
here to make your tax-deductible contribution, to Walkin’ Jim’s health
care fund.
2.Please click
here to purchase Walkin’ Jim’s CDs, DVDs, Books, and Gift Cards.In addition toenriching your life and
spreading Jim’s message to friends, family, and loved ones; your buying Jim’s
CDs, DVDs, books, and gift cards will help his family resolve Jim’s high
medical bills.
"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 28,000 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
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 Share Your Animal Story!
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. Tell us what city and state you live in and we'll let you know when Jim is performing in your area.
Visit Jim's "I Walk In Beauty" page for selected moments, images, and words of inspiration, celebration, and thanksgiving.
Well, I'm coming into the home stretch of the fall tour. Yesterday I had a wonderful day at a school here in Greensboro, NC and it sounds like a full house for tomorrow night's concert. Then I'll head back to Virginia for a Sunday afternoon kid's concert hosted by the Appalachian Trail Concervancy. They're doing some neat things to get kid's outside and back to nature. I'll then be heading back to Montana for a couple months and can't wait to get on my cross-country skiis!!!
I've added another page to my website that you might find interesting, and hopefully inspiring. It's called "I Walk In Beauty" . It's a collection of special moments, sights, feelings, experiences, stories, that add beauty to my life. I feel so fortunate to be able to share them.
I'm still having troubles with the van, but so far it's still getting me from point A to point B. I guess I just need to work the kinks out. If it'll get me home in one piece I'll be happy. I shouldn't say that...because I'm happy already. This has been a wonderful tour. In the past month I've had wonderful visits with friends in NY, CT, VT, PA, VA, TN, and NC. And the shows have been great, too.
Let's see...since the last update I got to revisit my nephew's, Robert and Brian's, school in Bennington, vT (Sacred Heart) and had a great time there. Wonderful seeing them. Then stopped for a night in Ithaca with friend, Rick, from the Cornell Lab, on my way to State college, PA. What a wonderful time I had staying my friends Gary and Paula. Gary was my roadie all week as we did school shows for 8 or 9 elementary schools in the area. We did a few fun dayhikes as well and went over to Cook Forest State Park where Ed and Dale took us to see the big trees...amazing old hemlocks and white pines that truly were beautiful giants! The evening show hosted by the Sierra Club was wonderful. Third time they're brought me in, and they always have a full house and a very receptive audience. I love singing there. Of course, the big event that week was going to an all-you-can-eat ham potpie church dinner!! Those Pennsylvania Dutch folks know how to eat!
My show in Carlisle, PA for the Appalachian Trail Museum was fun, too. Lots of long-distance hikers in the audience and saw many friends. The next day while having lunch in Boiling Springs we met an AT thru-hiker, Just Jill, who was getting close to finishing her flip-flop trek of the trail. I always love meeting those new long-distance hikers!
My visit to Knoxville was fun, too. I stayed with my friends Kevin and Sandie, and their kids Eric and Julie. Wonderful to see them again after several years and we had some good time together. The appearance on the Blue Plate Special radio show was fun and the concert at the U.U. was wonderful. NICE people. Kevin is a fantastic photographer and avid hiker. He took me out to the Smokies one day to revisit a stretch of the AT that I hadn't hiked since I walked Georgia to Maine 34 years ago. We hiked up to Low Gap and then walked the Appalachian Trail over to Mount Cammerer . There was a couple inches of snow on the ground and every tree limb and branch was coated in crystals of hoarer frost. It was like walking in a fairy land. What a day!!
I have so much to be thankful for. It is a good life on this beautiful Earth. Here's wishing you all a fun, memorable Thanksgiving day.
