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.
Hello Friends –
I’ve been home about a week and a half from a wonderful 515-mile trek in Eastern Nevada. This was my 3rd long-distance walk across that grand state and was inspired by the first trek back in 1986. Back then I was on a thru hike from the Grand Canyon back to my home in Montana. I walked up the eastern side of Nevada, across Idaho, and back to Big Sky where I was living at the time. On the trip I did a wonderful high-route through a small portion of the Schell Creek Range. I loved it! Often above 10,000 feet with bristlecone and limber pines, and none-stop views. It was incredible. But it was also in May so the presence of snow made it difficult. I’ve always wanted to go back and hike the length of the entire range. This summer I did just that.
I started on the north end of the Schell Creek Range and walked it all the way south to Patterson Pass. Then I cut over through the Egan Range, crossed the desert White River Valley up into the Horse Range, and then walked north through the White Pine Range and into the Ruby Mountains and the East Humboldt Range.
Trek Stats: 33 days on the trail --- twenty of those days I never saw a soul.
There was no trail at all for 110 miles (mostly as I walked the ridgetops)
Shortest Day: 3 miles
Longest Day: 33 miles
I completed 3 new songs, and started two others.
8 food caches that I put out ahead of time
1 food cache broken into (by people)
No town stops (unless you count the ghost town of Hamilton)
I wish I could send you all the scent of sage, juniper, and mountain mahogany. Sometimes I'd just stop in mid-stride and just soak it in. These are special places. And it is big country. Vast country .I'd often feel like an ant crossing a vast universe as I trekked across a big desert valley, or watched the sun set slowly into rosy clouds over a skyline as wide as the world. Unfortunately, several times I got to springs I was counting on for water and found them bone dry, forcing me to march on. That's how I got my longest days of the trip. And some of the high routes were pretty challenging for these ol' legs of mine, but after I did them I was very proud of myself. I saw lots of deer and elk, coyotes, mountain goats, wild horses, and many birds of prey. Pikas were conspicuously missing from some of the ranges (their populations are plummeting due to climate change) so I was delighted when I started seeing them the last couple weeks in the Ruby Mountains. All in all it was a great journey. I feel so blessed that I’m able to still get out there and do it!
Back here in Helena, my office person, Terri Davis, moved back to New Mexico in June. Adam Nordell has stepped in and is doing a great job with the scheduling and keeping things going when I’m gone. Adam is a fine singer/songwriter in his own right, and is working on a new cd of his songs.
My Fall Tour schedule is shaping up well. I’ve posted what we have of it so far. Take a look. We’re still trying to fill in dates so if your local school or community group is interested in a performance please contact Adam soon to schedule a date. I’m looking forward to sharing my new songs. I’ll also have some new paintings with me.
We’re still running the Summer CD Special. Check out the Walkin’ Jim Music page for that. A Fall Special will be announced in September some time.
We’d love to have your thoughts on what wilderness means to you. Check out What is Wilderness .
I hope you all have had a good summer. Wishing you many Happy Trails.
