Monday, September 6, 2010
Montana's Walkin' Jim Stoltz dies at 57
Posted by Erika Fredrickson on Mon, Sep 6, 2010 at 11:35 AM
Unlike some of us, Walkin’ Jim Stoltz didn’t really have time for blogging. He was too busy hiking in the woods and playing his folk music on tours for school assemblies and wilderness benefits across the nation. In his second-to-last blog entry on Nov. 25, 2009, Stoltz writes:
Hello Everyone...I got back to Montana today after 2+ months on the road and a wonderful Fall Tour. It was SO nice to cook my own dinner and I'm looking forward to crawling into my own bed after I post this. It's been a long haul but my veggie-oil-fueled van has been running great. How I love cruising along on the smell of french fries!!
Stoltz died on Friday, Sept. 3, in Helena. The veteran performer, age 57, had traveled the states for 35 years, hiking more than 27,000 miles through wild country in North America. With his guitar in hand, he penned several albums worth of songs that unabashedly and transparently revealed his passion for nature: “It Ain’t Easy Being an Ol’ Grizzly Bear," ”The Food Chain Song” and “These Are Ancient Forests,” to name a few.
Over the years Stoltz had been through some medical hardships including when he had to have a kidney transplant in 2004, and when he learned of his tonsil chord cancer in 2007 that had spread to his lymph nodes. His last show was in Missoula on March 6, 2010, where he played a benefit concert and celebration for the organizations Last, Best Place Wildlands Campaign and Wilderness Watch.
Following the publication of his 2003 book, Walking with the Wind: Reflections on a Montana Journey, writer and activist Bill McKibben (The End of Nature) wrote:
This is the testament of one of America's most unique and devoted citizens. After wandering its wild places for decades, he understands things about this continent that few others have grasped with the same depth.
Listen to Jim Stoltz' "The Long Trails" and "Morning in the Mountains."
Comments (14)
Showing 1-14 of 14
I am so saddened to hear of Jim's passing. I had no idea he had been so sick. I knew him years ago and attended several of his concerts. What a beautyFULL man! He offered the Earth and humanity such simple grace and such profound gifts. The TRUE knowledge he held in his gentle spirit was so, so, so vast. His songs, especially "Forever Wild" will forever live in me. Blessings of Love to his family and friends. He touch so many. For the Earth, Syndee Eartheart, Bloomington, Indiana
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Walkin' Jim will forever live in our hearts and minds. He will be dearly missed. He performed at my mother's school twice while she was a teacher @ Devon Elementary in Devon, PA. Every child left his performance singing his catchy songs. They also left inspired to help protect wildlife and wild places. Thank you Walkin' Jim for all that you have done for wild Earth.
With Love,
Your Friend,
Jamie Lennox
Walkin' Jim was one of our family from the days when he and Biff played and sang together at
Lone Mountain Ranch in Big Sky. Your spirit will rise with us and the bounty that you gave will be treasured forever. We will miss you dearly Walkin' Jim and shall keep you in our hearts always.
Glad Elias, David and Reyna
Thank you Jim. You touched so many hearts, including mine.
Thank you for all your songs, for teaching the children (of all ages), for pouring your soul into saving this place you love.
I imagine you're out walking now - free and easy, clear skies, big vistas, no mosquitoes. God speed.
Sanna Porte
I never met Jim but got his e-newsletter for many years. I always liked knowing there was someone like him out there, just hiking and enjoying nature. So sad to hear of his loss.
Jim was a wonderful man who I had the pleasure of knowing for many years when we both lived at Big Sky. He was a unique individual, tough yet gentle, and had a heart that was as big as the sky under which he loved to wander and explore. I was sorry to hear of his illness and death. It's been many years since I last saw him but his incredible spirit will be missed.
Vaya con Dios
I only had the opportunity to see and hear Walkin' Jim twice, but was planning to try to get him to perform in Pocatello Idaho this year. I am sorry my Pocatello friends will never get to see his wonderful photos and hear his moving songs. Forever Wild will live on...
I met Jim in the fall of 2008 and thought he was a very nice person. When he came back to our part of the country last fall, I spoke to him again. This time I learned that he had a friend in Canandaigua, New York, the very town I grew up in. Not only that, but his friend lived on West Lake Road along Canandaigua Lake (one of the Finger Lakes). Her house was less than a half-mile from the house I grew up in, also on West Lake Road! We marveled at the "it's a small world" moment and talked about boating on Canandaigua Lake. So long Jim!
I am also a long-time friend of Jim. I work in the field of Community Education in Minneapolis, and Jim and his music has been featured as the inspiration for our trip to the wilderness. His music has been, and will contine to be an inspiration to us. I am planning to sponsor a hike in two weeks to help raise money for some of his medical bills - if you're interested in joining us (and living in the Mpls-St. Paul area), drop me an email note: tneiman@msn.com.
Tom
Jim - The world was a better place for you having been in it. My family and I saw you once at Lone Mountain Ranch and again when you came to play a small venue in Baltimore, MD, many, many years ago. Your songs had a profound effect on my children and myself. In fact, our trip to Montana, including your performance almost 20 years ago so inspired my son, he moved to Big Sky country about 4 years ago. He's read your book, Jim - and he got all my 'Walkin Jim' albums. I'm just sorry we never had a chance to see you again... You'll always be in our memories...
Kathy
Jim's music was a huge influence on my childhood growing up. Many family road trips of singing to his numerous cds. I will always remember hearing him speak of his experiences and his music as a kid.
Very sad to read this. Good memories of attending his shows and sharing his music with my kids and others.
I met Jim when he did a ‘show’ at the Nature Center in Ft. Myers Florida a couple years ago. I knew instantly that he was the most genuinely down to earth and nature connected person I’ve ever met. The knowledge and truths he shared through his poetry, essays, photography and songs came from the many thousands of first hand observations and experiences he had during 40 years of hiking 27,000 miles in wilderness areas in the US and Canada. I regret not meeting him 30 years earlier and being able to spend some time in the wilderness with him. I hope that the right people figure out a way to create a place for him in history alongside the world’s great naturalists…..
I met Walking Jim when he visited our cabin in the Cabinet Mountains, Heron, MT. Jim would show up from time to time to play music and have a meal. I lost touch with Jim when we left for Missoula in 1984. How I remember his music, his voice. He was such a welcome addition to our little tribe. Jim was a walking legend, someone we always spoke about and looked forward to seeing again. Although I haven't had contact with him for decades, I feel the loss of his spirit. I sincerely hope that Walking Jim Stoltz will be remembered for the authentic person and incredible voice that he was. Thinking of you, Jim
Trish MccCoy
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