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. 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. A quote that captures Jim's presence: Walkin' Jim was perhaps one of the biggest influences on my life thus far. He not only opened my eyes to nature and the world around me, but he showed me the joy in singing. He taught me that songs come from your heart and that when you sing it should be about what you feel inside and what you see around you. He taught me to sing with a deeper meaning. Thanks to Walkin' Jim's influence I fell in love with music and singing and am now a singer. One of my most distinct memories of Walkin' Jim is a more recent one. A few years ago he was in Columbus, my hometown, and was singing as my cousin's school, Columbus School for Girls (CSG). He was staying at my aunt's house because he was a close family friend and attended my brother's birthday party with the whole family. He was truly a member of our family that night. I remember all of us sitting on my porch with the fire going in the fire pit outside casting flickering shadows on us. Walkin' Jim pulled out his guitar and sang for us. He sang for about an hour and we all sang along. We knew the lyrics to all the songs, even some that he didn't remember. When one of my little cousins requested for him to sing Buffalo Love Jim couldn't remember the words so he played some chords and the family sang it for him, word for word, with a solo from my uncle. This was the last time I saw Walkin' Jim. I will hold this memory near and dear to my heart forever. Emily Carlin '...sings in a deep baritone that sounds like a distant rapid in a canyon stream. His songs are paeans to nature.' --- The Wall Street Journal 'Jim Stoltz is a music man of exuberance and passion, with more to say in one song than Frank Sinatra ever managed in a whole bloody concert.' -- Edward Abbey.
