Out & About
Walkin’ Jim Stoltz dies at age 57
OUTSING – Folksinger, guitarist and backcountry traveler Walkin’ Jim Stoltz died on Sept. 3 in Helena. He was 57.
The veteran performer and wilderness philosopher, had traveled the states for 35 years, hiking more than 27,000 miles through wild country in North America.
He held several conservation benefit programs in Spokane over the years.
His albums, based on his passion for nature, include It Ain’t Easy Being an Ol’ Grizzly Bear, The Food Chain Song and These Are Ancient Forests.
He was diagnosed with cancer in 2007.
Among his last shows was a Missoula performance on March 6, where he played a benefit concert and celebration for the organizations Last, Best Place Wildlands Campaign and Wilderness Watch.
On March 7, he unleashed his rich baritone voice in Spokane at Gonzaga University’s Wolfe Auditorium, performing his own music and showing slides of the places he had trekked in a free performance sponsored in part by the Sierra Club.
Listen to a couple of Jim’s songs online:
Poor berry crop has bears moving
OUTNOURISH –In northcentral Washington, black bears have descended from the hills to hunt for Wenatchee’s famous apples.
At Priest Lake State Park, they’re nosing for a bite of errant camp food.
Along the Pend Oreille River, they’re creeping through shoreline home sites lured by garbage, pet food and bird seed.
One hungry black bear near Gardiner, Mont., got stuck inside a van when the door slid shut.
It’s that time of year in the northern Rocky Mountains, when bruins are piling on calories to prepare for the long winter ahead when they hole up in their dens to hibernate.
But finding enough food hasn’t been easy. A cool, wet spring dented much of the huckleberry crop, a main source of fall food.
As a result, rural communities and cabin dwellers need to clean up their act to avoid bear conflicts.
New 3-day license for nonresidents
OUTDEAL – Idaho is offering a three-day nonresident small-game hunting license starting this season.
The three-day license, required for hunting upland and migratory birds, turkeys, rabbits and varmints, costs $35.50.
That’s a substantial savings for short-timers who don’t need the $97.75 season small-game license.
Hiawatha’s last call
OUTRIDE – The Route of the Hiawatha rail trail closes for the season next Sunday.
The closing is earlier than normal because of scheduled construction.
Info: (208) 744-1301.