Remember Jim Witty

Jim Witty Oregon Badlands Wilderness Memorial Hike

From 1999 Jim was at The Bulletin as an environmental and natural resources reporter and began covering the outdoor recreation section (Outings) in 2000.

Jim was an avid outdoors man. He loved hiking, biking, fishing and being out in the middle of nowhere with nothing but the coyotes or his dog Henry.

Jim was a kind soul, outgoing and forever optimistic. He always had a big grin on his face and a booming laugh. And he never had anything bad to say about anyone or anything. Jim spent many hours and days in one of the places he loved best, the Badlands Wilderness Study Area, of which he wrote prolifically, becoming the fully protected Oregon Badlands Wilderness March 30 2009. Jim left us in 2008, and every year we do a hike to remember this kind man. March 11 was Jim’s birthday, and Sunday March 11, we’ll hike in the Badlands, visiting Dead Horse Canyon and a great tumulus lava flow formation we have called “Jim Witty Memorial Rocks”. After the hike, we can gather at Silver Moon Brewery for the annual musical Jim Jam, organized by his great friend Mark Quon to honor the spirit of Jim Witty and the music he loved. All are encouraged to participate. Jim Jam begins at 1300 hrs (1.00 pm), goes for about three hours, so we’ll complete the hike in time to get to Silver Moon Brewery not too long after the start of the session, enjoy the music and the debriefing offerings of the Silver Moon!