Jim Bridwell

Jim Bridwell
Bridwell in 2003
Personal information
Born(1944-07-29)July 29, 1944
San Antonio, Texas
DiedFebruary 16, 2018(2018-02-16) (aged 73)
Palm Springs, California, U.S.
Climbing career
First ascents
  • Pacific Ocean Wall (VI 5.9 A4, 1975)
  • Sea of Dreams (VI 5.9 A5, 1978)
  • Zenyatta Mondatta (VI 5.9 A5, 1981)
Known for

Jim Bridwell (July 29, 1944 – February 16, 2018) was an American rock climber and mountaineer, active from 1965 in Yosemite Valley, but later in Patagonia and Alaska. He was noted for pushing the standards of both aid climbing and big wall climbing, and later alpine climbing. He wrote numerous articles on climbing and developed several important pieces of aid climbing equipment. Bridwell was an apprentice to Royal Robbins and Warren Harding, and later the unofficial leader of the Stonemasters.

Climbing career

Billy Westbay, Jim Bridwell (center), and John Long after the first one-day ascent of the Nose in 1975

Bridwell is credited with over 100 first ascents (FA) in Yosemite Valley, in addition to conducting the first one-day ascent of The Nose on El Capitan on May 26, 1975, with John Long and Billy Westbay. He founded Yosemite National Park's Search and Rescue Team (YOSAR), spearheading many rescues. He was a leading force in the evolving techniques of aid climbing and an innovator and inventor of widely used and copied aid climbing equipment, including copperheads and bird-beaks.

Personal life

Jim Bridwell in Salt Lake City, circa 1990

Bridwell resided in Palm Desert, California, until his death on February 16, 2018, from complications of hepatitis C He had contracted the disease while receiving a tattoo in Borneo during the 1980s.

Notable ascents

Publications

See also

References

  1. ↑ Peter Mortimer, Nick Rosen, Josh Lowell (Directors) (2014). Valley Uprising. Event occurs at 35 minutes 30 seconds. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  2. ↑ Peter Mortimer, Nick Rosen, Josh Lowell (Directors) (2014). Valley Uprising. Event occurs at 35 minutes 20 seconds. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  3. ↑ Long, John (2000). Long on Adventure. Falcon Publishing, Inc. pp. 83–91. ISBN 978-1560449850.
  4. ↑ Franz, Derek (February 16, 2018). "Climbing legend Jim 'the Bird' Bridwell dies at age 73". Alpinist.
  5. ↑ Raleigh, Duane, "Jim Bridwell, Founder of YOSAR and Big-Wall Godfather, Dead at 73," Rock & Ice, Carbondale, Colorado, published on February 16, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Legendary climber Jim Bridwell dies at 73". NBC News.
  7. 1 2 Roper (1971).
  8. ↑ Roper (1971), p. 244.
  9. ↑ Reid (1993), p. 203.
  10. 1 2 3 Reid (1993), p. 202.
  11. 1 2 3 Reid (1993), p. 201.
  12. ↑ Roper (1971), p. 44.
  13. ↑ Kroese, Mark (2001). Fifty Favorite Climbs: The Ultimate North American Tick List. Seattle, Washington: The Mountaineers Books. ISBN 0898867282.
  14. 1 2 Reid (1993), p. 205.
  15. 1 2 Bridwell, Jim (1979). The American Alpine Journal. New York: American Alpine Club. ISBN 978-0930410766.
  16. 1 2 Reid (1993).
  17. ↑ Beckwith, Christian (September 1, 2004). "Gods and Monsters". Alpinist (8). Alpinist Magazine. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
  18. ↑ Bridwell, Jim (1991). "Shadows – Half Dome". American Alpine Journal. 33 (65). New York: American Alpine Club: 118–123. ISBN 0930410467.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: periodical has ISBN (link)
  19. ↑ Bridwell, Jim (2000). "The Bear's Tooth: Teaching the new dogs old tricks". American Alpine Journal. 42 (74). New York: American Alpine Club: 37–45. ISBN 978-0930410872.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: periodical has ISBN (link)
  20. ↑ Drozdz, Piotr. "Climb and More dot com Climbers – Jim Bridwell". Retrieved February 3, 2008.

Bibliography