Jim Bridwell

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Jim Bridwell (born 1944) is a noted American rock climber and mountaineer, active since 1965 especially in Yosemite Valley, but also in Patagonia and Alaska. He is noted for pushing the standards of both free-climbing and big-wall climbing, and later alpine climbing. He has written numerous articles on climbing for leading sport publications.

Bridwell is credited with over 100 First Ascents in Yosemite Valley, in addition to conducting the first one-day ascent of The Nose of El Capitan on May 26, 1975 with John Long and Billy Westbay.^[1] He founded Yosemite National Park's Search and Rescue Team (YOSAR), and spearheaded many famous rescues that became textbook for Search and Rescue operations. He was a leading force in the changing techniques of climbing and an innovator/inventor of widely used and copied climbing gear, including copperheads and bird beaks.

Jim currently resides in Desert Palms, California, USA.

Contents 1 First ascents and notable ascents 2 Publications 3 External links 4 References

[edit] First ascents and notable ascents

• 1963 Northeast Buttress, Higher Cathedral Rock, Yosemite, CA, USA^[2]
• 1965 Entrance Exam, Arch Rock, Yosemite, CA, USA with Chuck Pratt, Chris Fredericks and Larry Marshik
• 1967 East Face, Higher Cathedral Rock, Yosemite, CA, USA with Chris Fredericks^[3]
• 1967 South Central, Wahington Column, Yosemite, CA, USA with Joe Faint
• 1969 Triple Direct, El Capitan, Yosemite, CA, USA with Kim Schmitz
• 1971 Aquarian Wall, El Capitan, Yosemite, CA, USA with Kim Schmitz
• 1971 New Dimensions, Arch Rock, Yosemite, CA, USA with Mark Klemens
• 1971 Nabisco Wall, The Cookie, Yosemite, CA, USA
• 1970 Vain Hope, Ribbon Falls, Yosemite, CA, USA with Royal Robbins and Kim Schmitz
• 1974 Freestone"", Geek Towers, Yosemite Falls, Yosemite, CA, USA^[4]
• 1975 Wailing Wall, Tuolumne Meadows, CA, USA with Dale Bard and Rick Accomozo
• 1975 Pacific Ocean Wall, El Capitan, Yosemite, CA, USA with Bill Westbay, Jay Fiske and Fred East
• 1976 Gold Ribbon, Ribbon Falls, Yosemite, CA, USA with Mike Graham
• 1977 Bushido, Half Dome, Yosemite, CA, USA with Dale Bard
• 1978 Sea of Dreams, El Capitan, Yosemite, CA, USA with Dale Bard and Dave Diegelman
• 1978 Zenith, Half Dome, Yosemite, CA, USA with Kim Schmitz
• 1979 Southeast Ridge of Cerro Torre, Patagonia, Argentina with Steven Brewer (first alpine-style ascent of the peak)^[5]
• 1979 Northwest Face, Kichatna Spire, Alaska Range, USA with Andy Embick^[6]
• 1981 Zenyatta Mondatta, El Capitan, Yosemite, CA, USA with Peter Mayfield and Charlie Row
• 1981 Dance of the Woo Li Masters, East Face of The Moose's Tooth, Ruth Gorge, Alaska, USA with Mugs Stump
• 1982 South Face, Pumori, Nepal with Jan Reynolds and Ned Gilette
• 1987 The Big Chill, Half Dome, Yosemite, CA, USA with Peter Mayfield, Sean Plunkett and Steve Bosque^[7]
• 1999 Oddysey, Grand Capucin, French Alps with Giovani Groaz
• 1999 The Useless Emotion (VII 5.9 WI4 A4), The Bear's Tooth, Ruth Glacier, Alaska, USA with Terry Christensen, Glenn Dunmire, Brian Jonas and Brian McCray May 3-21, 1999^[8]
• 2001 The Beast Pillar, The Moose's Tooth, Ruth Gorge, Alaska, USA with Spencer Pfinsten^[9]

[edit] Publications

• Bridwell, Jim. "Brave New World". Mountain (1973). United Kingdom: Ken Wilson. 

• Bridwell, Jim; Michael Strassman (1990). Climbing Big Walls. Merrillville, IN USA: ICS Books. ISBN 0934802599. 

• Bridwell, Jim; (Dougald MacDonald) (1999). Largo's Apprenticeship in The Best of Rock & Ice: An Anthology. Seattle WA, USA: The Mountaineers Books, 102 - 105. ISBN 0898866650. 

• Bridwell, Jim (2000). "The Bear's Tooth: Teaching the new dogs old tricks". American Alpine Journal 2000: 37-45. New York, NY USA: American Alpine Club. 

• Bridwell, Jim (November 27, 2006). "Bird's Eye View". Alpinist 18 (Winter 2006-2007). Jackson WY USA: Alpinist Magazine. 

[edit] External links

• ClimbAndMore.com

[edit] References

1. ^ Long, John (2000). Long on Adventure. Falcon Publishing, Inc., pp. 83-91. ISBN 1-56044-985-8. 
2. ^ Drozdz, Piotr. Climb and More dot com Climbers - Jim Bridwell. Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
3. ^ Roper, Steve (1971). Climber's Guide to Yosemite Valley. San Francisco, CA, USA.: Sierra Club Books. ISBN 87156-048-8. 
4. ^ Kroese, Mark (2001). Fifty Favorite Climbs: The Ultimate North American Tick List. Seattle, Washington, USA.: The Mountaineers Books. ISBN 0898867282. 
5. ^ Bridwell, Jim (1979). The American Alpine Journal 1980. New York, NY, USA.: American Alpine Club. ISBN 978-0930410766. 
6. ^ Bridwell, Jim (1979). The American Alpine Journal 1980. New York, NY, USA.: American Alpine Club. ISBN 978-0930410766. 
7. ^ Reid, Don (1993). Yosemite Climbs: Big Walls. Evergreen, Colorado, USA.: Chockstone Press Press. ISBN 0-934641-54-4. 
8. ^ Bridwell, Jim (2000). "The Bear's Tooth: Teaching the new dogs old tricks". American Alpine Journal 2000: 37-45. New York, NY USA: American Alpine Club. 
9. ^ Drozdz, Piotr. Climb and More dot com Climbers - Jim Bridwell. Retrieved on 2008-02-03.