Biography

Jim Bridwell (July 29, 1944 – February 16, 2018) was an American climber and mountaineer.

Active since 1965, particularly in Yosemite Valley, but also in Patagonia and Alaska, he is renowned for having pushed the standards of free climbing and multi-pitch climbing, and later alpine climbing. He wrote numerous articles on climbing for major sports publications. He trained with Royal Robbins and Warren Harding (climber), both free climbing pioneers in the 1970s. He was the unofficial leader of the Stonemasters. Bridwell is credited with over 100 first ascents in Yosemite Valley, in addition to leading the first one-day ascent of The Nose of El Capitan on May 26, 1975, with John Long and Billy Westbay.

He founded the Yosemite National Park Search and Rescue (YOSAR) team and led numerous rescues, including techniques included in search and rescue manuals. He was a leading innovator/inventor in the evolution of climbing techniques and widely used and copied climbing equipment, including copperheads and bird beaks.

Jim resided in Palm Desert, California, until his death on February 16, 2018, from complications of hepatitis C, which he contracted while getting tattooed in Borneo in the 1980s.