Also known as The Bird.

Quick Info

From USA 🇺🇸
Date of birth 29th Jul 1944
Date of death 16th Feb 2018
Age 73 years old
Gender Male
Climbing
Hardest Trad (Worked) E4
Hardest Trad (Onsight) HVS

John Long:

Unlike many pontifical climbers who, having made their mark, silently slip into history, Bridwell’s initiative has redoubled with each new route. Indeed he has maintained a level of motivation rarely matched by any climber anywhere. Yet this same motivation has occasioned controversy, fisticuffs and vindictive slandenngs from fellow cragsmen. [4]

Bridwell's sage advice to Leo Houlding and Jason Pickles, prior to their attempt on The Prophet (E9):

Just remember boys, it’s fine line between badass and dumbass [5]

References

[1] Portrait by Dean Fidelman

[2] https://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/13201214821/Jim-Bridwell-1944-2018

[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysF9wx4X08A

[4] Interview with John Long in Mountain 79 (1981), page 22 /library/11090/mountain-79

[5] https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/jam-crack-the-niall-grimes-climbing-podcast/id1065991509?i=1000774041461

Contributors
61 contributions since 26th February 2021.
19 contributions since 28th October 2025.
TdG
2 contributions since 24th June 2026.

Quick Info

From USA 🇺🇸
Date of birth 29th Jul 1944
Date of death 16th Feb 2018
Age 73 years old
Gender Male
Climbing
Hardest Trad (Worked) E4
Hardest Trad (Onsight) HVS

John Long:

Unlike many pontifical climbers who, having made their mark, silently slip into history, Bridwell’s initiative has redoubled with each new route. Indeed he has maintained a level of motivation rarely matched by any climber anywhere. Yet this same motivation has occasioned controversy, fisticuffs and vindictive slandenngs from fellow cragsmen. [4]

Bridwell's sage advice to Leo Houlding and Jason Pickles, prior to their attempt on The Prophet (E9):

Just remember boys, it’s fine line between badass and dumbass [5]

References

[1] Portrait by Dean Fidelman

[2] https://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/13201214821/Jim-Bridwell-1944-2018

[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysF9wx4X08A

[4] Interview with John Long in Mountain 79 (1981), page 22 /library/11090/mountain-79

[5] https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/jam-crack-the-niall-grimes-climbing-podcast/id1065991509?i=1000774041461

Contributors
61 contributions since 26th February 2021.
19 contributions since 28th October 2025.
TdG
2 contributions since 24th June 2026.

Lists


Bibliography

Bridwell, Jim. Climbing adventures: a climber's passion. Merrillville, IN: ICS Books, 1992.
Bridwell, Jim, and Michael A. Strassman. Climbing big walls. Merrilville, Ind: ICS Books, 1990.

Library


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