Jim Bridwell

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 multipitch 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 oneday 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 innovatorinventor 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