Jim Bridwell
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Jim Bridwell 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 w
Bridwell in 2003
Billy Westbay, Jim Bridwell (center), and John Long after the first one-day ascent of the Nose in 1975
Jim Bridwell in Salt Lake City, circa 1990
The Nose (El Capitan)
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The Nose is a big wall climbing route up El Capitan. Once considered impossible to climb, El Capitan is now the standard for big wall climbing. It is recognized in the historic climbing text Fifty Cla
Jim Bridwell
…of the Stonemasters. 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…
The Nose on El Capitan
View down the face of El Capitan from the belay stance at the top of pitch 20 (also known as Camp IV). The vertical drop from this point to the valley floor is about 2,000 feet (610 m).
Great Roof as seen from the standard belay stance. With a climber at the end of the lens flare.