Jim Bridwell

You see it all the time — outdoor enthusiast friends start a new adventure sport, or want to do an old one faster, and they buy a whole new kit. Skiing Denali? We’re gonna need some lighter boots, skis, and a two-person sleeping bag. Want to sport climb harder? You’ll probably need a skinnier rope and stiffer shoes. Climbing the Nose on El Cap in a day? Enter ultra-light Camalots and those lighter-than-air Dyneema quickdraws. Each time I read about first-ascent parties, I’m humbled and reminded how little that crap matters.

What does matter? Heart, gumption, and a fundamental belief or naïveté about what’s possible. Jim “The Bird” Bridwell had all three, along with an irreverent, carefree attitude that made him a cultural icon.

Bridwell, along with Billy Westbay and John Long, completed the first ascent of the Nose in a day on May 26, 1975. In just over fifteen hours, the party of three set a new standard for what