Help Jim Bridwell

An appeal has reached us directly from Giovanni Groaz, the Italian mountain Guide and friend of Jim Bridwell who carried out a series of first ascents together with the American climber on aid routes on El Capitan, Yosemite Point and Gran Capucin.

Introducing Jim Bridwell is probably superfluous. But to those few who do not know him, Bridwell is one of legends of climbing and mountaineering. Through his hard aid routes he became a symbol of Yosemite Valley, and he founded YOSAR, climber based Yosemite Search and Rescue service. Furthermore, Bridwell left his mark on big walls as far afield as Patagonia and Alaska.

HELP JIM BRIDWELL
Jim, who has always been had particular close ties to Italian mountaineering, is 64 years old and is currently going through a rough patch: he recently lost his house due to failed mortgage repayments. This is not only due to the current economic crisis, but also to a mountaineering accident which he hasn't yet entirely recovered from.

A group of mountain guides and friends from Trento, Italy, has created a committee to help this great but unlucky climber overcome this difficult moment. Those wishing to help can do so by donating to the following bank account: IBAN IT-64-H-07601-01800-000092800887, in the name of HELP JIM BRIDWELL, 38100 POVO (TN), Italy.

The Comitte has recently been officialised by the Italian Revenue Agency, with the following tax code: 9608136022.

A heartfelt thanks to all those who help.
Giovanni Groaz

Jim Bridwell - a selction of ascents and first ascents
1963 Northeast Buttress, Higher Cathedral Rock, Yosemite, CA, USA
1964 North Buttress 5.10a, Middle Cathedral Rock, first free ascent
1965 Entrance Exam, Arch Rock, Yosemite, CA, USA con Chuck Pratt, Chris Fredericks and Larry Marshik
1967 East Face, Higher Cathedral Rock, Yosemite, CA, USA with Chris Fredericks
1967 South Central, Washington Column, Yosemite, CA, USA with Joe Faint
1968 T-riple Direct, El Capitan, Yosemite, CA, USA with Kim Schmitz
1970 New Dimensions, Arch Rock, Yosemite, CA, USA with Mark Klemens
1970 Vain Hope, Ribbon Falls, Yosemite, CA, USA with Royal Robbins and Kim Schmitz
1971 Aquarian Wall, El Capitan, Yosemite, CA, USA with Kim Schmitz
1972 Nabisco Wall, The Cookie, Yosemite, CA, USA
1973 Straight Error, Elephant Rock
1974 Freestone, Geek Towers, Yosemite Falls, Yosemite, CA, USA
1975 Wailing Wall, Tuolumne Meadows, CA, USA (2nd 5.12 in the USA) with Dale Bard and Rick Accomozo
1975 Pacific Ocean Wall, El Capitan, Yosemite, CA, USA with Bill Westbay, Jay Fiske and Fred East
1976 Gold Ribbon, Ribbon Falls, Yosemite, CA, USA with Mike Graham
1977 Bushido, Half Dome, Yosemite, CA, USA with Dale Bard
1978 Sea of Dreams, El Capitan, Yosemite, CA, USA with Dale Bard and Dave Diegelman
1978 Zenith, Half Dome, Yosemite, CA, USA with Kim Schmitz
1979 Southeast Ridge del Cerro Torre (Compressor route), Patagonia, Argentina with Steven Brewer (first ascent in Alpine style of Cerro Torre)
1979 Northwest Face, Kichatna Spire, Alaska Range, USA with Andrew Embick
1981 Zenyatta Mondatta, El Capitan, Yosemite, CA, USA with Peter Mayfield and Charlie Row
1981 Dance of the Woo Li Masters, East Face di The Moose's Tooth, Ruth Gorge, Alaska, USA with Mugs Stump
1982 South Face, Pumori, Nepal with Jan Reynolds and Ned Gilette (winter)
1987 The Big Chill, Half Dome, Yosemite, CA, USA with Peter Mayfield, Sean Plunkett and Steve Bosque
1988 Exocet VI 5.9 WI6, East Face Cerro Stanhardt, Patagonia with Greg Smith, Jay Smith
1989 Shadows VI 5.10 A5, Half Dome, with Cito Kirkpatrick, Charles Row, William Westby
1989 West Face (VI 5.11b), El Capitan (free ascent)
1999 Oddysey, Gran Capucin, Mont Blanc, Fnech Alps with Giovani Groaz
1999 The Useless Emotion (VII 5.9 WI4 A4), The Bear's Tooth, Ruth Glacier, Alaska, USA with Terry Christensen, Glenn Dunmire, Brian Jonas and Brian McCray May 3-21, 1999
2001 The Beast Pillar, The Moose's Tooth, Ruth Gorge, Alaska, USA with Spencer Pfinsten