Bridwell's Last Interview
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- Опубликовано: 15 фев 2019
- Official Selection | Moorpark Film Festival | 2019
Official Selection | 27th International Festival of Mountain Films | Poprad, Slovakia 2019
Jim had an appointment for dialysis treatment in 30 minutes so we had little time. With no planning or prep, we hastily set up cameras in Jim's back yard and I (John Long) started asking him questions. Jim immediately went to questionably the most controversial event in climbing history: Cesare Maestri's purported 1970 ascent of the Compressor Route on Cerro Torre, in Patagonia. The day following this interview, Jim, critically ill from Hepatitis C, dropped into a coma. And one of the seminal figures in modern adventure sports passed away soon thereafter.
A Digital Stoke Media Production
Support by Adidas Terrex
Produced by: John Long
Directed by: Ted Distel
Director of Photography: Ted Distel
Story Editor: John Long
Editor: Ted Distel
Original Music: Pat Dimitri
Animation: Ted Distel
Additional Photography and Ascent Cover: Rock and Ice
Additional Footage: Shutterstock
Additional Photography: Kelly Cordes
Additional Photography: Minded Pictures
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I took an advance rock climbing class at Joshua Tree in the early 2000s, and Jim Bridwell was one of our instructors. I regret that at the time, I was not aware of how big he really was in the mountaineering world. As I study more and more of his ascents, I become more and more amazed at his superhuman abilities. I'm honored to have met and learned from him, even if only briefly.
I was fortunately able to share a camp with this fine soul at the City of Rocks in the mid 90's. What an evening of stories. I told him I was a nurse. He mentioned he had a splinter in his behind, and would I.....? I smiled and told him it was going to be a long night.
I feel goosebumps hearing Jim (a truly gentleman, a fine soul, a better human being). We miss you, Sir!
What a brave dude. Totally unwell but still showing moxie, swagger, cool....despite it all.
I met him after the nose climb reunion, and introduced myself, but really did not know what to say, so he was a real gentleman and got the conversation going, with talk about where I was from, Robbins latest book, etc. Just a real nice guy.
Mad respect for this guy, and Brewer. What a story.
"Balls to wall!" No shit.
I was doing sound for JB's memorial and not only was the old Yosemite crew there, but probably the greatest gathering of American climbing legends ever. It was on the deck of Pokenobe Lodge at Lake Mary, which is about 15' high. I was set up next to the bar and there was a long line for drinks. I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to find that Jim, about 65 at the time, had climbed up the outside of the wooden deck with his cup in his teeth. He gave me his cup and asked me to get him another beer. He wasn't going to wait in that line. R.I.P. brother.
Jim Bridwell was a gift to Yosemite and the wider world.
A great gentleman, I had the privilege of sharing a campfire with at Camp 4 one night.
excellent video, the bird is flyin in the mountains now
Jim Bridwell. He left us on February 16, 2018. His bold first ascent on the Southeast Ridge of Cerro Torre, with Steven Brewer, was the first alpine-style ascent of the peak. From 1965 to 2004, his many routes left behind quite a legacy. And many stories, I'm sure. RIP.
"cigarette..." Classic!! Thanks for this amazing last interview. Truly amazing accomplishment for that time. You don't see this level of boldness and adventure in climbing anymore (at least not often). When you can grin like Jim right before passing, you did something right. RIP
A Great Inspiring Legend I have followed since 1978..Awesome
Thank you for this SPECTACULAR opportunity to hear Jim Bridwell's account!!!! A mountaineering document of the greatest value. And, on this one, rarest of rare events, the music actually contributes to the story by giving Jim's maximally laconic delivery life through his "thoughtfully silent" moments.
11:22 "Avalanche!" lol
I'm so glad he did this interview that was such a cool story," so then what did you do, rappell down?"
Birwell rolls his eyes,"yeah"
I also like the way he stopped the interview to light a joint, lol
Being up there as some of the first humans as the lenticulars come buzzing through like ghosts must have felt like being an astronaut with no support crew.
Thank you for sharing the inspiration! Great interview and post production imagery! RIP Jim!
When I think of jim I just close my eyes and see him headband on hanging on some rope bottle in hand owning the day ☺️
Better to burn out than to fade away
Having hiked in El Chalten and up to Lago Tres, I’ve viewed Cerro Torre from a safe distance. It is the most amazing mountain and really does take the breath away. I have great admiration for those able to climb it and what a wonderful account by a legend. I love to hear stories such as these by Jim Bridwell.
True legend and hero! They don't make 'em like that that much these days.
Thanks to whoever made this interview possible!
Thank you and, you're welcome!
Wow! Amazing Story amazing man. In a different state then when I last talked with him in 2010! RIP
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it. R.I.P "The Bird"
thank you so much for the clip !!
Never seen him so frail. Bridwell always seemed industructable
The significance of this is enchanting. This is amazing. Haha "Not Exactly" got me. RIP Jim
Thank you for this precious video ! What a Climber ….
Great interview! The man, the myth, the legend and his stories will continue to inspire.
Fabulous video....loved the animation and Jim's total alertness.....and attention to the detail.
Thank you!
Pure Legend thanks for the video
Great video.
R.I.P.
Thanks.
A true hippie, the real deal, guy lived and died his way. An original. Cant find many of those these days.
That was beautiful Ted. Loved the layered animations. Really glad you guys were able to document this amazing story for climbing history.
Thanks! It was amazing to get a chance to meet him, even if only for the duration of this interview.
Red Guitar Films I was thinking the same thing. Incredible work put in here
*”Not exactly”*
LEGEND
Respect!
I'll never be in the "club" but it is awesome to hear about their climbs
Thank you!
thrilling story!. I am confused as to why someone would dislike this video. what tickled them the wrong way about an old man recounting an extraordinary achievement in his last days?
I think it was Cesare Maestri...
You get the most epic interviews Ted
You can thank Largo for that. I'm sometimes just along for the ride!
Digital Stoke Media I get the impression just from his work on this channel that he’s an incredible guy. I really need to look more into his writings. What fortuitous timing that allowed for this interview to transpire. Kinda gives me goosebumps just thinking about it
@@nudetaynehatwobble Yeah, I looked at the date on the recorded footage and it was on the 13th. He passed away on the 16th. I definitely understand. It was pretty crazy that everything happened as it did.
Met him at the Mayor’s house a couple of times. I was too star struck to speak much
Oh... My... Wow
Thanks for sharing this bit of history. Few become legends in their own time; The Bird certainly was, as are you Mr. Long. Did it bother Jim that he didn't get due credit for the true first ascent of Cerro Torre? I hope he didn't let it eat at him.
@remote trigger Thank you for the correction and that bit of history.
@remote trigger Thanks for the clarification!
Balls to the wall, Jimmy!
❤Jim RIP ❤
Even in Italy next to no one believes Maestris 1959 summit nowadays and he was not only highly questionable but is deemed a liar. The proof of that really is irrefutable. Maestri could recollect the first 1000feet of his ascent very vivid and in sync as how other climbers experience it. He had no memory of the next 1500 feet and there was absolutely no gear of them found. No anchors nothing. Impossible. What he described was so wrong regarding the difficulty that it was funny but it matched the idea of just looking at the wall as the difficulties are quite hidden in the higher part.
Maestri did not even reach Col Egger (or how its called). The worst part is that he lied to Eggers family and quite possible destroyed Eggers diary. Its as low as it gets.
Thats why he brought a compressor with him with his next summit and bolted that route into oblivion and did not even summit that. He knew that he wasnt even remotely capable of climbing alpine style to the top of Cerro Torre. Makes all sense but together with the lies and deceit regarding the first K2 summit the italians really have some strangely dishonest past at these two giants of mountains (but thats also because Italian mountaneering was very big in that time with lots of climbers). both times Walther Bonatti was scolded for it when he always was right. Huge respect to Bonatti to face that shitstorm back then and dont back down. Also huge respect to Bridwell and the other true climbers.
btw the video would have been much better without this awful music.
Concerning the dishonest past of the italians on the Cerro Torre: did You know that in 1974 somebody climbed the west face of Cerro Torre?..If not I can say you it was done by an italian team lead by Casimiro Ferrari and many consider that the first true and "clean" ascent. And thanks to Maestri many others climbers have had the possibility to climb a superb route, such Ermanno Salvaterra, Andrea Caruso, Maurizio Giarolli, Andrea Sarchi (first winter ascent), Marco Pedrini (first solo ascent), Rosanna Manfrini (first woman ascent), Monika Kambic e Tania Grmonsek (first only women team), are they all not true climbers? Jim Bridwell, with a great respect for Maestri, said that to bring there the compressor was as Annibale did to cross the alps with the elephants (218 B.C.), and of course even Jim did the second ascent of the compressor route thanks to Maestri. Now we are waiting that someone goes to unbolt the Nose or the normal route to the Matterhorn. Regards from Italy.
Incredible
my new, old motto: Balls to the Wall #legend
What a fuckin legend!
that was funny...what did you know about Brewer?, 0. i bumped into this character 3x personally and it was always laid back and confrontational at the same time. only wish I got to know him better. one of the 3x's we met he walked up to my party while i was cleaning anchors and asked if i would set top ropes on Big Moe/Jtree. totally trusting of strangers....and then when i came down, he criticized my tendon bandage reinforcements as over the top for the amount of Tequila he had consumed the night before and considering our age differences...
❤
Can someone tell me what happened to his Co-Author Keith Peall? Why was he never mentioned again, and why was there never credit given?
Excellent video. What happened to the compressor? It was left at the top of the mountain or somebody brought it down? Thanks
It was left up there at the top of the wall until recently. An iconic hunk of litter that marked the infamous route. It must have been so weird to climb up to a gas powered compressor anchored so high up on a fierce and remote wall. I’d imagine the route is more beautiful now that the rusty old compressor has finally been removed.
Hero.
What if the ice melted?
so he left the machine bolted 7 bolts and just before the summit he just climbed with couple of hooks till the summit? seems reasonable to me I dont understand why so much controversy
La película de 1985 “Cerro Torre Cumbre”, de Fulvio Mariani, que documenta la primera escalada en solitario a Cerro Torre. ruclips.net/video/ZP_r3S8-RGI/видео.html
RIP. Big Jim