JIM BRIDWELL MEMORIAL

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mastadon

Trad climber
crack addict
Mar 23, 2018 - 07:51am PT
Everyone has their own way of memorializing a lost friend. Something I saw yesterday in The Trench.

A quiet little note on the Camp 4 message board

The almost empty message board

Yesterday, in a pouring rainstorm, I wandered through an empty Camp 4 reflecting on all the seasons spent there in the 70's and all the people and friends met there that are no longer with us (and those that are).

Walking clockwise around the loop we used to drive, I tried to picture the site I stayed in near the power station in the fall of 1974. I saw Chuck Pratt juggling empty wine bottles there. He was always a hero to me.

I tried to find the tree that Dale Bard parked his converted bread truck next to with a horizontal branch that he used to do pullups and levers on. Couldn't find it.

The area at the end of the loop, where the rescue site is, was home for several seasons.

The first person I ever saw do a one-arm finger tip pullup was Ed Barry. I was following him into the bathroom at the far end of C4. He looked up at the door jam as he was passing through. He jumped up, latched on to the jam with his right hand, and cranked a couple one arm pull-ups. I was blown away. That inspired me to train to be able to do the same. The bathroom foundation is still there. That was where Werner had his extension cord running to his tent.

I walked through what used to be the workout site on the left, slightly uphill. This was next to a site I stayed in with a bunch of Washingtonian friends in the late 70's, several of whom are long gone. The two trees that the 20' 2x12 pullup board was attached to are still there.

I came to Little Columbia Boulder where I first met Jim Bridwell in 1972. He was bouldering with, I think, Barry Bates and several others. He was in his prime and was indisputably king of the jungle. I wandered to the base of Midnight Lightning where we used to watch Steve Wunsch to do his yoga in 1972. Mead Hargis had his platform tent there when he was the Camp 4 ranger.

You have to marvel at the change. How different Camp 4 was from what it must have been in the 50's and 60's. Most of us can only imagine.

The new generation of climbers is here and eventually they'll be replaced with a newer generation. The cycle will repeat itself again and again.

Goodbye Jim. You were truely one-of-a-kind and an inspiration to all of us.

Don Harder



Flip Flop

climber
Earth Planet, Universe
Mar 23, 2018 - 08:03am PT
Brook Igleheart attending. Camping both nights please.
pud

climber
Sportbikeville & Yucca brevifolia
Mar 23, 2018 - 08:16am PT
I met Jim a few times.
We shared a few laughs and had similar political views. He was genuine and a good soul.
I'll ride up to say goodbye in May.
-Wayne Burnes
Alexey

climber
San Jose, CA
Mar 23, 2018 - 12:39pm PT
I suppose sexists who climbed Crucifix with JIM BRIDWELL are welcome to his memorial.
I do not know about myself, since I never met Jim, but want to pay respect for what he done in climbing. Can I sign up? Alexey Zelditch
CaNewt

Mountain climber
Davis, CA
Mar 23, 2018 - 01:07pm PT
I plan to attend: Bob Schneider
ron gomez

Trad climber
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 23, 2018 - 01:19pm PT
I wrote that note a couple weeks ago on my way to the Robbins Memorial...spent a night in Yosemite for Jim and Royal. Glad it’s still up!
Kevin you better be there. Should be hearing fromDale soon enough.
Peace
BLUEBLOCR

Social climber
joshua tree
Mar 23, 2018 - 01:30pm PT
Nice post, mastadon!
WBraun

climber
Mar 23, 2018 - 01:58pm PT
Warbler can't come until he transgenders himself to female ..... :-)

LOL !!!
WBraun

climber
Mar 23, 2018 - 02:02pm PT
Dangerous sh!t for sure .....
ron gomez

Trad climber
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 23, 2018 - 02:34pm PT
We have camping for 90 spaces in Yellow Pines. You MUST reserve a sight via this post and it is first come first served with a strict limit number. So remember to let us know if you plan on camping. We only have the Yellow pine site for Saturday night and Sunday night.
Peace
mouse from merced

Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
Mar 23, 2018 - 04:10pm PT
Lynne Leichtfuss

Sport climber
moving thru
Mar 23, 2018 - 06:17pm PT
Me too! Thanks!
guido

Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
Mar 23, 2018 - 06:22pm PT
Hey Ron, count me in please. So please reserve a site for me.
rmuir

Social climber
From the Time Before the Rocks Cooled.
Mar 23, 2018 - 06:28pm PT
Hey, Ron… I've paid through the nose for a tent cabin at Curry for the Saturday night of the 19th. But I'd like to camp on the Friday night of the 18th and stay Sunday night, the 20th. I'd really like a 'sight' (or maybe just a 'site' <g>) for those two nights; I don't need a whole site, I just need to find a place to lay my head.

Can you put me down for camping in Yellow Pines for that Friday and Sunday night? Thanks.
hooblie

climber
from out where the anecdotes roam
Mar 23, 2018 - 07:52pm PT
rarely has a duly registered hooblie been spotted among a cohort of compliant campers, but out of respect,
i would like to submit an application for my vehiclularized solo self, anticipating site sharing of course
Don Lauria

Trad climber
Bishop, CA
Mar 24, 2018 - 01:01am PT
If Tioga's open I would like to be in Yellow Pines May19th.
(Sullens)

Mountain climber
Columbia
Mar 24, 2018 - 10:47am PT
2, please...Janet (Sullens) Moreland and Nancy (Olson) Sweeney. We have a tent cabin. Driving in Sat AM from Sacto so can't help prior, but how about break down or post event needs? Count us in for that, -j
(Sullens)

Mountain climber
Columbia
Mar 24, 2018 - 11:43am PT
The Warbler? Is that you, Kevin? If so, looking forward to seeing you!
bombolini

Boulder climber
San Pedro
Mar 24, 2018 - 02:19pm PT
I'm RSVP'en for Jims memorial. AND I can pitch in to help. Can get a spot at Yellow Pine? Thanks.
bombolini

Boulder climber
San Pedro
Mar 24, 2018 - 02:27pm PT
Yes Ron Gomez, the Bombolini handel belongs to Jim Valensi. (a real nut bag) ...glad to help out at the memorial and sleep at Yellow Pine.
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