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HF
climber
I'm a Norwegian stuck in Joshua Tree
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Feb 12, 2018 - 10:30am PT
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My thoughts have been with you and your family a lot lately, Jim. I feel fortunate to have been able to chat with you a few times.
After reading Ron's post on FB, it is hard to find words.
Hilde Fonda
Joshua Tree
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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Feb 12, 2018 - 10:43am PT
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Don't know Jim in person, other than one great Joshua Tree group campfire session. But have benefitted from his tales, and have seen him teach total groms at Josh. Much good healing mojo to him!
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Feb 12, 2018 - 02:08pm PT
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I wish that I coud be more helpful to Jim, Peggy and Layton. They feel like family to me. I’ll be there for them when I return from Patagonia in March.
Jim has been one of the world’s most influential climbers and has left an enduring legacy. I complain about the parochialism of Super Topo....Jim transcends that. His imprint is on the world stage, California was just his launching pad.
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Roots
Mountain climber
Redmond, Oregon
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Feb 12, 2018 - 02:31pm PT
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Why the RIP comment???
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ron gomez
Trad climber
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Feb 12, 2018 - 02:48pm PT
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Jim is still fighting this battle. He is remaining hospitalized, but is continuing to battle hard! I’ve talked with Peggy and Layton today. Please note, he is still alive.
Peace
Just got off the phone with Peggy. No changes today! 2:54PST
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ron gomez
Trad climber
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Feb 12, 2018 - 03:03pm PT
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Thank you for your consideration.
Peace
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ron gomez
Trad climber
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Feb 12, 2018 - 04:05pm PT
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I confirmed with Peggy at 2:54 pm PST! I communicate with one or both of them daily. Please remove anything related to his passing until Peggy or Layton asks.
Peace
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Todd Gordon
Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
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Feb 12, 2018 - 04:12pm PT
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My latest update was that Jim was resting. He has been taken off a respirator and is breathing on his own. He has been "sleeping" and sedated for 2-3 days now. Peggy Bridwell spent the night at Desert Regional Hospital in Palm Springs with Jim last night and said he was "fighting it" all night. Last time I saw Jim was a couple of weeks ago at Loma Linda. I have been trying to see him once or twice a week for the last month or so. Our visits have been super fun, meaningful, and awesome....well, as fun as can be for someone who didn't really know what was really wrong with himself and he was in a lot of pain! He remained very optimistic that he would beat this, up until a couple weeks ago. After that, it's been frustrating. He remained up-beat, interesting, interested, and as jovial as one can be with serious health issues. His main concern seemed to be with Peggy, Layton, and Grandma (Peggy's Grandma who is 103 years old!). He never seemed worried or afraid of his grave situation.....but frustrated and a bit helpless with complications, delays, lack of diagnosis, and more stuff going "wrong." I think Jim would find it comical that Wikipedia has him deceased when in reality, he is not. I will miss Jim;....many many will miss him and the climbing community will have lost a giant in the climbing world. I am very happy to have spent the time I did with Jim. I told Peggy that, if he wakes up and starts talking.....call me up and I will be right over. He is very very seriously ill........to quote Warren Zevon......"My rides here.." Much love to the Bridwell family. I know it's a tough time and everyone is very concerned and wondering about Jim's status. I am sure Peggy and Layton will continue to inform us of Jim's condition.
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Largo
Sport climber
The Big Wide Open Face
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Feb 12, 2018 - 04:13pm PT
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I also spoke with Peggy this afternoon. The Bird lives on. Not by much, but he ain't gone yet.
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ron gomez
Trad climber
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Feb 12, 2018 - 04:30pm PT
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Thank you for confirming Todd and John. I have told Peggy and Layton I will respect the family and not put anything up on their situation without their direction. Let's all be respectful of them and be sensitive with this. They will greatly appreciate it. Peggy and I spoke this weekend about a prior post that upset her, rightfully so, but she is a strong smart lady and knows the source was in the minority and she prays for him.
Peace
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Feb 12, 2018 - 04:56pm PT
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I for one would rather dwell on the good times, the time spent in Camp 4, especially, with Jim. And with his associate, now deceased, Kim Schmitz.
As a n00b I looked up to both of these characters as they progressed into true greatness. They were a pair which I hoped and dreamed that my friend Jeff Mathis and I one day possibly could come to emulate with our own exploits and first ascents. Jim was inspiring, welcoming, helpful, always upbeat, and, in the words of Eric Beck, "a silver-tongued devil" when it came to dealing with the NPS.
His then GF Lois Rice was just as nice as Jim, but much better-looking. She would share cooking secrets with Jeff, just as Jim would keep telling me how to climb some hardman routes. One time, when I was lamenting my lack of progress with the wide stuff, he simply said, "Left side of Reed's."
Well, Jeff and my partnership ended when he thought we would both make better progress if we climbed with other folks, so I never got around to LSR, but always put that out there as an option which no one cared to try.
Jim's association with Kim sort of went the same way, eventually, both taking different routes through life. It's the way of the world and that's that.
Likewise, in our lives, dying is the last thing we get to do. I still feel very connected to Jim, because I have heard from Jeff that he has the big C, which was finally and recently diagnosed. As he has told me time and again, "I'm surprised we didn't kill ourselves back then."
I hope all of us don't have to die alone, but sure as I'm still here, we're all gonna die. Just make it another day, that's about all we can do when we reach a certain act in the drama.
Jim, old friend and mentor, I hope you, with the grace of God, go nobly and in the bosom of your family. If by some miracle you survive and regain mobility, that would be peachy-keen.
Whatever happens, go with the speed of the gods. And when you do finally jam on out of this place, say hello to Schmitz and Pettigrew for me.
Go with the speed of the gods, amigo.
Mouse Bermingham, from Merced
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ron gomez
Trad climber
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Feb 12, 2018 - 05:18pm PT
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Bravo Brian! See you in about a month!
Peace
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originalpmac
Mountain climber
Timbers of Fennario
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 12, 2018 - 06:18pm PT
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Be well, Bird.
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mountain girl
Trad climber
Berkeley, CA
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Feb 12, 2018 - 07:34pm PT
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Stay strong, Bird.
Sending healing, positive energy your way....
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karabin museum
Trad climber
phoenix, az
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Feb 12, 2018 - 08:26pm PT
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Peggy called today. I think she just needed somebody to talk to.
I told her that everybody has prayers for Jim, and what you are going through.
Many hugs to the Bridwell family
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Feb 12, 2018 - 09:11pm PT
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hey there say, karabin museum... that was very nice of you,
to share that with her...
thanks for letting us all know...
prayers...
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Ricky D
Trad climber
Sierra Westside
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Feb 12, 2018 - 09:31pm PT
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May peace be with you.
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Tadman
Mountain climber
CA
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Feb 12, 2018 - 10:28pm PT
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I Wish You Peace
I wish you peace when the cold winds blow
Warmed by the fire's glow
I wish you comfort in the, the lonely time
And arms to hold you when you ache inside
I wish you hope when things are going bad
Kind words when times are sad
I wish you shelter from the, the raging wind
Cooling waters at the fever's end
I wish you peace when times are hard
The light to guide you through the dark
And when storms are high and your, your dreams are low
I wish you the strength to let love grow on
I wish you the strength to let love flow
I wish you peace when times are hard
A light…
Eagles
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Rick A
climber
Boulder, Colorado
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Feb 13, 2018 - 06:26pm PT
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The Bird in full plumage,circa 1975.
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