Climbing Adventures: A Climber's Passion

Rating:
Summary: Not a autobiography
Review: A interesting collection of stories. They don't follow any timeline and they jumps between various years. Each story really stands alone. Some of the stories have nothing to do with climbing and a few aren't even his, but ones he has heard. Some of the stories are on his triumphs and others on his failures. Bridwell mentions several equipment manufacturers which seems odd. It's almost as if they sponsored the writing of the book. Statements like, 'I sat in my Crazy Creek chair or I placed the Metolius cam' seem like he is suddenly trying to sell something. One glaring factual error involves a character mentioning the toppling of the Gendarme in Seneca. The quote was supposedly either written or said in 1977, but the Gendarme was still standing till 1987. This one easily checked factual slip brings some of the other stories in question. I was expecting more of a autobiography then a collection of stories and I found this disappointing. Although you could gather some bits and pieces of his life through some of the narratives.

Rating:
Summary: One of the great climbers of North America finally writes.
Review: While maybe not as definitive as "Camp 4" with regards to Yosemite climbing history, this is still a must for serious climbing historians. A forward would have been nice, but you have to settle for this collection of Jim's writings/recollections. Written with Keith Peall, whomever that is. But if you climbed in the 70s as I did, you will enjoy this one