Talk:Jim Bridger

Untitled
Bridger's bad joke... Ok the second paragraph of "Legacy" needs a touch up; "greenhorns" means novice pioneers, or plainsman, and making it linking to an ambiguity doesn't bring clarity. The plural grammar also makes it a strange statement. I have the urge to reword, but a lack of citation makes it's inclusion questionable. Surely Yarns like this have been told around campfires since the birth of language. If Bringer was the author of this story it is not of one of his bests. Richardsidler (talk) 14:55, 1 November 2009 (UTC)

Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment
This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 19 January 2021 and 7 May 2021. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Malbright1.

Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT (talk) 01:15, 17 January 2022 (UTC)

Hugh Glass
Probably ought to mention Hugh Glass in here somewhere... 214.4.238.180 (talk) 15:20, 1 September 2010 (UTC)
 * Yes. Bridger abandoned Hugh Glass to the moutain elements.  Bridger was young and inexperienced though. Glass had initially intended to kill Bridger, but abandoned the idea on seeing his partner again. Cmguy777 (talk) 18:00, 29 January 2011 (UTC)

Rocky Mountain Fur Company
Bridger had bought out Jedediah Smith, who had in turn bought out Ashley. Ashley had retired before Bridger bought out Smith and company. Cmguy777 (talk) 17:58, 29 January 2011 (UTC)

Donner Party
In the donner party article and timeline it says Bridger told them that the Hastings's cutoff was fine, as he would have profited from the increase of wagons and people passing through. This article seems to say the exact opposite and he wasn't even asked and if he was it says he would have told the truth...

James Reed writes "Hastings Cutoff is said to be a saving of 350 or 400 miles (640 km) and a better route. The rest of the Californians went the long route, feeling afraid of Hastings's cutoff. But Mr. Bridger informs me that it is a fine, level road with plenty of water and grass. It is estimated that 700 miles (1,100 km) will take us to Captain Sutter's fort, which we hope to make in seven weeks from this day." — Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.159.166.162 (talk) 23:00, 6 May 2015 (UTC)

Who is "Vasquez"? He or she is not identified in the article. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Spinhirne (talk • contribs) 13:03, 28 October 2020 (UTC)
 * I have a similar comment. The article says:
 * He could reportedly assess any wagon train or group, their interests in travel, and give them expert advice on any and all aspects of heading West, over any and all trails, and to any destination the party had in mind, if the leaders sought his advice. In 1846, the Donner Party came to Fort Bridger and were assured by Bridger and Vasquez that Lansford Hastings' proposed shortcut ahead was "a fine, level road, with plenty of water and grass, with the exception before stated (a forty-mile waterless stretch)." The 40-mile stretch was in fact 80 miles, and the "fine level road" was difficult enough to slow the Donner Party, who become trapped in the Sierra Nevada in the winter.

So it sounds like Bridger gave the Donner Party bad advice. I haven't checked the sources and don't know the accuracy of this, or whether the Donner Party disregarded Bridger's advice, but if he told them there was a 40-mile stretch without water that was really 80 miles, and the road was level when it really wasn't, that would not speak well of Bridger's advice. If this situation was a rare failure for Bridger as an adviser for travelers, the article doesn't clarify that as being the case. --Metropolitan90 (talk) 21:35, 29 May 2021 (UTC)

Hugh Glass contradiction
The caption to the bear mauling drawing says Bridger volunteered to stay. The body of the article says it was unlikely Bridger, but "Bridges". == contradiction! Personally I think Bridges and Bridger were the same person as it's not likley such a small group would have two different men with such similar names in such a remote region at the same time. Seven Pandas (talk) 19:51, 7 February 2022 (UTC)

Tully Marshall portrays Jim Bridger in the silent film "The Covered Wagon" (1923) around minute 47:12
"The Covered Wagon" (1923),  Tully Marshall as Jim Bridger around minute 47:12 2600:8806:3206:D700:8833:956A:5343:DB2C (talk) 03:27, 1 June 2023 (UTC)