The Epic Life of Jim Bridger: Legendary Scout & Fur Trapper COMPILATION 

Another long compilation for you road trippers, insomniacs, and truckers

Thanks for posting this. I was adopted as a baby in '69. 47 yrs later, because of a fluke by Google, I located my birth mom and made contact with her. The 1st night we talked for 4 hrs learning about each other's paths for the last 47 yrs. I asked about my heritage and family tree and was astonished at the similarities of my biological family and my adopted family. Mirror images of each other. At some point, my birth mom asked me if I had ever heard of Jim Bridger. I told her I had not. She began to explain who he was and what he was. I wondered why she was telling me all of this. I told her that this was a very interesting history lesson and a cool story, but what did it have to do anything? She proceeded to tell me that her family descends from Jim Bridger somehow. She couldn't tell me exactly how but told me that she possessed an old family book all about Jim and how we descend from him. She said she wanted me to have it. I had forgotten all about it until I saw this post. I am going to ask her about it later today. After 47 yrs of not knowing who or where I came from, it will be an honor to know that somehow, I'm a descendant of this amazing man. Can't wait to check out this book she has! 😁

I’m a trapper (mainly beaver) from Oklahoma, been doing it on the side since I was 11. Your description of beaver trapping was pretty much spot on 🤙🏻

Hi. I moved to Wyoming a few years ago. This history lesson was alive for me. I think your personal commentary on the motives of Jim, the Mormons, the Indians and the military was spot on. Good job soldier of history! God speed to your future success. Ken

Found me a darn good you tube channel. Thank you Wild West Extravaganza. Jim Bridger lived a good life. Being free from the enslavement of humanity he made his own way. Walked his own path.

Great job . One of your best. By the way my grandma was a 5th cousin to kit Carson. She passed away at 93. She was 4 foot 2 and tuff as nails. She showed me what plants that are eat able in the wild. I miss her everyday.

Sometimes i wake to Josh's historic lectures and am comforted at my travails. Thanks Josh.

By far the best historical voice and character ever

Bravo ! It's so nice to see sites that actually read & respond to the comments of their viewers.

Work hard everyday but realize how little you have done when you here this story, great job telling it!

I drive an 18 wheeler and love these longer videos. Out of all the RU-vid’ers Josh your channel is my Favorite

What a story. Very few left with sand anymore. Thank you for the history.

A life I wish I could have witnessed.

Appreciate your long hours of research and beautifully narrated story of Jim Bridger.

Thank you for this. Born and raised on the west slope of the Sierra Nevada mountain not far from Donner summit. And close to the wagon route to Sacramento. I love our history and appreciate your channel. 🇺🇸

Wow, what a channel. I'm an OG and really enjoy listening about our history. At 60, I don't care for too many modern podcasts or drama channels. Thanks for your time and research about the West. Definitely subscribed!!!!

I just got this on my feed. Glad it showed up. Bridger was a tough dude.

*Won't they see our legs?" "Elk don't know how many legs a horse got!" One of my favorite movie quotes. Hilarious.

Josh this was one of your best episodes ever! Though it was three hours long I stayed for the whole program. All I can say is thank you and well done.

Great work Josh! Seriously-well done sir. I can give you an idea what pelts were worth around 78 thru 79 (that’s 1979. I’m not that old yet!) My buddy and I ran a trapline before school and we made almost 800.00 that year. We were in 9th grade. We dyed our traps with the rotting hulls of black walnuts, checked our sets every morning at 5AM, and fur prices were high in the late seventies. A really large raccoon in prime condition would fetch 40-50 dollars and muskrats brought an average of 7-9 dollars with really big ones fetching 11 or 12. (Not enough beaver to trap in our area. THANKS BRIDGER!)😂We skinned and stretched everything in my buddy’s basement and when it came time to sell them-800 dollars was a LOT to a couple 15 year olds who hated disco and needed money for the rock and roll shows coming to town! 👍🏼🫡❤️. Thanks again for all your work!

Found your RU-vid earlier in the summer and now it’s turning winter , life is slowing down a bit and I am able to listen to it. Love your presentation of the American West . Thank you for taking the time to tell these stories for us.

Another amazing video. Plumber that works alone all day. You definitely help the day pass.

As a young man I was quite the beaver hunter myself…

Wow, not sure how or why RU-vid decided I need to see this, but I'm glad it did. I'd heard of Jim Bridger the mountain man, but the was the full extent of my knowledge. What an incredible life he led. You have made a fan today, sir.

Really great stories and well told. Here in Las Vegas, many things bear Mr. Bridger's name. Thanks very much.

This channel just keeps getting better. Thanks Josh. Best Wishes.

Just love these long episodes and the way you tell them just takes me there riding alongside 😜

I drive a semi otr and love these videos your doing as i drive across the west ii listen to these and stare out into the vast expanse and daydream of what it would have been like to be one of the pioneers and coming across on wagon train

I was born 250 years to late. I would give anything to go back in time, and live like that. thanks

Skin Canoe is not the same as a Skin Flute. I'm dying lol!

I don’t have as interesting story as some others. Just a plain THANK YOU. I love history

3 hours nice,My long night just got a little shorter,much appreciated sir.

He s a real Legend we should all learn from people like him!RIP Jim B

AWESOME Podcast !! Very informative and entertaining!! There should be more people in this world with Mr. Bridger's Moral character! Thanks Josh !!

You’ve got a hit here with this podcast brother.we appreciate the time and effort put into it….

What a fantastic Narrator. I can see the scenes in my mind. Well done 👍

Hell yeah! Always look forward to episodes. Listen to Into History at work during the day also. Thanks for the great podcast from Jones County, Ga

Thanks Josh - heard it before, fell in love with this mans life. So I willingly sat though it again. Wow, what a life, what a legend, Thanks again man.

Love your stories. It makes me want to go back to Wyoming and re-explore Ft. Bridger!

Thanks for this! Regards, Frederick Bridger (of Montana)

Thank you so very,very much for your narative, also the illustrations. A marathon of mountain man information and a great tribute to that amazing legend Jim Bridger a true American Hero. Thanky you for this and your other posts, all with listening to. Kind regards Josh.

Thank you for putting this together. Excellent work. My Utah heritage is connected to Jim Bridger. Apparently, Jim Bridger sold/traded my Navajo Great-Great Grandmother to a Mormon Pioneer named Aaron Daniels after the Utes killed her family and made her a slave. Her white name is Rose. She was about 14 years old and shortly thereafter, Aaron decided to make her one of his wives. He was in his 50's. I wish I could talk to her and hear her stories. Rugged resilient people...

Great job. You didn't miss a thing. Keep it up.

Great video❗️. I live right in front of his mountains. He’s a great legend around here.

So, I stumbled on this book series called “making of America.” It’s cheesy, 1970/80s grocery store pulp westerns, but it’s surprisingly well written. I am currently reading The Mountain Breed, and it’s just a good, well written story. Jim here is one of the cameos.

Just found your channel man and I'm absolutely floored I love it... stay true to yourself and keep on keepin on the rest will fall in the way the good lord wants it to be!!!!

What a great American hero, thanks for this video!

You are the best history teacher I've ever had, sorry I'm from White Settlement and I'm a cowboy fan butwe but we can't all be great,lol. As soon as I have a $ you will get it. Thanks so muxh for all the lonly nights that ain't so lonely anymore.

Thank you for sharing. Keep History alive ❤❤

I know you mentioned several other upcoming projects as well, but I can't quit looking forward to your take on the Glanton gang.

Loved this! I just subscribed. I came across this video by accident and the history and narration is excellent. I'll be listening to more, especially the ones about Custer. I am one of the few people, relatively speaking, who live out here in this historical region. I bet I've walked in Jim Bridger's path, as have many people who followed him. What a true American legend!

Im Mormon, And I appreciate you talking about the 1840s and Mormons. Love your channel and just because we're Mormon doesn't mean we don't smoke weed drink beer and ride motorcycles and listen to your channel about the wild wild West my boy

Thank you. I have been reading Undaunted Courage, and I came across this video and found it interesting. I didn't think I would get through all 3 hours but the time passed quickly.

This is as good as it gets. 👍

Halfway through this, and a nurse shows up for a blood draw. It takes 2 or 3 minutes tops. She was here for 10 bc I was listening to this Bridger story. Pretty sure you'll have a New Listener tonight! ✌️🤣💨☕️

Podcasts like this make my phone bill worth it!

Thanks for info that was neglected in public school! John P.

Kudos to you. Excellent video! Tied together so many loose ends. Thank you!

Greetings from the BIG SKY. My Bridger Hawkin has served me well these past 50 years.

Just stumbled on your channel. Great stuff. Detailed history but without the dry take, the delivery and pacing are awesome. You've a new sub here, can't wait to see and hear more!

I just subscribed! These kind off videos need be out there. I'm 46 years old and I know. The young people probably won't watch this,😂 at least most of them. But some of them will if it's not out there, none of them will. Keep doing what you do, As long as you can. History teaches us so much if we will let it. Personally, I believe the world needs a history lesson.

I find the history of the old west very interesting the mountain men are impressive back in the day when times were tuff men had to be to serve

I reacted with a "Dude, shyes!" when I saw the new post and then a "Duuuude, noooo WAY!!!" when I saw it'll be a long-hauler episode! Lots of trips to Denver & back up into the high country this next few weeks! 🙏🔥🙌🌲💫

Thoroughly enjoyed this lengthy video!! More please..👍👍😎

I love history period but I really like to watch and read about the old mountain men

Hey im glad i came across youre video. Great work 👏 👍

What the hell RU-vid!!!!!! I didn't receive any notification from your channel. F#$@ing RU-vid!!! Thank you for all your hard work

Excellent episode as always Josh. Learned alot about Jim Bridger. I still remember when I was about 8 or 9 years old the Johnny Horton song Jim Bridger came on the radio and I asked my grandpa who Jim Bridger was. I was recently reading about Jedediah Smith on my phone and a link to an article on a man named John Turner came up I had never read of this man before so I read about him, was wondering if John Turner would be an interesting person to cover on an episode or not?

I live in Kansas, just an hour or so south of Kansas City. Well, Kansas City is actually two cities in two different states. Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri. The cities are essentially connected but separated by the state lines. Westport is a very popular spot, and we have friends who own an antique store in Westport. I love the history of this part of the country. I went to high school in Osawatomie, Kansas, where John Brown was from.

Very nicely researched and narrated. You have a wonderful voice and your enthusiasm shows. Thank you very much.

Hey Josh! im one of your dedicated podcast listeners. Didnt know youre on RU-vid too. Love the video even though I've heard a lot of this before. Good job buddy

Great stuff!

Best stories on RU-vid!🤠

Desmot is my third great grandfather and him and Bridger work together on the G.K Warren survey in 1855. I Have some info I can share

Fascinating article 👍 🇬🇧 England, he looks one tough bloke..the 👀 have it..we need their ilk today 😉

Iove the way you tell these stories.. great stuff

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to your upload. Thank you.

Wow just found this documentary being offered to by the algorithm and “ BOOM 💥 “ I find a gem 💎 just like that ! Listening for a few minutes and yup 👍 you got yourself another new subscriber. 💯🙏 Great content mate. 👌☮️🙏☮️

I don't know if it is relevant, but this story of Jim Bridges reminded me of a proverb from the Bible 'when a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, even his enemies are at peace with him'.(Proverbs 16:7)

Id love to have lived back then and got to see what this country and how beautiful it was

THANK YOU! I read alot of books at sea, retired in Montana it would be great to hear the Story of David Thompson and his mapping of Montana.

Excellent story. Very interesting and enjoyable, well done.

Great job done. 3 hours was just getting me warmed up. Short videos just don't do justice to any history topic.

James Clyman warned the Donner party not to take Hastings Cutoff. Yes, Bridger was making money on it. We all know the result. Clyman was one of the heroes of this tragic tale.

Very interesting. Great research

Hey, man. Have you ever given any thought of doing a chapter on the Bent brother's? If you already have I missed it, and I apologize. It's just a thought on my part. Keep up the great work. It's truly enjoyable and informative.

Thanks I love this

Incredible episode i learned so much love it Thanks man.

Great podcast!

I think I might have liked this Man

Great job Josh!

I love this stuff! Great job, amigos! :)

What always blew my mind was how free those early scouts wouldve felt. It mustve been something.

From what I understand is that beaver are territorial and the castor comes from the scent gland of the beaver, A beaver would mark its territory with the castor from its own scent gland. If a beaver smelled castor from another beaver in its territory, it would swim up and pile mud on the scent to cover it. With the trap set just off shore and the castor on shore the beaver would step in the trap while putting mud on the castor bait. This was an extremely effective way of trapping beaver, which nearly eradicated them in a few decades.

First time listener. Wonderful content. Subscribed.

Love it Jim one of my heros

Anyone else watching this to get sleepy❤😂

WHEN I SAW THE TITLE I BECAME ABSOLUTELY GIDDY!!!!!!!

Good story telling

It's kind of funny hearing someone talking about places I just drove past today. Bridger Pass is about 20 south of Creston Jct. I just got over Battle Pass where Mr Frapp died before Honest Jim Baker came in with reinforcements from Savery.