James Felix Bridger (March 17, 1804 – July 17, 1881) was an American mountain man, trapper, Army scout, and wilderness guide who explored and trapped in the Western United States in the first half of the 19th century.

[1][2] He was from the Bridger family of Virginia, English settlers who had been in North America since the early colonial period.

"[4] He also had a strong constitution allowing him to survive the extreme conditions he encountered while exploring the Rocky Mountains from Canadian border to what would become southern Colorado.

[5] At age 13, Bridger was orphaned; he had no formal education, was unable to read or write, and was apprenticed to a blacksmith.

border and the southern boundary of present-day Colorado, and from the Missouri River westward to Idaho and Utah, either as a guide or a partner in the fur trade.

[8] Bridger was employed by Ashley at the time of the attack near the forks of the Grand River in present-day Perkins County, South Dakota.

Claiming they were interrupted by an Arikara attack, the pair grabbed Glass's rifle, knife, and other equipment and took flight.

[8] There is no direct witness tying him to the incident, and when asked by a historian later in his life, Jim Bridger denied being involved.

In the fall of 1824, Bridger was the first person of European descent to explore the Great Salt Lake region, reaching it by bull boat.

[11] Bridger had explored, trapped, hunted, and blazed new trails in the West since 1822 and later worked as a wilderness guide in these areas.

The 40-mile stretch was in fact 80 miles, and the "fine level road" was difficult enough to slow the Donner Party, who became trapped in the Sierra Nevada in the winter.

[14] Bridger then served as a highly paid scout under Colonel Henry B. Carrington during Red Cloud's War.

His firstborn Mary Ann, while being tutored, was captured by a band of Cayuse during the Whitman Massacre and died soon after being released.

Supposedly one of Bridger's favorite yarns to weave to greenhorns told of his pursuit by one hundred Cheyenne warriors.