Discover the Wild West: Top 5 Entertaining and Unbelievable Facts About Jim Bridger

1. Salty Ocean Mix-up

You might say Jim Bridger was a bit "salty" when he made a "splash" of a discovery in 1824: At the tender age of 20, he mistook the Great Salt Lake for the Pacific Ocean after sailing down a small river into the lake while exploring South Pass, only to redeem himself by guiding the Mormons to their new home near the same lake 25 years later.
Source => savagesandscoundrels.org

2. Frontier Waze Pioneer

Before GPS and Google Maps came Old Faithful, the 19th-century King of the Frontier Waze: Jim Bridger was notorious for navigating the uncharted lands of the American West, stumbling upon one natural treasure after another. Seriously, folks: this trailblazing legend was the first to discover the Great Salt Lake, successfully navigate the Bighorn River's treacherous Bad Pass, and tip his coonskin cap to the breathtaking geysers of Yellowstone.
Source => goodreads.com

Did you know Sacagawea's son Jean Baptiste, born during the historic Lewis and Clark expedition, went on to lead military expeditions and even lived with William Clark himself? Discover more about his fascinating life and the nickname "Pomp" he earned along the way!

=> Fun Facts about Sacagawea

3. Yellowstone's First Tour Guide

Donning the role of Yellowstone's early tour guide, armed with invaluable knowledge and leaving astonished faces in his wake – no, we're not talking about Bear Grylls: Jim Bridger was the trailblazing adventurer, making waves back in 1850 by guiding Kit Carson and 22 others through the lower basin geysers of the yet-to-be-found national treasure, Yellowstone. Father De Smet's maps of the region owe a hat tip to the contributions of this informative explorer.
Source => nps.gov

4. Bear Grylls' 19th-century Rival

Before he conquered the "wild frontier" and made Mother Nature his (consensual) partner, Jim Bridger navigated through the "wild West" like a champ and could have given Bear Grylls a run for his money: With a knack for hunting, trapping, and navigating, young Bridger spent years fur-trading in the Ashley and Henry team, traversed the West as far as California and Oregon, and eventually settled as a successful rancher and businessman, founding Fort Bridger in Wyoming – a landmark pitstop on the Oregon Trail.
Source => americanminute.com

5. The Ultimate Wagon Train GPS

If Jim Bridger were alive today, he'd probably be crowned the ultimate GPS system for wagon trains and adventure seekers of his time: As an esteemed wilderness guide, he advised on routes to California and Oregon, led expeditions such as Captain Howard Stansbury to the Great Salt Lake, guided Colonel Albert S. Johnston during the Utah War, and escorted Captain William Raynolds to the magnificent Yellowstone.
Source => americanhistorycentral.com