Higher purpose
BLIND CLIMBER RELIES ON FIANCÉE TO BE HIS EYES AS HE TACKLES ASCENDING THE OLD MAN OF HOY
YOU’LL feel rather dizzy watching Jesse Dufton framed by the famous Old Man Of Hoy while standing on a nearby clifftop – and that’s before he’s started climbing it.
This fascinating documentary tells Jesse’s incredible story as he attempts the first blind lead of the towering 140m sea stack in Orkney, Scotland. Born with only 20% central vision, Jesse was later diagnosed with a rare genetic disease that breaks down the retina cells. By age 20, the GB paraclimber could no longer read, and by 30 his vision was reduced to just light perception.
But he didn’t give up climbing and continues to train for world cup events and leading rock climbs with his fiancée Molly Thompson as his sight guide.
However, taking on the sheer cliff faces of the Old Man Of Hoy as the lead – ie, going first – is incredibly dangerous.
“He’s going to lead it?” says professional adventure climber Leo Houlding. “Is that a good idea? Sounds a terrible idea!”
But in an astonishing feat of endurance and attitude, Jesse embarks on the challenge, all the while opening up about how he feels and how he will achieve his goal. There are heart-stopping moments as Molly talks him through the climb – this film is as much about their trusting relationship as the ascent itself.
Jesse says: “One thing people always say to me is, ‘Does it help that when you look down you can’t see the ground?’
“And the answer is, ‘No, not really’. You know where you are and you know what the consequences are of falling off.”