Welcome to SurvivorNetTV‘s latest film, Climbing Blind, the story of Jesse Dufton, an avid climber who attempts to be the first blind person to lead a group of climbers up the iconic Old Man of Hoy 449-foot sea stack off the north coast of Scotland.
While the Old Man of Hoy has seen its fair share of blind climbers, “they’re always second in,” says one interviewee. “Sounds like a terrible idea,” says one naysayer, of Dufton’s goal. But his ceaseless determination is what matters most. His blindness is the result of a genetic condition, which impaired his sight gradually with age. “Over time,” says Dufton, “as more of the back of my eye dies off and degrades, probably the big step change was in about 2012. That’s when I lost the ability to read.” Dufton goes onto explain his current limitations, saying, “Most of my field of view just doesn’t exist.”
When climbing, Dufton’s sight-guide (and partner in life), Molly, is his eyes. “Molly is kind enough to lend me her eyes when we’re climbing,” he says. “So, she’ll spot critical holes from the bottom, and she’ll help me spot places that might be good for gear. Without Molly…I wouldn’t be climbing.” Molly has full confidence in Dufton. She tells us, “He’s more than capable of doing anything.”
Dufton’s physical limitations have never stopped him from taking on challenges. His story is an inspiring one for all who are surmounting life’s challenges.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Welcome to SurvivorNetTV‘s latest film, Climbing Blind, the story of Jesse Dufton, an avid climber who attempts to be the first blind person to lead a group of climbers up the iconic Old Man of Hoy 449-foot sea stack off the north coast of Scotland.
While the Old Man of Hoy has seen its fair share of blind climbers, “they’re always second in,” says one interviewee. “Sounds like a terrible idea,” says one naysayer, of Dufton’s goal. But his ceaseless determination is what matters most. His blindness is the result of a genetic condition, which impaired his sight gradually with age. “Over time,” says Dufton, “as more of the back of my eye dies off and degrades, probably the big step change was in about 2012. That’s when I lost the ability to read.” Dufton goes onto explain his current limitations, saying, “Most of my field of view just doesn’t exist.”
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When climbing, Dufton’s sight-guide (and partner in life), Molly, is his eyes. “Molly is kind enough to lend me her eyes when we’re climbing,” he says. “So, she’ll spot critical holes from the bottom, and she’ll help me spot places that might be good for gear. Without Molly…I wouldn’t be climbing.” Molly has full confidence in Dufton. She tells us, “He’s more than capable of doing anything.”
Dufton’s physical limitations have never stopped him from taking on challenges. His story is an inspiring one for all who are surmounting life’s challenges.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
