Interview Jesse Dufton on his ascent of El Matador, on Devil's Tower
Earlier this year, Jesse Dufton became the first blind climber to lead a climb on Devil's Tower, Wyoming, USA.
Alastair Lee's award-winning film Climbing Blind is to be broadcast on BBC Four tonight at 9pm. The film follows Jesse Dufton who was born with 20% central vision and diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa at the age of 4. Jesse is a lifelong climber and spends his time training for World Cups and climbing with his fiancee and sight guide Molly.
As his sight degenerates, his climbing continues to make remarkable progress. Despite his devastating condition Jesse only takes on bigger challenges and attempts to be the first blind person to make a 'non-sight' lead of the iconic Old Man of Hoy sea stack in Scotland.
Climbing Blind has won some major awards since it's premiere at Kendal Mountain Festival last November, where it won the Grand Prize. After it's shown on BBC Four tonight, it will be available to purchase on Vimeo tomorrow:
CLIMBING BLIND from Posing Productions on Vimeo.
Comments
thats crazy, i was expecting seconding... but leading blind.... i get lost on routes and i can see!
Well, that was rather good.
Bloody hell, I was terrified just watching him!
What an inspiring guy, and what a wonderful wife and climbing partner.
Just awesome.
Chapeau!