Jesse Dufton | Blind rock climber

“People often say, “you go climbing, that’s really dangerous.” But I don’t think they realise, it’s not the most dangerous thing I do. For me, it’s far more dangerous to cross the street when I go to work. Because I can’t see the cars. I have no control over them. Whereas when I’m climbing, I’m the one in control.”

Jesse Dufton is a blind rock climber from the UK. He has been climbing all his life, and although he almost fully lost his eyesight in his twenties, he never even considered giving it up. Together with his wife Molly he has kept climbing ever since, and is best known as the first blind person to lead the Old Man of Hoy.

It was incredibly inspiring to get to know Jesse, and witness him climb in the Lake District, to learn about his training and mental preparation to find the edge of what’s possible. And succeeding.