Truly effective communication transcends mere words. It’s how you choose to communicate, with whom you communicate, and the trust that underpins it all. Married climbing partners Jesse and Molly Dufton have this down to a fine art, enabling them to conquer iconic climbing routes as they communicate through a radio mic.
Their communication is extra important because Jesse cannot see — he can only distinguish between light and dark in an extremely restricted field of view. Born with the genetic condition, rod-cone dystrophy, Jesse had only 20 per cent sight, and his vision has deteriorated over time, making communication with Molly even more important in a sport where trust between partners is already vital. Together they have climbed difficult ascents, while Jesse has built a reputation for being one of the world’s leading blind climbers — both indoors and outdoors. He has been recognised by Guinness World Records for being the first blind person to lead climb the Orkney’s famous Old Man documentary, . We spoke to him about how he and Molly work so well together.
