1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 3 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:29,092 I was thinking it was over there. 4 00:00:29,092 --> 00:00:31,060 And then it's just come into view there. 5 00:00:31,060 --> 00:00:34,052 And it's standing about... You can probably see half of it from here. 6 00:00:34,052 --> 00:00:36,064 OK, what, so it's higher than us? 7 00:00:36,064 --> 00:00:38,024 Yeah. Oh, my... 8 00:00:38,024 --> 00:00:40,076 This is so adventurous. OK. 9 00:00:40,076 --> 00:00:43,016 Oh, my God. 10 00:00:43,016 --> 00:00:45,020 It looked properly epic. OK. 11 00:00:45,020 --> 00:00:49,016 So, if I close one eye and I put my thumb up against it... 12 00:00:49,016 --> 00:00:52,048 Yeah, yeah. Probably about the size of my thumbnail. Oh, right, OK. 13 00:00:52,048 --> 00:00:55,044 If you put your thumb up there. Imagine your thumbnail. 14 00:00:55,044 --> 00:00:56,084 I can imagine it. 15 00:00:56,084 --> 00:00:59,012 And that's how far it sticks out. Right, OK. 16 00:00:59,012 --> 00:01:01,004 It sticks out quite a lot, then. Yeah, yeah. 17 00:01:01,004 --> 00:01:02,076 Look at that. 18 00:01:02,076 --> 00:01:05,016 The rock looks surprisingly clean. 19 00:01:05,016 --> 00:01:08,088 Cool. Whoa. Oh. Steady here. 20 00:01:08,088 --> 00:01:12,012 We're near the edge. OK. If you just go up to about there. 21 00:01:12,012 --> 00:01:14,044 Wow! 22 00:01:14,044 --> 00:01:17,024 Oh, I can just see the base. 23 00:01:17,024 --> 00:01:19,040 The base of it is just right down there 24 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:23,096 and it comes all the way up. Wow. 25 00:01:23,096 --> 00:01:26,056 That is nice. 26 00:01:26,056 --> 00:01:29,008 So, is he going to lead it, yeah? 27 00:01:29,008 --> 00:01:31,048 He is going to lead it, yeah. 28 00:01:32,096 --> 00:01:34,048 Really? 29 00:01:34,048 --> 00:01:37,052 That's a different story. Like, you hear quite a lot of publicity 30 00:01:37,052 --> 00:01:39,072 about people doing the Old Man of Hoy, whatever - 31 00:01:39,072 --> 00:01:41,064 old people, young people, blind people. 32 00:01:41,064 --> 00:01:43,028 But they're always seconding. 33 00:01:43,028 --> 00:01:47,024 Like, is that a good idea? 34 00:01:47,024 --> 00:01:49,004 Sounds like my kind of idea. 35 00:01:49,004 --> 00:01:50,068 Sounds like a terrible idea. 36 00:02:02,084 --> 00:02:05,032 For the best part of the last two decades, 37 00:02:05,032 --> 00:02:08,012 I have been making rock climbing films. 38 00:02:08,012 --> 00:02:10,020 I've been doing some other stuff too, 39 00:02:10,020 --> 00:02:12,040 but mainly making climbing films. 40 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:15,096 I've been lucky enough to film some of the best climbers on routes, 41 00:02:15,096 --> 00:02:18,096 that, in truth, I've got no business being on. Yay! 42 00:02:18,096 --> 00:02:21,028 From mile-high walls in Antarctica 43 00:02:21,028 --> 00:02:24,004 to jungle-infested tepuis in Venezuela, 44 00:02:24,004 --> 00:02:27,044 to little miniature rocks much closer to home. 45 00:02:27,044 --> 00:02:30,060 I suppose you could say I thought I'd seen the seven wonders 46 00:02:30,060 --> 00:02:32,012 of the climbing world. 47 00:02:32,012 --> 00:02:35,036 But when I heard about Jesse Dufton, a blind climber 48 00:02:35,036 --> 00:02:40,012 who was going to attempt the Old Man of Hoy, I just had to know more. 49 00:02:40,012 --> 00:02:44,008 So, there's a rock here that you need to step across. Oh! Yeah. 50 00:02:44,008 --> 00:02:46,012 Yeah, found it. 51 00:02:46,012 --> 00:02:49,060 I have a genetic condition that affects my eyes. 52 00:02:49,060 --> 00:02:53,032 So over time, as more of the back of my eye dies off, 53 00:02:53,032 --> 00:02:54,080 my vision degrades. 54 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:59,076 Probably the big step change was in about 2012, 55 00:02:59,076 --> 00:03:00,088 something like that. 56 00:03:00,088 --> 00:03:03,052 That's when I lost the ability to read any more. 57 00:03:03,052 --> 00:03:06,048 Doesn't really matter how big you make the text. 58 00:03:06,048 --> 00:03:08,040 I can't read it. 59 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:10,056 Most of my field of view just doesn't exist. 60 00:03:10,056 --> 00:03:12,052 On a day like today, 61 00:03:12,052 --> 00:03:15,036 if I hold my hand out here, I can't see my hand. 62 00:03:15,036 --> 00:03:18,028 If I wiggle, I can just about tell that there's some movement, 63 00:03:18,028 --> 00:03:21,044 but I certainly can't count my fingers. 64 00:03:21,044 --> 00:03:24,016 I didn't think I would ever give up climbing totally, 65 00:03:24,016 --> 00:03:26,000 but I certainly questioned whether or not 66 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,036 I was going to be able to lead and certainly trad routes. 67 00:03:28,036 --> 00:03:29,084 Before we go any further, 68 00:03:29,084 --> 00:03:32,028 we'd better just explain what trad climbing is 69 00:03:32,028 --> 00:03:35,084 and why this is so significant for a climber without sight. 70 00:03:35,084 --> 00:03:38,092 So, what's really at the heart and origins of rock climbing 71 00:03:38,092 --> 00:03:41,036 is the spirit of adventure. 72 00:03:41,036 --> 00:03:44,060 And this brings a hefty slice of risk and danger. 73 00:03:44,060 --> 00:03:48,024 Traditional climbing or trad is all about this spirit. 74 00:03:49,064 --> 00:03:52,044 It's up to the climber to make the climb as safe as possible 75 00:03:52,044 --> 00:03:55,084 by placing what's known as protection during the climb. 76 00:03:55,084 --> 00:03:57,096 That's not very good. 77 00:03:57,096 --> 00:04:00,060 The basic theory is that in the event of a fall 78 00:04:00,060 --> 00:04:03,044 the protection holds solid in the rock and catches the rope, 79 00:04:03,044 --> 00:04:06,036 which the climber is tied into... Stop! No! 80 00:04:06,036 --> 00:04:08,036 ..and stops the climber hitting the ground. 81 00:04:08,036 --> 00:04:10,060 That's the theory. 82 00:04:10,060 --> 00:04:13,044 Once the climber reaches the top of the route or pitch, 83 00:04:13,044 --> 00:04:16,060 something called a belay is made, basically a temporary anchor point 84 00:04:16,060 --> 00:04:19,084 the climber is secured to, in order to safely bring up their partner. 85 00:04:19,084 --> 00:04:23,064 Are you safe? Despite the high level of risk and obvious dangers involved 86 00:04:23,064 --> 00:04:25,088 in traditional climbing, 87 00:04:25,088 --> 00:04:29,036 none of this seems to worry Jesse when he arrives at the crag. 88 00:04:31,092 --> 00:04:35,096 Obviously, route selection is pretty critical, so we'll pick ones 89 00:04:35,096 --> 00:04:38,024 that are blind person friendly, 90 00:04:38,024 --> 00:04:41,080 ones with big obvious holds to move between 91 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:45,084 and ones with gear, preferably that Molly can see from the ground. 92 00:04:45,084 --> 00:04:48,084 If there's some gear in a big crack, I can place it, 93 00:04:48,084 --> 00:04:50,032 she can see it from the ground, 94 00:04:50,032 --> 00:04:53,064 she can tell me it's good, and then I can move on. Nice. 95 00:04:55,052 --> 00:04:58,008 I'm not really using my eyes, to be honest. 96 00:04:59,020 --> 00:05:01,088 They don't really give me any useful information. 97 00:05:04,052 --> 00:05:08,024 All the information will be through what I can feel through my hands 98 00:05:08,024 --> 00:05:10,028 and through my feet as well, erm... 99 00:05:12,004 --> 00:05:13,088 I just won't be using my eyes. 100 00:05:13,088 --> 00:05:16,064 I might be able to tell when I get to the top of a crag. 101 00:05:16,064 --> 00:05:19,048 Oh, there's the sky and I can see, tell the difference 102 00:05:19,048 --> 00:05:23,008 between the dark rock and the light sky and know that I'm about 103 00:05:23,008 --> 00:05:26,008 to go over the top, but in terms of looking for holes... 104 00:05:26,008 --> 00:05:27,040 Argh. 105 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:28,088 ..it's not going to happen. 106 00:05:28,088 --> 00:05:31,000 Yeah, I want to shake your hand, mate. 107 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:32,044 Jesse, pleased to meet you. 108 00:05:32,044 --> 00:05:34,060 Jesse, I'm Jake. Have you always been blind, or...? 109 00:05:34,060 --> 00:05:36,056 So I was always partially sighted. Yeah. 110 00:05:36,056 --> 00:05:39,028 So I was born with 20% central vision and no peripheral. 111 00:05:39,028 --> 00:05:42,008 Imagine you're, like, looking down a straw. Yeah. 112 00:05:42,008 --> 00:05:45,024 And then over time, that little straw has had successive layers 113 00:05:45,024 --> 00:05:47,040 of clingfilm added over the end. Right, OK. 114 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:49,088 I dunno where up to now, but a few. 115 00:05:49,088 --> 00:05:51,096 Send us a message if you don't mind, 116 00:05:51,096 --> 00:05:54,008 I'd like to go and get a waterproof on. 117 00:05:54,008 --> 00:05:55,048 Grab a jacket, mate, yeah. 118 00:05:55,048 --> 00:05:57,048 Cool. Cheers, buddy. 119 00:06:00,016 --> 00:06:03,060 So it seems it wasn't just me that was impressed with this blind guy 120 00:06:03,060 --> 00:06:05,092 climbing up rocks. 121 00:06:05,092 --> 00:06:08,056 There was so much to ponder. What was going on? 122 00:06:08,056 --> 00:06:10,084 It just raised so many questions. 123 00:06:10,084 --> 00:06:14,048 In search of answers, I took a trip to Jesse's local. 124 00:06:16,076 --> 00:06:20,052 So Jesse was just a regular customer here at the Climbing Station. 125 00:06:20,052 --> 00:06:22,012 He approached me. 126 00:06:22,012 --> 00:06:26,016 I think it was just as he was selected for the team, for Team GB. 127 00:06:26,016 --> 00:06:28,056 And he kind of just asked me about training 128 00:06:28,056 --> 00:06:32,052 and whether I'd be interested in writing some programmes for him? 129 00:06:32,052 --> 00:06:34,076 And just general chit-chat and advice. 130 00:06:34,076 --> 00:06:37,056 I got on board and we've been working together since then. 131 00:06:37,056 --> 00:06:39,044 OK. OK, remember that? 132 00:06:39,044 --> 00:06:41,040 The amount of time he spends on the climbs 133 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:43,000 is three or four times more. 134 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:45,056 So this, where he's locked off and he's searching? 135 00:06:45,056 --> 00:06:47,096 And so the time he actually spends, not just on the route 136 00:06:47,096 --> 00:06:51,060 but on individual holds is much, much longer than the average person. 137 00:06:51,060 --> 00:06:53,088 Just do a little pot to get over it. 138 00:06:53,088 --> 00:06:55,004 Nice. 139 00:06:55,004 --> 00:06:57,040 So we've had to also include little exercises to try 140 00:06:57,040 --> 00:06:59,064 and maximise on that. 141 00:06:59,064 --> 00:07:02,076 When we were first talking, I remember I was impressed 142 00:07:02,076 --> 00:07:04,060 by the fact that he led indoors. 143 00:07:04,060 --> 00:07:08,016 I was, "Ah, right, this guy's pretty tough, pretty serious." 144 00:07:08,016 --> 00:07:11,000 And then when I found he was doing trad outdoors, I don't know, 145 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:15,036 just, like, mind-blown. Just, erm, "Are you kidding? Like, what?" 146 00:07:15,036 --> 00:07:18,036 And not only that, but I mean, he's climbing HVS consistently, 147 00:07:18,036 --> 00:07:20,068 classic routes that are high on, you know, 148 00:07:20,068 --> 00:07:23,044 your average climber's tick list, and he's doing them. 149 00:07:23,044 --> 00:07:26,012 You missed about three or four holes on that climb. What? 150 00:07:27,060 --> 00:07:30,016 Like, if you're climbing at your limit and you can't see, 151 00:07:30,016 --> 00:07:33,040 man, like, yeah, it's... I don't know. 152 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:35,080 I was definitely on to something here. 153 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:39,012 Jesse's ability to lead trad routes seemed to have everyone baffled. 154 00:07:39,012 --> 00:07:40,068 Shit. 155 00:07:40,068 --> 00:07:44,036 His climbing life was at complete odds with his fading eyesight. 156 00:07:44,036 --> 00:07:47,004 As the cells in his retinas degraded, the ones 157 00:07:47,004 --> 00:07:49,032 in his forearms were multiplying. 158 00:07:49,032 --> 00:07:52,008 He wasn't just continuing to climb with no vision, 159 00:07:52,008 --> 00:07:54,072 he was actually getting better. 160 00:07:54,072 --> 00:07:57,028 So one of the routes I've had my eye on for a while 161 00:07:57,028 --> 00:07:59,084 is a route called The Sloth, which is over at The Roaches. 162 00:07:59,084 --> 00:08:02,004 It goes through an absolutely huge overhang. 163 00:08:02,004 --> 00:08:04,084 It properly kicks back, pretty much upside down. 164 00:08:04,084 --> 00:08:07,044 So that would be exciting. 165 00:08:07,044 --> 00:08:10,036 I think that I'm more than strong enough now to have a good 166 00:08:10,036 --> 00:08:12,056 crack at that. 167 00:08:12,056 --> 00:08:15,084 And then once that's out of the way, I'd love to head up to Scotland 168 00:08:15,084 --> 00:08:17,064 and climb the Old Man of Hoy. 169 00:08:17,064 --> 00:08:20,080 It's an iconic route and it's not easy. It's E1. 170 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:24,000 That's, you know, a respectable grade. 171 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:27,004 I think to get that done would be awesome. 172 00:08:29,096 --> 00:08:32,072 It's definitely the hardest climb I've ever attempted. 173 00:08:32,072 --> 00:08:34,016 That's why you do it. 174 00:08:34,016 --> 00:08:36,028 You don't do these things because they're easy. 175 00:08:36,028 --> 00:08:38,088 You do them because they're hard, you do it for the challenge. 176 00:08:38,088 --> 00:08:40,028 You want the satisfaction. 177 00:08:42,020 --> 00:08:45,028 You don't get the satisfaction unless there's a chance of failure. 178 00:08:58,036 --> 00:09:01,068 The Old Man of Hoy - hands down, Britain's best adventure climb. 179 00:09:01,068 --> 00:09:03,056 It's so good. 180 00:09:03,056 --> 00:09:06,048 It's a 140-metre-tall, tottering pile of chalk. 181 00:09:06,048 --> 00:09:08,052 God knows how it's still standing. 182 00:09:08,052 --> 00:09:10,064 It's always windy and atmospheric up there, 183 00:09:10,064 --> 00:09:12,044 the seas crashing round the bottom. 184 00:09:12,044 --> 00:09:14,044 It's the very edge of the British Isles. 185 00:09:14,044 --> 00:09:16,044 You've got to take two ferries to get to it. 186 00:09:16,044 --> 00:09:20,052 The rock is really sandy. You can scratch into the sandstone. 187 00:09:20,052 --> 00:09:23,076 It's covered in fulmars, giant seagulls that vom on you. 188 00:09:23,076 --> 00:09:26,084 It's just got all the makings of the perfect adventure climb. 189 00:09:28,016 --> 00:09:31,096 2018, went up to the Old Man of Hoy and I've always wanted to set up 190 00:09:31,096 --> 00:09:35,008 this mad rope jump, so we put a two-lead in across from the headland 191 00:09:35,008 --> 00:09:37,000 and then jumped off the top. 192 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:39,008 Three, two, one... 193 00:09:41,084 --> 00:09:45,084 This is Leo Houlding, a world-class adventure climber. 194 00:09:45,084 --> 00:09:47,096 Argh. 195 00:09:49,076 --> 00:09:52,068 Leo shot to fame at an early age with some amazing ascents 196 00:09:52,068 --> 00:09:54,040 that stunned the climbing world. 197 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:57,080 Since then, he's firmly established himself, not only as a brilliant 198 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:01,028 climber, but a dab hand at various other extreme sports. 199 00:10:01,028 --> 00:10:04,052 But all this means he's pulled off a ridiculous list of expeditions 200 00:10:04,052 --> 00:10:06,024 to all corners of the globe. 201 00:10:06,024 --> 00:10:09,036 Very much a 21st century explorer. 202 00:10:09,036 --> 00:10:11,084 Arguably the most remote peak on Planet Earth. 203 00:10:11,084 --> 00:10:13,032 And wouldn't you just know it? 204 00:10:13,032 --> 00:10:15,024 Leo has a rather special relationship 205 00:10:15,024 --> 00:10:17,016 with the Old Man of Hoy. 206 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:22,032 Ha, ha, ha. 207 00:10:22,032 --> 00:10:24,036 Woo-woo! 208 00:10:25,048 --> 00:10:29,024 Ah-ha, perfect, nice one! 209 00:10:29,024 --> 00:10:32,012 The Old Man of Hoy was pretty influential in my life, really. 210 00:10:32,012 --> 00:10:34,064 I did it for the first time when I'd just turned 11. 211 00:10:34,064 --> 00:10:37,044 At the time, I was the youngest person to free climb it. 212 00:10:37,044 --> 00:10:40,060 And for me, it was kind of the defining factor. 213 00:10:40,060 --> 00:10:43,032 As a little kid, I was like, "This is what I want to do in my life. 214 00:10:43,032 --> 00:10:44,096 "This is amazing." 215 00:10:44,096 --> 00:10:47,032 And it's not so much the pulling on holds and, you know, 216 00:10:47,032 --> 00:10:49,032 using your muscles to climb something, 217 00:10:49,032 --> 00:10:51,088 it's the whole package of adventure which is really, sort of, 218 00:10:51,088 --> 00:10:53,072 personified in this big tower. 219 00:10:54,092 --> 00:10:57,076 You complete the walk and you get this stunning view 220 00:10:57,076 --> 00:11:00,052 from the headland, just absolutely picture perfect. 221 00:11:00,052 --> 00:11:03,040 It's quite intimidating because you see what you're facing. 222 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:05,052 But imagine if you were blind? 223 00:11:05,052 --> 00:11:07,012 Well, I can't actually imagine 224 00:11:07,012 --> 00:11:09,004 where you'd start if you were blind. 225 00:11:09,004 --> 00:11:11,008 But I know Jesse's very experienced, 226 00:11:11,008 --> 00:11:14,076 so the first major stumbling block is going to be getting 227 00:11:14,076 --> 00:11:18,032 down to the base, because it is like technical terrain. 228 00:11:18,032 --> 00:11:21,072 It's not climbing, it's walking, but it's walking with consequences. 229 00:11:21,072 --> 00:11:24,056 And there's a couple of bits in particular where you might want 230 00:11:24,056 --> 00:11:28,040 to consider putting a short rope on, because if you stumbled, you'd die. 231 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:30,016 And then you look up at this thing, 232 00:11:30,016 --> 00:11:32,020 it's properly over hanging on every side. 233 00:11:32,020 --> 00:11:34,072 You think, how on Earth am I going to be able to pick my way 234 00:11:34,072 --> 00:11:37,076 up that at what is a relatively amenable grade? 235 00:11:37,076 --> 00:11:40,000 The first pitch is actually quite straightforward - 236 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:42,052 it's like it's like a staircase, basically, with big ledges. 237 00:11:42,052 --> 00:11:45,028 You've got to watch out for the sand and the loose blocks, 238 00:11:45,028 --> 00:11:48,008 and then the stumbling block on the Old Man of Hoy, 239 00:11:48,008 --> 00:11:52,008 and I've done it half a dozen times and it surprises me every time, 240 00:11:52,008 --> 00:11:55,048 is halfway up the second pitch, The Coffin Slot. 241 00:11:55,048 --> 00:11:57,000 And it's actually pretty hard. 242 00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:59,080 I suppose, if he's a good climber, in a way, because it's such 243 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:03,056 in-your-face climbing, he might be able to feel his way around it. 244 00:12:03,056 --> 00:12:05,088 But it's hard. 245 00:12:05,088 --> 00:12:08,016 There's another tricky bit a little bit higher, 246 00:12:08,016 --> 00:12:09,096 which is route finding. 247 00:12:09,096 --> 00:12:12,040 As I understand it, Molly helps him a lot and, like, 248 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:14,000 tells him where to go. 249 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:17,068 And it goes around the tower quite a lot. 250 00:12:17,068 --> 00:12:21,024 So she's not going to be able to see him for almost half the route. 251 00:12:21,024 --> 00:12:24,052 If he gets lost on that bit and she can't tell him where to go, 252 00:12:24,052 --> 00:12:28,004 it's, yeah, it sounds pretty sketchy... 253 00:12:28,004 --> 00:12:30,024 ..to be honest. 254 00:12:30,024 --> 00:12:33,008 And then the top pitch is the best pitch of the whole route. 255 00:12:33,008 --> 00:12:35,044 The rock gets better as you go up, and by the time you get 256 00:12:35,044 --> 00:12:37,056 to the top it's actually really good sandstone. 257 00:12:37,056 --> 00:12:40,012 It's just a perfect open book corner with really good holes 258 00:12:40,012 --> 00:12:42,008 and a triumphant summit. 259 00:12:43,052 --> 00:12:46,032 A key point which must be highlighted, when I did it 260 00:12:46,032 --> 00:12:49,072 and when this young lad did it recently, we were seconding. 261 00:12:49,072 --> 00:12:53,000 And what that effectively means is someone goes up first 262 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:55,048 and then you come up with a rope above you. 263 00:12:55,048 --> 00:12:59,008 Which means it's totally safe. It's 100% safe. 264 00:12:59,008 --> 00:13:02,008 If you fall, nothing happens. 265 00:13:02,008 --> 00:13:05,044 What is absolutely critical in climbing and what climbing's 266 00:13:05,044 --> 00:13:07,084 really all about is leading. 267 00:13:07,084 --> 00:13:10,000 It's the person who goes up first. 268 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:12,064 That is a completely different ball game. 269 00:13:12,064 --> 00:13:15,008 It's exponentially more dangerous. 270 00:13:17,052 --> 00:13:20,012 Instead of being totally safe, it's incredibly dangerous 271 00:13:20,012 --> 00:13:22,096 because the rope goes down below you. 272 00:13:22,096 --> 00:13:26,004 You place gear, you've got all our climbers' toys to try and limit 273 00:13:26,004 --> 00:13:29,020 the risk, but particularly on something like the Old Man of Hoy, 274 00:13:29,020 --> 00:13:32,000 where it isn't a gimme - there isn't, like, good gear 275 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:33,076 all the way right where you want it. 276 00:13:33,076 --> 00:13:36,040 There are places where you can't fall. 277 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:37,072 Argh! 278 00:13:37,072 --> 00:13:40,060 The difference between leading and seconding is night and day. 279 00:13:42,032 --> 00:13:46,068 So just how on Earth was Jesse going to manage a climb like this? 280 00:13:46,068 --> 00:13:50,004 I wondered if any amount of training or climbing could possibly prepare 281 00:13:50,004 --> 00:13:53,068 Jesse for all the variables he was about to face? 282 00:13:53,068 --> 00:13:57,008 Apart from strong arms and years of experience, Jesse also 283 00:13:57,008 --> 00:13:59,064 had something unquantifiable in his armoury, 284 00:13:59,064 --> 00:14:01,020 kind of a secret weapon... 285 00:14:01,020 --> 00:14:03,072 And someone very special in his life. 286 00:14:07,056 --> 00:14:10,036 OK, Google, is it going to rain today? 287 00:14:10,036 --> 00:14:13,012 There's a good chance of rain in Sheffield today at noon. 288 00:14:13,012 --> 00:14:14,068 Yeah, that's now, great. 289 00:14:14,068 --> 00:14:16,016 It's five past noon, so. 290 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:26,080 So the critical thing is that I have a sight guide. 291 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:28,076 There's a rock on your left, Jesse. 292 00:14:28,076 --> 00:14:31,000 So Molly is kind enough to lend me her eyes 293 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:32,028 while we're climbing. 294 00:14:32,028 --> 00:14:34,008 Bit scrambly and blocky down here. 295 00:14:34,008 --> 00:14:37,044 So she'll spot critical holes from the bottom and she'll help me spot 296 00:14:37,044 --> 00:14:39,060 places that might be good for gear. 297 00:14:39,060 --> 00:14:41,076 See your next good foot is about a metre up from... 298 00:14:41,076 --> 00:14:44,044 Yeah, without Molly, I think I wouldn't be climbing. 299 00:14:44,044 --> 00:14:45,080 OK, I'm ready when you are. 300 00:14:46,092 --> 00:14:49,084 So, about a foot higher, you've got a really good foothold. 301 00:14:49,084 --> 00:14:51,048 That's it, yeah. 302 00:14:51,048 --> 00:14:54,012 I met Jesse at university. 303 00:14:54,012 --> 00:14:56,068 I remember the first time I saw him, it was on a trip. 304 00:14:56,068 --> 00:14:58,068 I think it was his first trip up to North Wales. 305 00:14:58,068 --> 00:15:02,080 He's a few years below me so we'd all had a group of friends already. 306 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:05,024 And then then this random guy turned up. 307 00:15:05,024 --> 00:15:08,000 We were like... We weren't really sure. He was acting a bit odd. 308 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:10,056 I was only a few weeks later, I think, that I realised that 309 00:15:10,056 --> 00:15:13,024 he actually couldn't, well, hardly couldn't see anything at all. 310 00:15:13,024 --> 00:15:15,088 And I was like, "Wow, respect to this dude," you know, turning up, 311 00:15:15,088 --> 00:15:17,036 away from home. 312 00:15:17,036 --> 00:15:20,056 We kind of hit it off. Well, not straight away, but, you know, 313 00:15:20,056 --> 00:15:23,008 I'd never met anyone blind before, you know, I didn't know 314 00:15:23,008 --> 00:15:24,060 what it was all about, so... 315 00:15:25,076 --> 00:15:27,060 He's uber smart, he's uber bright. 316 00:15:27,060 --> 00:15:31,032 I guess it soon became apparent that it's only his eyes that don't work. 317 00:15:31,032 --> 00:15:33,076 Well, if you can share your eyes, then he's... 318 00:15:33,076 --> 00:15:36,032 Well, I guess more than capable of doing anything. 319 00:15:36,032 --> 00:15:39,056 Yeah, that's it. That's the best bit on there. 320 00:15:39,056 --> 00:15:42,040 If you get that foot a little bit higher, it widens... 321 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:45,088 I guess I just need to stay calm. "Your feet are on a good foothold, 322 00:15:45,088 --> 00:15:47,056 "just keep searching around." 323 00:15:47,056 --> 00:15:49,084 You know, "Just try another piece of gear in there." 324 00:15:49,084 --> 00:15:53,004 Just like a calm voice and just, you know, "You're all right. 325 00:15:53,004 --> 00:15:55,096 "You've got a good bit just below you," things like that. 326 00:15:55,096 --> 00:15:57,024 Yeah, that's good. 327 00:15:57,024 --> 00:15:58,040 Have you ever lied to him? 328 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:00,096 Have I ever lied to him?! Yeah, all the time! 329 00:16:00,096 --> 00:16:03,068 He's like, "How does it look?" "Yeah, great!" And it's shit scary. 330 00:16:03,068 --> 00:16:07,036 All I can hear is the noise of the wind, Molly. 331 00:16:07,036 --> 00:16:10,024 It's only if it looks sketchy, and I just try and make it 332 00:16:10,024 --> 00:16:13,024 that it's, you know, it's all fine. 333 00:16:13,024 --> 00:16:15,076 My hands have just gone completely numb. 334 00:16:15,076 --> 00:16:18,000 Get your foot in the main crack. Yeah. 335 00:16:19,032 --> 00:16:21,092 So, I think it was in 2016, when we decided that 336 00:16:21,092 --> 00:16:25,004 we'd want to go to Greenland. Like, this was Jesse's idea. 337 00:16:25,004 --> 00:16:28,056 He wanted to ski into somewhere because he finds it much easier 338 00:16:28,056 --> 00:16:30,028 than over broken ground. 339 00:16:30,028 --> 00:16:34,016 So, I decided I was going to propose to Molly 340 00:16:34,016 --> 00:16:35,096 months beforehand. 341 00:16:35,096 --> 00:16:39,028 The idea was that we were hopefully going to get some first ascents. 342 00:16:39,028 --> 00:16:42,040 I was going to propose to her on top of a first ascent. 343 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:45,008 Probably about a nine and a half hour climb. 344 00:16:45,008 --> 00:16:47,028 It was mainly up a snow gully 345 00:16:47,028 --> 00:16:50,032 with a few awkward rock steps that we kind of pitched halfway up, 346 00:16:50,032 --> 00:16:52,060 and then just a big snow gully to the top. 347 00:16:52,060 --> 00:16:55,052 This peak was much more amenable. It had a snow dome on top. 348 00:16:55,052 --> 00:16:57,064 We were there just taking photos on top, 349 00:16:57,064 --> 00:17:00,028 I guess just taking the views in, and then... 350 00:17:00,028 --> 00:17:02,076 Yeah, and then Jesse stood up and turned round. 351 00:17:02,076 --> 00:17:06,080 I got down on one knee. I thought, you know, 352 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:08,028 I thought he'd fallen over. 353 00:17:08,028 --> 00:17:10,040 Molly was totally caught off guard. 354 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:13,028 And I pulled out the ring, which was a finger massage ring 355 00:17:13,028 --> 00:17:15,080 for, like, climbing finger injuries. 356 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:18,004 Well, obviously, I said yes, but... 357 00:17:18,004 --> 00:17:20,080 Er, yeah, that was pretty special. 358 00:17:25,016 --> 00:17:27,012 You've got a good belay? 359 00:17:28,096 --> 00:17:31,040 Nice one. I'll be off in a bit. 360 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:34,040 I kind of trust him that if he hasn't found something decent, 361 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:36,088 then he'd kind of let me know. 362 00:17:36,088 --> 00:17:39,012 There's been a few times like that where I've gone up, 363 00:17:39,012 --> 00:17:40,064 like scrambled round the edge, 364 00:17:40,064 --> 00:17:43,004 and he's been stood, like, in front of a massive tree. 365 00:17:43,004 --> 00:17:45,024 And he's like, "I found something." 366 00:17:45,024 --> 00:17:47,008 I guess the trust works both ways. 367 00:17:47,008 --> 00:17:49,068 He trusts me to tell him, you know, where to go, 368 00:17:49,068 --> 00:17:52,020 and if the gear looks good. 369 00:17:52,020 --> 00:17:55,024 I trust him that he's got a good belay, 370 00:17:55,024 --> 00:17:58,028 and it's safe to bring me up after him. Yeah. 371 00:17:59,084 --> 00:18:02,056 Ah! That was a good lead! 372 00:18:04,076 --> 00:18:06,024 That was a pretty good belay. 373 00:18:06,024 --> 00:18:08,008 Was that all right? Yeah, yeah. 374 00:18:08,008 --> 00:18:11,084 There's a photo from when we went to the Alps. 375 00:18:11,084 --> 00:18:14,096 This is stupid - it's just a photo of Molly, 376 00:18:14,096 --> 00:18:17,048 but a pair of sunglasses on, 377 00:18:17,048 --> 00:18:19,040 and that's my mental image of her. 378 00:18:19,040 --> 00:18:22,068 I think back, and I know what Molly used to look like. 379 00:18:24,036 --> 00:18:26,048 So I've got that mental image. 380 00:18:26,048 --> 00:18:29,052 The thing that hurts the most as I've lost my sight 381 00:18:29,052 --> 00:18:32,004 is not being able to see Molly's face any more. 382 00:18:32,004 --> 00:18:33,080 That's the one that... 383 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:36,076 Yeah, I'd want back. 384 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:39,028 That's what I'm missing. 385 00:18:51,080 --> 00:18:53,080 So when you organise these trips, 386 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:56,052 the day of the ascent kind of decides itself, 387 00:18:56,052 --> 00:18:59,064 as it's the one day when all the different members of the crew 388 00:18:59,064 --> 00:19:01,012 happen to be available. 389 00:19:01,012 --> 00:19:03,036 The morning that day arrived, 390 00:19:03,036 --> 00:19:05,056 it wasn't looking too good, 391 00:19:05,056 --> 00:19:07,044 but by midday, the skies cleared, 392 00:19:07,044 --> 00:19:10,064 and the old man himself invited us to give it a go. 393 00:19:15,024 --> 00:19:17,068 The first, and possibly trickiest section, 394 00:19:17,068 --> 00:19:19,092 just getting down to the base of the stack, 395 00:19:19,092 --> 00:19:21,080 got under way shortly after lunch, 396 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:24,024 which at this time of year, in early summer, 397 00:19:24,024 --> 00:19:25,076 meant we'd still have enough time 398 00:19:25,076 --> 00:19:28,060 for what was an all-day route. 399 00:19:28,060 --> 00:19:31,020 It's probably worth noting the descent would normally take 400 00:19:31,020 --> 00:19:32,068 around 15 minutes. 401 00:19:33,076 --> 00:19:36,040 It's a bit of an along here. If you grab my bag. 402 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:38,020 Kind of a narrow footpath now. Mm. 403 00:19:38,020 --> 00:19:41,028 We're not quite in by the grass yet, but... 404 00:19:41,028 --> 00:19:43,004 Obviously, if you feel like you're 405 00:19:43,004 --> 00:19:44,092 going to fall, if you lean left. Yup. 406 00:19:47,020 --> 00:19:49,044 Cool. All good? All good. 407 00:19:51,048 --> 00:19:53,068 Keep hanging on on the left. 408 00:19:53,068 --> 00:19:55,016 So this bit's pretty exposed. 409 00:19:55,016 --> 00:19:58,004 OK. You can see the waves crashing on the beach, 410 00:19:58,004 --> 00:20:01,012 and it's pretty much straight below us. OK. That's it. 411 00:20:02,048 --> 00:20:05,044 It doesn't matter if you get a muddy bum. 412 00:20:05,044 --> 00:20:07,080 Tiny little paths with big drops, 413 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:10,008 when you can't see where you're going, not the optimum, 414 00:20:10,008 --> 00:20:11,096 but I'm used to these kind of things now. 415 00:20:11,096 --> 00:20:13,032 We've done plenty of them. 416 00:20:13,032 --> 00:20:16,012 If Molly thinks that I can do it, I trust her judgment entirely. 417 00:20:16,012 --> 00:20:18,056 Right a bit. My right a bit. 418 00:20:18,056 --> 00:20:19,068 Yeah, there. 419 00:20:19,068 --> 00:20:22,028 There's a little platform and then pretty much the same again, 420 00:20:22,028 --> 00:20:25,016 but this looks a little bit steeper, and a little bit slippier. OK. 421 00:20:25,016 --> 00:20:28,000 Just walking around the corner now. 422 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:30,052 OK... Just a bit lower for your foot. 423 00:20:30,052 --> 00:20:31,076 Yeah, that's it. 424 00:20:31,076 --> 00:20:35,052 It was pretty sketchy, like really narrow, steep grass slopes. 425 00:20:35,052 --> 00:20:37,020 We've done worse approaches, 426 00:20:37,020 --> 00:20:40,032 and I was reasonably confident that he'd be absolutely fine on it. 427 00:20:40,032 --> 00:20:42,060 I think the worst bit was looking at the drops, 428 00:20:42,060 --> 00:20:45,000 but obviously he doesn't have that, so...! 429 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:46,032 Yeah, that's good. Good. 430 00:20:46,032 --> 00:20:50,012 There's another good hand, down in there. Right, yep. 431 00:20:51,012 --> 00:20:53,092 Grip that grass. And then it's straight down from there. 432 00:20:53,092 --> 00:20:56,040 Yeah. Match your feet at that level. 433 00:20:57,076 --> 00:21:00,048 That's it. Move across to me. Yep. 434 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:05,036 Bring your feet round, so you're on the other side of that block. 435 00:21:05,036 --> 00:21:06,072 Perfect. 436 00:21:06,072 --> 00:21:09,028 That's it. Round this block that you've got your hand on. 437 00:21:13,044 --> 00:21:15,000 You grab onto my bag again. 438 00:21:16,016 --> 00:21:18,060 You can put your bag down here, if you want. Cool. 439 00:21:18,060 --> 00:21:20,048 That's the first challenge done. 440 00:21:20,048 --> 00:21:22,096 Probably find that harder than doing the climb! 441 00:21:22,096 --> 00:21:24,072 It probably took about an hour and a 442 00:21:24,072 --> 00:21:26,060 half to get down, I think, in the end. 443 00:21:26,060 --> 00:21:30,032 As I spent more time watching Jesse and Molly go about their business, 444 00:21:30,032 --> 00:21:33,020 it occurred to me how finely tuned they had become, 445 00:21:33,020 --> 00:21:36,068 and how they made the extraordinary seem very matter of fact. 446 00:21:36,068 --> 00:21:41,028 Earlier in the year, during one of Jesse's preparation climbs for Hoy, 447 00:21:41,028 --> 00:21:44,052 I had an idea to try and expose just how efficient 448 00:21:44,052 --> 00:21:46,076 Jesse and Molly's partnership had become. 449 00:21:46,076 --> 00:21:48,036 Morning, buddy. 450 00:21:48,036 --> 00:21:50,052 Hey, how's it going? Hi, not too bad. Jesse. 451 00:21:50,052 --> 00:21:52,048 Really nice to meet you. Nice to meet you both. 452 00:21:52,048 --> 00:21:54,060 Is it the slope we're doing? Hopefully. 453 00:21:54,060 --> 00:21:57,060 Have you done anything indoors with your blindfold on yet, 454 00:21:57,060 --> 00:21:59,052 or is it going to be a totally new experience? 455 00:21:59,052 --> 00:22:02,028 Do you know, I was tempted, because the kind of red pointer in me, 456 00:22:02,028 --> 00:22:05,008 the kind of control freak in me, thought, "I've got to practise it!" 457 00:22:05,008 --> 00:22:06,096 Do you know what? I'm going to go 458 00:22:06,096 --> 00:22:09,040 for the total onsite... It's on fondle! 459 00:22:11,024 --> 00:22:15,040 You'll find that the tricky bit is often getting down, 460 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:18,028 but once you're at the top, you can take the blindfold off, obviously. 461 00:22:18,028 --> 00:22:21,052 I take it think this is a proper, like, no cheating... 462 00:22:21,052 --> 00:22:23,064 ..blindfold. No cheating. Definitely. 463 00:22:23,064 --> 00:22:25,068 That one goes on first. And then... Where are you? 464 00:22:25,068 --> 00:22:27,092 What, I need another one? Yeah. No, no, no, no... 465 00:22:27,092 --> 00:22:29,036 I actually can't see a thing. 466 00:22:29,036 --> 00:22:31,036 Yeah. So let me just put that over. 467 00:22:31,036 --> 00:22:34,020 I've got to have another one! There we are. Yeah. It's really black. 468 00:22:34,020 --> 00:22:36,056 You can't have any cheating. 469 00:22:36,056 --> 00:22:39,044 I think I would trip over and sprain my ankle straight away 470 00:22:39,044 --> 00:22:41,036 if I tried to walk anywhere with it. 471 00:22:41,036 --> 00:22:43,008 All my mates think that my ankles 472 00:22:43,008 --> 00:22:45,036 must be made of adamantium, or something! 473 00:22:45,036 --> 00:22:48,036 Right. Right, so, are we going to try this boulder? 474 00:22:48,036 --> 00:22:49,060 Yeah, I think so. 475 00:22:49,060 --> 00:22:51,004 Where is the boulder? Er... 476 00:22:51,004 --> 00:22:52,060 Molly! 477 00:22:52,060 --> 00:22:55,084 I'm quite conscious of all these boulders around me. 478 00:22:57,080 --> 00:22:59,068 Is that all right? Yeah. 479 00:23:00,084 --> 00:23:02,044 I want to use my knee! 480 00:23:09,064 --> 00:23:11,052 I don't massively want to do this. 481 00:23:12,092 --> 00:23:13,096 Go on now. 482 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:17,072 Nice. Yeah, you're there. 483 00:23:18,096 --> 00:23:20,032 Nice one. 484 00:23:20,032 --> 00:23:24,064 OK, cheers. I'm going to take the blindfold off now. Yeah. Cool. 485 00:23:25,076 --> 00:23:27,032 It's ridiculous. 486 00:23:28,092 --> 00:23:31,068 I mean, if that was just bouldering, 487 00:23:31,068 --> 00:23:34,040 I can't imagine what it'd be like to have to lead. 488 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:36,092 I'm now sort of imagining having to actually... 489 00:23:36,092 --> 00:23:39,040 Not been able to see the piece of gear that you need 490 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:42,036 when you're really pumped, and you're worried about falling off, 491 00:23:42,036 --> 00:23:45,000 is...is... Tricky. 492 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:47,096 Yeah. I'm trying to work out why you do actually. 493 00:23:47,096 --> 00:23:49,036 Why?! Yeah, yeah. 494 00:23:53,028 --> 00:23:56,012 So, like, you'll clock me doing this quite a lot now. 495 00:23:56,012 --> 00:23:58,088 What I'll do is I'll have a bit of a feel at the piece of gear, 496 00:23:58,088 --> 00:24:00,040 and I'll work out what size is. 497 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:02,052 So, that's like a two, er... 498 00:24:02,052 --> 00:24:04,060 That's a two and a half, I reckon. 499 00:24:04,060 --> 00:24:08,008 No way. And then I'll know, like, what size that is, 500 00:24:08,008 --> 00:24:10,060 and then I'll stick that on a certain place in my harness 501 00:24:10,060 --> 00:24:13,024 so when I need it, because I'll feel the crack and I'll go, 502 00:24:13,024 --> 00:24:15,060 "Oh, yeah, that's a two and a half", I know where I put it. 503 00:24:15,060 --> 00:24:17,000 And then, dunk. 504 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:18,044 Go on, test me. Go on. 505 00:24:18,044 --> 00:24:20,084 So I'm giving you a crab with three cams on it. 506 00:24:20,084 --> 00:24:23,076 So, what's the smallest one on that crab, do you reckon? 507 00:24:23,076 --> 00:24:25,040 Two and a half. 508 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:27,088 I reckon that's a three. 509 00:24:27,088 --> 00:24:31,032 Thing is, when I heard about you, I was like, 510 00:24:31,032 --> 00:24:33,020 "Yeah, hats off," but I didn't 511 00:24:33,020 --> 00:24:35,072 really give it any kind of depth of thought. 512 00:24:35,072 --> 00:24:39,000 It's obviously coming here, bouldering, chatting to you, 513 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:41,056 it's kind of all unfolding to me now, 514 00:24:41,056 --> 00:24:43,088 just how extraordinary it is, really. 515 00:24:43,088 --> 00:24:46,080 One of the things that people always say to me is, 516 00:24:46,080 --> 00:24:49,088 "Does it help that when you look down, you can't see the ground?" 517 00:24:49,088 --> 00:24:52,016 And the answer is, "No, not really." 518 00:24:52,016 --> 00:24:53,084 You know where you are, 519 00:24:53,084 --> 00:24:56,076 and you know what the consequences are of falling off. 520 00:24:56,076 --> 00:24:59,064 So I go right with me hands and then left foot...? 521 00:24:59,064 --> 00:25:02,052 Yes, then back left. 522 00:25:02,052 --> 00:25:04,048 Further right, further right. 523 00:25:04,048 --> 00:25:07,048 Right. Yeah, right there. Down there, that's it. 524 00:25:08,056 --> 00:25:09,092 Good stuff. 525 00:25:09,092 --> 00:25:11,044 Then and high and left now. 526 00:25:11,044 --> 00:25:12,092 A bit higher, bit higher. 527 00:25:12,092 --> 00:25:14,068 You're almost at the top there. 528 00:25:16,028 --> 00:25:18,024 You're so close. 529 00:25:19,060 --> 00:25:22,020 Yeah, right a bit, right a bit. Yes! Nice. 530 00:25:22,020 --> 00:25:24,076 And get your feet in where your hands were. 531 00:25:26,064 --> 00:25:28,096 So where's the crack? At the right. 532 00:25:28,096 --> 00:25:31,016 Just beyond... Right, right, right. 533 00:25:31,016 --> 00:25:32,036 Yeah, in there. 534 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:36,012 That's it. 535 00:25:36,012 --> 00:25:37,064 Yeah, in there. 536 00:25:39,056 --> 00:25:42,036 Stick that on the right side... 537 00:25:42,036 --> 00:25:46,008 It's always interesting for me to think about the counterfactual. 538 00:25:46,008 --> 00:25:49,032 What would it be like if I didn't have this mutation in my genes, 539 00:25:49,032 --> 00:25:51,088 and I'd just developed normally and I could see? 540 00:25:51,088 --> 00:25:55,012 I mean, it's quite possible that I wouldn't be as good a climber 541 00:25:55,012 --> 00:25:57,068 if I didn't have these challenges - it wouldn't focus me. 542 00:25:57,068 --> 00:25:59,068 Keep going. 543 00:25:59,068 --> 00:26:04,088 That determination is built through my disability. 544 00:26:06,096 --> 00:26:08,040 Whoa! 545 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:09,096 That's it, you're up, man! 546 00:26:09,096 --> 00:26:11,004 Cheers, everyone. 547 00:26:12,032 --> 00:26:15,052 Cool. Right, now I'm looking forward to seeing how Neil does on this. 548 00:26:15,052 --> 00:26:16,060 Yes... 549 00:26:18,004 --> 00:26:21,060 I would honestly... I would honestly rather be soloing that 550 00:26:21,060 --> 00:26:23,004 than climbing it with a blindfold. 551 00:26:23,004 --> 00:26:25,088 I mean, I know I wouldn't fall off that in a million years 552 00:26:25,088 --> 00:26:28,096 if I was soloing it, but if I'm climbing it blindfolded, 553 00:26:28,096 --> 00:26:31,016 I could fall off it anywhere. 554 00:26:31,016 --> 00:26:33,004 Yeah, I must say, I'm... 555 00:26:37,004 --> 00:26:40,024 Yeah, all right, I'm scared. OK? All right. 556 00:26:40,024 --> 00:26:42,000 There you go. I said it. 557 00:26:45,028 --> 00:26:47,060 It seems like a good enough hold. 558 00:26:47,060 --> 00:26:49,064 Trouble is, you get a good handhold, 559 00:26:49,064 --> 00:26:51,092 but it doesn't mean you've got anything for your feet. 560 00:26:51,092 --> 00:26:54,020 Never know what you're going up for. 561 00:26:54,020 --> 00:26:55,088 I've got no idea where I am. 562 00:26:55,088 --> 00:26:58,024 I don't know if I'm near the roof, or what. 563 00:26:58,024 --> 00:27:01,004 But the worst parts are when you can't find a handhold. 564 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:07,020 I can tell there's something there, but I just can't obviously see it. 565 00:27:09,084 --> 00:27:11,084 Talk us into it. 566 00:27:11,084 --> 00:27:13,056 Am I in the roof? 567 00:27:13,056 --> 00:27:14,076 Yep! 568 00:27:14,076 --> 00:27:17,000 Go on, Neil, I've got you. 569 00:27:19,044 --> 00:27:21,004 You just get so pumped 570 00:27:21,004 --> 00:27:23,044 because you're hanging on so much harder than you would. 571 00:27:24,072 --> 00:27:27,024 Over here? Go on, mate, you're almost there. 572 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:31,000 Is there a hold, or is it just a jam? 573 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:32,016 Just a jam. 574 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:36,040 Go on, buddy. Is there a jug up there? 575 00:27:36,040 --> 00:27:37,072 Oh, yeah. 576 00:27:39,056 --> 00:27:41,048 You could even fall off this bit. 577 00:27:41,048 --> 00:27:43,020 Nice on, mate. Almost there. 578 00:27:50,008 --> 00:27:51,044 Nice one, buddy. 579 00:27:51,044 --> 00:27:54,000 I'd shake your hand if I could see it! Where's your hand? 580 00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:55,088 I want to shake it! I can't see it! 581 00:27:55,088 --> 00:27:57,036 Oh, there we go! 582 00:27:57,036 --> 00:27:59,060 I'd reached past it! Nice one, buddy. 583 00:27:59,060 --> 00:28:01,092 Well done. Thanks, man. 584 00:28:01,092 --> 00:28:03,052 Mate, honestly, 585 00:28:03,052 --> 00:28:05,024 what a lead. 586 00:28:05,024 --> 00:28:06,064 What a lead! 587 00:28:06,064 --> 00:28:09,076 Welcome back to the world of the living, Neil. Well done. 588 00:28:12,028 --> 00:28:14,052 And then you take it off and it's just normal - 589 00:28:14,052 --> 00:28:17,012 here I am just on a great crag and it's just like yeah. 590 00:28:17,012 --> 00:28:19,024 And it just feels completely normal. 591 00:28:19,024 --> 00:28:21,032 Suddenly it's the flick of a switch. 592 00:28:21,032 --> 00:28:23,016 It's like I'm home. 593 00:28:23,016 --> 00:28:26,088 What happens if, you know, through science we can fix my eyes? 594 00:28:26,088 --> 00:28:30,060 Well, instantly, you know, suddenly I'll be... 595 00:28:30,060 --> 00:28:33,008 Obviously I'd be able to climb harder, 596 00:28:33,008 --> 00:28:35,056 but I don't know how much harder, much harder that'll be. 597 00:28:35,056 --> 00:28:38,012 You know? Um, I think Adam Ondra better watch out! 598 00:28:38,012 --> 00:28:40,008 Ha-ha! I'm not sure about that! 599 00:28:42,064 --> 00:28:45,040 This wasn't the first time I'd heard Jesse make reference 600 00:28:45,040 --> 00:28:47,024 to a future where he could see. 601 00:28:47,024 --> 00:28:49,052 We took a visit to Jesse's eye specialist 602 00:28:49,052 --> 00:28:51,080 to see how realistic this notion was. 603 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:54,076 And it turned out to be a bit of a family affair. 604 00:28:55,088 --> 00:28:58,060 So what do you think my first route was, Dad? 605 00:28:58,060 --> 00:29:01,028 Oh, that was on Idwal Slabs. 606 00:29:01,028 --> 00:29:03,028 We were in North Wales. 607 00:29:03,028 --> 00:29:06,080 You were two and a half, and we took you up ordinary route. 608 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:09,020 I was with my climbing partner. 609 00:29:09,020 --> 00:29:12,076 One of us climbed beside you all the time, 610 00:29:12,076 --> 00:29:14,024 and the other belayed, 611 00:29:14,024 --> 00:29:15,084 and, you know, we managed 612 00:29:15,084 --> 00:29:18,088 to get you all the way up. 613 00:29:18,088 --> 00:29:20,080 At this point, we had no idea 614 00:29:20,080 --> 00:29:24,020 there was anything particularly wrong with your eyes. 615 00:29:25,040 --> 00:29:27,092 I know that laugh. Morning! Hiya. 616 00:29:27,092 --> 00:29:29,056 All right? Yup, yup. 617 00:29:29,056 --> 00:29:33,056 Morning. How are you? Good. You've been spotted! Been spotted. 618 00:29:33,056 --> 00:29:35,088 We can go through that way. Yeah. 619 00:29:47,036 --> 00:29:51,020 So, retinitis pigmentosa represents at least 80 different genetic 620 00:29:51,020 --> 00:29:54,032 conditions, and there's a wide spectrum of how it affects people. 621 00:29:54,032 --> 00:29:56,000 Unfortunately, in Jesse's case, 622 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:59,076 he is on the severe end of the spectrum, 623 00:29:59,076 --> 00:30:01,068 severely affected. 624 00:30:01,068 --> 00:30:04,080 What we really need to do for Jesse is rebuild his retina. 625 00:30:04,080 --> 00:30:07,080 The retina's like a sandwich with sort of four layers of cells. 626 00:30:07,080 --> 00:30:09,056 It's possible to transplant 627 00:30:09,056 --> 00:30:12,048 one layer of cells into the back of the eye 628 00:30:12,048 --> 00:30:14,092 at the moment. We haven't figured out - 629 00:30:14,092 --> 00:30:18,028 nobody's figured out - how to transplant the four layers of cells 630 00:30:18,028 --> 00:30:20,028 that need to sit on top of each other, 631 00:30:20,028 --> 00:30:22,068 and then integrate with the cells that are already there. 632 00:30:22,068 --> 00:30:25,060 Realistically, that's a very long way away. 633 00:30:25,060 --> 00:30:29,052 It may be a solution down the line 634 00:30:29,052 --> 00:30:33,036 to people with, you know, really tough problems, like Jesse. 635 00:30:34,040 --> 00:30:38,040 There are people who've looked at what it's like to lose vision, 636 00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:41,088 and it is the sense people fear losing most. 637 00:30:41,088 --> 00:30:44,056 In some surveys on the quality of life, 638 00:30:44,056 --> 00:30:48,056 it affects people as much as a diagnosis of terminal cancer, 639 00:30:48,056 --> 00:30:51,044 in terms of how they feel about their quality of life. 640 00:30:51,044 --> 00:30:54,040 So it's, you know, as I say, it's devastating. 641 00:30:57,024 --> 00:30:59,024 I'll give you... Yup. Oh, sorry. 642 00:30:59,024 --> 00:31:00,048 That's your stick. 643 00:31:00,048 --> 00:31:02,052 Anyway, awesome. Brilliant. Thank you so much. 644 00:31:02,052 --> 00:31:04,068 Pleasure. Nice to see you again. Yeah. OK. 645 00:31:04,068 --> 00:31:07,016 Do you want me to take you out? Oh, yes, please. Yeah. 646 00:31:14,060 --> 00:31:16,076 Just describe Jesse when he was young. 647 00:31:16,076 --> 00:31:18,020 Very cute. 648 00:31:19,092 --> 00:31:21,004 Sorry! 649 00:31:21,004 --> 00:31:23,056 You can cut that. Cut that, yeah, yeah! 650 00:31:23,056 --> 00:31:26,064 There was a time when I was a pushy parent and trying to get you to read 651 00:31:26,064 --> 00:31:28,004 before you went to school. 652 00:31:28,004 --> 00:31:31,096 Making little cue cards with Postman Pat and other exciting words on. 653 00:31:31,096 --> 00:31:33,056 And I just didn't react to it... 654 00:31:33,056 --> 00:31:35,092 You just flipped them all out of my hand, 655 00:31:35,092 --> 00:31:37,048 as if to say, "Oh, sod off." 656 00:31:37,048 --> 00:31:40,036 It wasn't really till you went to school 657 00:31:40,036 --> 00:31:43,016 and there was a knock on the door, we went "Ohh!". 658 00:31:44,016 --> 00:31:47,056 Yeah, we didn't really know, did we? No. Was it not obvious 659 00:31:47,056 --> 00:31:49,040 when I couldn't see at night? 660 00:31:49,040 --> 00:31:51,036 Well, I mean... Well, yeah, 661 00:31:51,036 --> 00:31:52,072 but we just thought all kids 662 00:31:52,072 --> 00:31:54,064 couldn't see at night. We didn't know. 663 00:31:54,064 --> 00:31:56,048 Yeah. It's terrible. 664 00:31:56,048 --> 00:31:59,096 You used to bump into things, but then, you know, we just thought, 665 00:31:59,096 --> 00:32:02,008 "Well, he's not looking where he's going." Yeah. 666 00:32:02,008 --> 00:32:06,044 I felt guilty about trying to make him read before he went to school! 667 00:32:06,044 --> 00:32:09,080 After the diagnosis, you kind of... 668 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:13,052 ..all the things, you think, "Ah!" Yeah, that's right. 669 00:32:13,052 --> 00:32:17,044 You always wanted to sit far too close to the television. 670 00:32:17,044 --> 00:32:19,040 Yeah. We said it was bad for you. 671 00:32:19,040 --> 00:32:21,088 Yeah, bad for his eyes! 672 00:32:21,088 --> 00:32:23,032 Bad for your eyes, yeah! 673 00:32:23,032 --> 00:32:25,016 And then afterwards you think, 674 00:32:25,016 --> 00:32:27,048 well, of course he sat close to the television. 675 00:32:27,048 --> 00:32:29,044 He couldn't see it otherwise! 676 00:32:29,044 --> 00:32:31,020 At the hospital, when you were five, 677 00:32:31,020 --> 00:32:35,028 they said, you know, "His reading may never develop. 678 00:32:35,028 --> 00:32:38,024 "He may never be able to write properly." 679 00:32:38,024 --> 00:32:42,048 You know, and he'd just been saying, "What's a university? 680 00:32:42,048 --> 00:32:44,028 "Oh, that sounds good." 681 00:32:44,028 --> 00:32:49,052 And then the next moment, we're sort of told, "May never read or write," 682 00:32:49,052 --> 00:32:51,004 and you think, "Yikes." 683 00:32:52,052 --> 00:32:55,060 Our attitude was always that, you know, 684 00:32:55,060 --> 00:32:57,068 A, kids have to take risks, 685 00:32:57,068 --> 00:32:59,048 as they're growing up... Yeah. 686 00:32:59,048 --> 00:33:03,036 You don't... You learn by doing things, taking risks, and therefore 687 00:33:03,036 --> 00:33:06,092 you always have to let kids do that. 688 00:33:06,092 --> 00:33:10,028 But apart from that, you know, the fact that he couldn't see, 689 00:33:10,028 --> 00:33:12,028 well, he couldn't see, you know, 690 00:33:12,028 --> 00:33:14,056 doesn't mean to say you stop doing things. 691 00:33:14,056 --> 00:33:17,076 We just sort of continued to do what we wanted to do, 692 00:33:17,076 --> 00:33:20,004 and what he was interested in. 693 00:33:20,004 --> 00:33:23,060 There were a few classic occasions, like when he was playing rugby 694 00:33:23,060 --> 00:33:25,060 and he got given the ball 695 00:33:25,060 --> 00:33:28,028 and he's running towards the wrong tri-line, 696 00:33:28,028 --> 00:33:32,076 and his mates had to say, "No, turn round! Run the other way!" 697 00:33:32,076 --> 00:33:37,012 You know? But, you know, those were just sort of funny incidents. 698 00:33:37,012 --> 00:33:40,028 But, by and large, he just got on with it. 699 00:33:40,028 --> 00:33:42,096 Really cruel parents, you know, making him do all these 700 00:33:42,096 --> 00:33:46,004 horrible, difficult, dangerous things. 701 00:33:46,004 --> 00:33:49,020 Oh, most of our friends thought we were completely nuts. 702 00:33:49,020 --> 00:33:50,068 Like, completely nuts. 703 00:34:01,056 --> 00:34:03,008 I'm pretty excited 704 00:34:03,008 --> 00:34:05,012 because obviously this will be the first time 705 00:34:05,012 --> 00:34:07,048 a blind man's ever, like, led the Old Man of Hoy, 706 00:34:07,048 --> 00:34:10,044 so it'll be nice to be in the history books. 707 00:34:10,044 --> 00:34:11,096 Something pretty special, I think. 708 00:34:11,096 --> 00:34:13,076 It's not the easiest route in the world 709 00:34:13,076 --> 00:34:16,092 to be able to do without the use of your eyes, I think, yeah... 710 00:34:18,004 --> 00:34:19,072 It'll be something worth recording. 711 00:34:19,072 --> 00:34:21,016 Indeed it will. 712 00:34:21,016 --> 00:34:24,020 But wait a minute. How are we going to record this? 713 00:34:24,020 --> 00:34:25,092 I had to ask myself. 714 00:34:25,092 --> 00:34:29,000 So on most cliffs, when you're filming rock climbing, 715 00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:31,008 you would fix a rope to the top of the cliff, 716 00:34:31,008 --> 00:34:33,040 and the cameraman would go down the rope 717 00:34:33,040 --> 00:34:36,004 to then be in position above the climber. 718 00:34:36,004 --> 00:34:38,096 Obviously on a freestanding pinnacle, like the Old Man of Hoy, 719 00:34:38,096 --> 00:34:41,076 a great big sea stack, you can't do that. 720 00:34:41,076 --> 00:34:44,080 The only way to get the top is to climb up. 721 00:34:44,080 --> 00:34:47,036 So I climbed ahead of Jesse and Molly with rig, 722 00:34:47,036 --> 00:34:50,024 and then I'd kind of look over my shoulder at various positions 723 00:34:50,024 --> 00:34:53,088 and try and look for good shots as I was climbing, basically. 724 00:35:01,064 --> 00:35:04,076 OK, Molly. I'm going to start. OK. Let's crack on. 725 00:35:12,056 --> 00:35:14,044 Wow, what a day, dude. 726 00:35:14,044 --> 00:35:16,000 It's incredible. 727 00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:19,008 Everywhere you look, it's just awesome scenery. 728 00:35:19,008 --> 00:35:23,024 Huge big sea cliffs, crashing waves, blue sky. 729 00:35:24,080 --> 00:35:28,020 So, yeah, just be careful of loose and sandy shit. 730 00:35:30,076 --> 00:35:33,016 Over to the left might be better. 731 00:35:33,016 --> 00:35:35,056 The thing to understand when you're filming 732 00:35:35,056 --> 00:35:39,028 is that obviously you don't want to interfere with the climb, 733 00:35:39,028 --> 00:35:41,064 for this to be a genuine ascent. 734 00:35:41,064 --> 00:35:45,004 Where am I going now? Straight up here? Yeah. 735 00:35:45,004 --> 00:35:48,040 So you're on... You're standing on quite a bulge now, so I can't see 736 00:35:48,040 --> 00:35:50,000 up and behind it. 737 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:51,064 And I think on this occasion, 738 00:35:51,064 --> 00:35:55,036 as we knew there were going to be large parts of the climb 739 00:35:55,036 --> 00:35:57,068 where Molly wasn't going to be able to see Jesse, 740 00:35:57,068 --> 00:36:00,072 this did present a bit of a moral dilemma for me. 741 00:36:00,072 --> 00:36:06,016 What if the situation occurs where I can see a good bit of gear, 742 00:36:06,016 --> 00:36:08,000 I can see some really good holds, 743 00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:10,048 or I can see Jesse's clearly going off route? 744 00:36:10,048 --> 00:36:12,076 Maybe he's climbing himself into danger. 745 00:36:12,076 --> 00:36:14,024 What am I going to do? 746 00:36:14,024 --> 00:36:15,076 Am I going to interject? 747 00:36:15,076 --> 00:36:18,040 So the second pitch is down the traverse, 748 00:36:18,040 --> 00:36:20,092 so I'm climbing down, and I'm traversing across 749 00:36:20,092 --> 00:36:22,088 and I'm very conscious at this point 750 00:36:22,088 --> 00:36:25,092 that I need to put some runners in because I need to protect 751 00:36:25,092 --> 00:36:29,000 Molly for the traverse, so I put a sling in them and clip it. 752 00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:33,028 What I hadn't realised is that there's some ab-tat in situ 753 00:36:33,028 --> 00:36:35,088 to haul yourself across, if you haven't got long enough ropes 754 00:36:35,088 --> 00:36:37,072 to get to the ground from this point, 755 00:36:37,072 --> 00:36:40,072 and rather than clipping my climbing ropes to the runner, 756 00:36:40,072 --> 00:36:43,000 I'd clip the ab-tat to the runner, 757 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:46,008 so when Molly gets to it, she's not being clipped in at all. 758 00:36:46,008 --> 00:36:48,032 so, despite my best efforts, you know, 759 00:36:48,032 --> 00:36:49,092 I hadn't protected her for that bit. 760 00:36:49,092 --> 00:36:51,052 It's never been a problem before. 761 00:36:51,052 --> 00:36:54,052 Usually, the only rope around is my climbing rope, 762 00:36:54,052 --> 00:36:57,008 so you just reach down, grab a rope and clip it to the runner 763 00:36:57,008 --> 00:36:59,096 and that's it - there's never any other ropes around. 764 00:36:59,096 --> 00:37:03,028 Is that a good hold there? No, that's nothing. 765 00:37:03,028 --> 00:37:05,044 Yeah, on the second pitch traverse, 766 00:37:05,044 --> 00:37:08,008 I had seen that he'd clipped that bit of ab-tat. 767 00:37:08,008 --> 00:37:10,040 I don't know, I think I made the decision as a cameraman, 768 00:37:10,040 --> 00:37:12,008 as a documentary film-maker, 769 00:37:12,008 --> 00:37:13,088 I wasn't there to interject. 770 00:37:13,088 --> 00:37:16,032 I was just there to film the climbing. 771 00:37:22,036 --> 00:37:24,068 Just sandy and shit. 772 00:37:24,068 --> 00:37:26,084 There might be an undercling under there. 773 00:37:26,084 --> 00:37:29,024 Yeah, but it pulls the wrong way. 774 00:37:29,024 --> 00:37:31,052 A little bit further up? A little bit more? 775 00:37:34,092 --> 00:37:37,028 Oh, I could just shuffle across, like that. 776 00:37:40,040 --> 00:37:43,044 Is this as far as I'm going? Am I belaying here? 777 00:37:43,044 --> 00:37:45,096 Yeah, maybe slack off a bit. Yeah, I'm going to. 778 00:37:45,096 --> 00:37:48,012 Well, that went pretty well. 779 00:37:48,012 --> 00:37:49,020 Kind of. 780 00:37:49,020 --> 00:37:51,080 But Jesse still had the crux sections to go 781 00:37:51,080 --> 00:37:54,004 on the hardest route he's ever attempted. 782 00:37:55,052 --> 00:37:57,000 Just a couple of weeks earlier, 783 00:37:57,000 --> 00:37:59,076 Jesse took on a climb of the same technical grade 784 00:37:59,076 --> 00:38:01,032 to try and gauge if he was ready, 785 00:38:01,032 --> 00:38:04,064 and to give things a bit of an edge, we gave him a new sight guide. 786 00:38:04,064 --> 00:38:07,064 Hello. Hi! Hey, mate, how are you? All right. How are you doing? 787 00:38:07,064 --> 00:38:10,036 Yeah, good, good. Are you up for some routes today? Yep. 788 00:38:10,036 --> 00:38:12,068 No, you're up for some routes! Ah, yeah! OK. 789 00:38:12,068 --> 00:38:13,084 Cool. 790 00:38:13,084 --> 00:38:15,052 I'm up for some guiding. OK. 791 00:38:15,052 --> 00:38:18,036 So, you get one of these... 792 00:38:18,036 --> 00:38:20,076 Once it turns on... 793 00:38:20,076 --> 00:38:22,092 Sorry, I'm just going to turn you down. Yeah. 794 00:38:27,024 --> 00:38:30,044 Like, even when my sight was at its best, 795 00:38:30,044 --> 00:38:32,080 I could never stand at the bottom of a route 796 00:38:32,080 --> 00:38:35,016 and see the holes and plan my sequence. 797 00:38:35,016 --> 00:38:38,024 It's always been like climbing into the unknown, every single time. 798 00:38:38,024 --> 00:38:42,040 Yeah, with this start, the feet are not great. 799 00:38:42,040 --> 00:38:45,016 It's only going be the hardest route you've ever tried! Yeah. 800 00:38:45,016 --> 00:38:48,008 We should be fine. We'll see how it goes! 801 00:38:48,008 --> 00:38:50,096 The critical thing is to get the information across 802 00:38:50,096 --> 00:38:52,032 as quickly as possible. 803 00:38:52,032 --> 00:38:54,064 To the left, to the left. Yup, there. 804 00:38:54,064 --> 00:38:56,012 Up a bit, up a bit. 805 00:38:57,068 --> 00:38:59,012 Hmm. 806 00:38:59,012 --> 00:39:03,016 I think the thing that screws me over is I can't plan. 807 00:39:03,016 --> 00:39:05,060 I don't suppose you can see any other rests? 808 00:39:05,060 --> 00:39:06,088 Um, rests... 809 00:39:06,088 --> 00:39:08,080 Not obvious ones, no. 810 00:39:08,080 --> 00:39:11,080 And to do well, you have to be able to plan. 811 00:39:11,080 --> 00:39:14,008 Have a feel out to your right as well. 812 00:39:15,024 --> 00:39:17,076 Yeah, your right foothold is waist heigh. 813 00:39:17,076 --> 00:39:20,016 Up, up, up, with your right foot down. 814 00:39:20,016 --> 00:39:21,052 You've just missed it. 815 00:39:21,052 --> 00:39:23,092 Yeah. The good bit is further to the right. 816 00:39:25,020 --> 00:39:26,084 Yeah, there. There, there. 817 00:39:26,084 --> 00:39:28,012 Good. 818 00:39:29,016 --> 00:39:30,044 Good. 819 00:39:31,096 --> 00:39:35,004 There's a break a bit higher to place some gear. 820 00:39:39,072 --> 00:39:41,020 Oh! 821 00:39:43,036 --> 00:39:45,096 I'm going to pump out, so just watch me. 822 00:39:45,096 --> 00:39:48,044 Yeah, yeah, I'm watching you. I'm really watching you. 823 00:39:49,076 --> 00:39:50,096 Oh. 824 00:39:52,040 --> 00:39:54,004 That was a good fight! 825 00:39:54,004 --> 00:39:55,092 My arms! 826 00:39:57,032 --> 00:39:58,056 Oh, that is hard work. 827 00:39:58,056 --> 00:40:00,076 I think I can see how it would be done. 828 00:40:00,076 --> 00:40:02,060 Just not my day today. 829 00:40:02,060 --> 00:40:06,084 I can't move as quick as a sighted climber would, so... 830 00:40:06,084 --> 00:40:10,004 ..you just wind up burning through your reserves that much quicker. 831 00:40:10,004 --> 00:40:12,068 Oh, I've got like pins and needles in my fingers. 832 00:40:15,004 --> 00:40:17,048 If I was to go up there now, 833 00:40:17,048 --> 00:40:20,024 blindfolded, for example, 834 00:40:20,024 --> 00:40:23,036 it would be so much easier for me because I've seen it 835 00:40:23,036 --> 00:40:25,020 from the ground. Yeah. 836 00:40:25,020 --> 00:40:28,016 I mean, I can't imagine - you'd be totally desperate 837 00:40:28,016 --> 00:40:31,024 walking up to a route blindfolded, 838 00:40:31,024 --> 00:40:32,076 and then trying to climb it. 839 00:40:33,080 --> 00:40:35,084 Totally desperate. Yeah. 840 00:40:38,028 --> 00:40:41,072 We're going to try and get back to the car. OK. Right, so... 841 00:40:41,072 --> 00:40:44,076 ..I have got you your very own white stick. 842 00:40:44,076 --> 00:40:47,032 Let me just put it... Where's your hand? There you go! 843 00:40:47,032 --> 00:40:49,012 Shall we? Yes. 844 00:40:49,012 --> 00:40:52,060 I think the cars are in that direction! 845 00:40:52,060 --> 00:40:55,000 I don't know! I don't know if they're in that direction! 846 00:40:55,000 --> 00:40:57,036 Let's just go and have a look. Let's have a look, shall we? 847 00:40:57,036 --> 00:40:58,076 All right, nice one. OK. 848 00:40:58,076 --> 00:41:01,012 We're going. Right, that's me. Yeah, yeah, that's you. 849 00:41:01,012 --> 00:41:04,068 Oh, we're onto a winner here. Still behind me? I am, somewhere! 850 00:41:04,068 --> 00:41:06,080 Oh! Are you good? Yeah. 851 00:41:06,080 --> 00:41:07,084 Ow! 852 00:41:18,068 --> 00:41:21,008 People often ask me, "Why rock climbing?" 853 00:41:21,008 --> 00:41:22,076 It's not what you immediately think of 854 00:41:22,076 --> 00:41:24,080 as a good activity for a blind person. 855 00:41:24,080 --> 00:41:27,020 Certainly, when I think about the danger, 856 00:41:27,020 --> 00:41:29,048 it's not the most dangerous thing I do. 857 00:41:33,040 --> 00:41:36,016 Crossing the road on the way to work is far more dangerous, 858 00:41:36,016 --> 00:41:38,084 and also it's something where I'm not in control. 859 00:41:38,084 --> 00:41:42,060 Crossing the road, you don't have any control over the risks there. 860 00:41:42,060 --> 00:41:45,028 You do your best to tell when the cars are coming, 861 00:41:45,028 --> 00:41:47,008 but you don't control them. 862 00:41:47,008 --> 00:41:49,096 I think one of the things that's great about climbing, 863 00:41:49,096 --> 00:41:51,076 and one of the main reasons I do it, 864 00:41:51,076 --> 00:41:54,032 I'm doing it - I'm not being taken out, 865 00:41:54,032 --> 00:41:56,084 especially when I'm leading. I'm the one going up first. 866 00:41:56,084 --> 00:42:00,024 I'm the one with responsibility for putting the gear in, 867 00:42:00,024 --> 00:42:03,080 and I'm the one who's responsible for my partner's safety. 868 00:42:04,080 --> 00:42:06,060 Climbing is where I'm in control. 869 00:42:09,088 --> 00:42:14,072 So, at the base of the crux pitch, we had a bit of faff with the ropes. 870 00:42:14,072 --> 00:42:17,028 We got in a bit of a tangle and wasted a bit of time. 871 00:42:17,028 --> 00:42:19,064 Not a problem, but time was ticking on, 872 00:42:19,064 --> 00:42:21,060 and we knew we were on a tight time schedule. 873 00:42:24,072 --> 00:42:27,024 Every now and again, Jesse, it might be a good idea 874 00:42:27,024 --> 00:42:29,076 just to brush your shoes off against your leg, or something. 875 00:42:34,004 --> 00:42:35,084 Just feel the stress building. 876 00:42:35,084 --> 00:42:38,072 The difficulty is here - if I can get past this, 877 00:42:38,072 --> 00:42:40,072 I'm confident I can get to the top. 878 00:42:43,040 --> 00:42:44,096 Oh, God. 879 00:42:50,000 --> 00:42:52,048 You climb up into what they call the coffin, 880 00:42:52,048 --> 00:42:53,084 and the first I knew about it 881 00:42:53,084 --> 00:42:58,004 was I could feel the two rock walls on my shoulders, 882 00:42:58,004 --> 00:43:02,000 and the difficulty is passing the roof, 883 00:43:02,000 --> 00:43:04,000 and getting up into the crack above. 884 00:43:06,008 --> 00:43:08,068 It's hard and it's covered in sand, 885 00:43:08,068 --> 00:43:12,016 and it's really overhanging, and it's insanely awkward. 886 00:43:12,016 --> 00:43:14,032 It's like somebody created the definition 887 00:43:14,032 --> 00:43:16,032 of awkward British rock climbing. 888 00:43:16,032 --> 00:43:18,032 There's no easy way to do it. 889 00:43:20,076 --> 00:43:22,036 Ace. Come on. 890 00:43:23,076 --> 00:43:25,096 Yes! Come on. You've got this. 891 00:43:34,024 --> 00:43:37,024 This is when I could really do with being able to see! 892 00:43:37,024 --> 00:43:39,016 Finding a hold would be nice. 893 00:43:44,060 --> 00:43:46,024 Yeah, go on. 894 00:43:48,036 --> 00:43:49,048 Nice. 895 00:43:51,064 --> 00:43:52,084 Go on. 896 00:43:55,024 --> 00:43:56,096 Neil would be proud. 897 00:43:58,004 --> 00:43:59,012 Nice! 898 00:44:03,084 --> 00:44:05,060 Good work, matey. 899 00:44:05,060 --> 00:44:08,088 Are you going to get a piece in before you move on? Should do. 900 00:44:10,024 --> 00:44:13,004 Oh, look! There's a seal down there. Can you see it? 901 00:44:13,004 --> 00:44:14,072 Not the time, Mol. 902 00:44:18,052 --> 00:44:22,016 We'd read beforehand that there were the opportunities for big gear. 903 00:44:22,016 --> 00:44:25,032 So I'd taken this huge size six cam with us. 904 00:44:25,032 --> 00:44:28,004 If we I get the chance to place something like that, it's brilliant. 905 00:44:28,004 --> 00:44:30,092 Really good for me in head game terms 906 00:44:30,092 --> 00:44:33,032 because you can place this cam, and it's so big, 907 00:44:33,032 --> 00:44:36,044 you could put your hand in and you can check each of the lobes 908 00:44:36,044 --> 00:44:38,000 by feel individually. 909 00:44:38,000 --> 00:44:40,092 And when you know you've got that in and it's good, 910 00:44:40,092 --> 00:44:43,036 you know you're not going anywhere, and it puts me at ease. 911 00:44:44,060 --> 00:44:47,012 Have you managed to get any gear into that last piece? 912 00:44:47,012 --> 00:44:49,036 No. No, no, I haven't. 913 00:44:51,096 --> 00:44:54,088 Despite my best efforts and believe me, I tried, 914 00:44:54,088 --> 00:44:59,000 there was nowhere to put that was quite right for this cam. 915 00:45:02,056 --> 00:45:04,056 Ohh. 916 00:45:15,012 --> 00:45:17,024 Nice one, man. 917 00:45:17,024 --> 00:45:20,040 Right... Well done, that man! Awesome! 918 00:45:20,040 --> 00:45:22,072 Oh! How was that? Ohh! 919 00:45:22,072 --> 00:45:24,004 Not too bad. 920 00:45:24,004 --> 00:45:27,032 Yeah, I can hear you. I've clipped into the anchor, I won't be long. 921 00:45:27,032 --> 00:45:29,092 I'm not quite safe yet. Don't take me off belay. 922 00:45:31,004 --> 00:45:32,044 It's all done. 923 00:45:32,044 --> 00:45:33,048 Oh! 924 00:45:33,048 --> 00:45:34,076 Yeah, um... 925 00:45:34,076 --> 00:45:37,076 ..I ran out of big cams after I'd gone round the thingy, 926 00:45:37,076 --> 00:45:40,052 so that last bit, I felt a little bit run out. 927 00:45:41,052 --> 00:45:43,044 Apart from that, it was all good. Ohh! 928 00:45:44,056 --> 00:45:46,036 Cool! Dry mouth? 929 00:45:48,092 --> 00:45:50,008 Oh! 930 00:45:50,008 --> 00:45:53,004 Time for a pork pie! 931 00:45:55,096 --> 00:45:59,024 By 8:30 in the evening, I'd been hanging round on these ropes 932 00:45:59,024 --> 00:46:01,004 for over five hours. 933 00:46:01,004 --> 00:46:03,000 Yeah, I'm just trying to find some gear. 934 00:46:03,000 --> 00:46:05,064 There was some relief at getting past the crooks, 935 00:46:05,064 --> 00:46:08,044 but Jesse was still only halfway up the climb, 936 00:46:08,044 --> 00:46:10,096 and we'd used well over half the day's light. 937 00:46:10,096 --> 00:46:12,016 OK, clipped it. 938 00:46:14,032 --> 00:46:17,036 As far as climbing this thing without sight was concerned, 939 00:46:17,036 --> 00:46:19,088 the biggest challenge was yet to come. 940 00:46:19,088 --> 00:46:24,008 The nerves were definitely jangling, but Jesse climbed on. 941 00:46:34,000 --> 00:46:37,024 Getting some gear in, matey? Yeah, I've got it. Nice one. 942 00:46:37,024 --> 00:46:41,012 You don't go the obvious way - you don't follow your nose 943 00:46:41,012 --> 00:46:42,036 up this, like, crack. 944 00:46:42,036 --> 00:46:45,092 You need to go further right, which isn't obvious at all. 945 00:46:45,092 --> 00:46:49,000 It's all green and covered in bird muck, and there's no gear. 946 00:46:49,000 --> 00:46:51,052 Technically speaking, it's easier to climb, 947 00:46:51,052 --> 00:46:54,048 but when you're on the sharp end, you basically can't fall off. 948 00:46:54,048 --> 00:46:57,084 If you fell off that bit, you probably wouldn't die, 949 00:46:57,084 --> 00:47:00,096 but you certainly wouldn't be having a very good day. 950 00:47:00,096 --> 00:47:03,040 You'd be taking like a 100-foot fall into a corner. 951 00:47:05,020 --> 00:47:08,012 I'm amazed I can still hear you if I can't see you! 952 00:47:08,012 --> 00:47:09,052 I can still hear you. 953 00:47:09,052 --> 00:47:12,016 Once you turned that corner, I just... I can't see you at all. 954 00:47:12,016 --> 00:47:14,052 The ropes are just disappearing into the rock. 955 00:47:15,080 --> 00:47:18,024 My radio's beeping. Can you still hear me? 956 00:47:18,024 --> 00:47:20,060 Yeah, I can still hear you. OK, that's good then. 957 00:47:20,060 --> 00:47:24,084 So, on the fourth and fifth pitches, the architecture of the rock is such 958 00:47:24,084 --> 00:47:28,000 that you pull around a corner as soon as you climb 959 00:47:28,000 --> 00:47:29,032 out of the belay, 960 00:47:29,032 --> 00:47:31,084 and that means that you start to lose comms. 961 00:47:31,084 --> 00:47:34,040 Obviously, there's no direct line of sight to Molly. 962 00:47:34,040 --> 00:47:36,044 She can't see me, so she can't help. 963 00:47:36,044 --> 00:47:38,036 He could have been going anywhere. 964 00:47:38,036 --> 00:47:41,012 He could have been doing a new route for all I knew! 965 00:47:41,012 --> 00:47:43,028 Clipped. Nice. 966 00:47:44,048 --> 00:47:49,000 I think you keep just going direct, the line you're heading in now. 967 00:47:50,056 --> 00:47:52,060 There should be some big... 968 00:47:55,048 --> 00:47:57,088 Oh, yeah. You're starting to break up now. 969 00:47:57,088 --> 00:47:59,076 I'm totally on my own at that point. 970 00:47:59,076 --> 00:48:02,080 All I'm doing is I'm feeling around for holds, 971 00:48:02,080 --> 00:48:05,044 and just trying to find the best line. 972 00:48:05,044 --> 00:48:07,076 Often you know when you're going off route. 973 00:48:07,076 --> 00:48:12,008 If you find lichen, or if you find that you run out holds. 974 00:48:14,000 --> 00:48:18,004 Being blind forces you to take the line of weakness up the cliff. 975 00:48:19,016 --> 00:48:22,028 If you run out of holds, then you know you've going the wrong way. 976 00:48:30,060 --> 00:48:33,096 I knew that I just had to keep going and get through that section 977 00:48:33,096 --> 00:48:35,064 as quickly as I possibly could. 978 00:48:40,068 --> 00:48:44,068 You're feeling all over the place, trying to search out for holds 979 00:48:44,068 --> 00:48:47,028 and gear, and you're not getting any directions. 980 00:48:47,028 --> 00:48:49,000 It's all on what you can find. 981 00:48:50,032 --> 00:48:53,032 And on that fourth pitch, it was pretty gripping to watch. 982 00:48:53,032 --> 00:48:57,004 And there were places where I could see he was starting to go off route 983 00:48:57,004 --> 00:48:59,040 and I'd be... I just had to keep tight lipped, 984 00:48:59,040 --> 00:49:00,076 just keep filming. 985 00:49:00,076 --> 00:49:03,004 Yeah, I'm just informed of danger... 986 00:49:03,004 --> 00:49:06,060 There was one section where I just couldn't help myself. 987 00:49:06,060 --> 00:49:10,048 First of all, he was trying to get that damn big cam in once again - 988 00:49:10,048 --> 00:49:12,012 unsuccessfully, I might add. 989 00:49:12,012 --> 00:49:13,064 Oh, you joker! 990 00:49:13,064 --> 00:49:17,072 I could see he was about a foot below this massive fulmar, 991 00:49:17,072 --> 00:49:20,096 and I knew he was just going to climb straight up, 992 00:49:20,096 --> 00:49:23,036 so I had to, kind of, like tell him, you know - 993 00:49:23,036 --> 00:49:26,064 "There's a great big seagull here. You might want to climb around it." 994 00:49:26,064 --> 00:49:28,080 I didn't want him to grab the seagull by the beak! 995 00:49:34,096 --> 00:49:38,020 So if I go...traverse along toward it, toward that...? 996 00:49:41,004 --> 00:49:44,024 I'm safe, Mols. I'm safe. 997 00:49:44,024 --> 00:49:46,044 I am absolutely starving. 998 00:49:46,044 --> 00:49:49,004 But I am so glad that the crux is done - 999 00:49:49,004 --> 00:49:53,048 just time to romp on up to the top now, because time is ticking. 1000 00:49:53,048 --> 00:49:56,000 There was a real sense of relief when he got up to the base 1001 00:49:56,000 --> 00:49:57,044 of the final pitch. 1002 00:49:57,044 --> 00:49:59,000 You know, no-one was saying it, 1003 00:49:59,000 --> 00:50:02,092 but I think we were all kind of feeling that, you know... 1004 00:50:04,008 --> 00:50:05,044 ..he's going to do it. 1005 00:50:11,088 --> 00:50:14,096 And then the last pitch, I could see the whole corner. 1006 00:50:14,096 --> 00:50:18,028 There was loads of gear - I could see the footholds, 1007 00:50:18,028 --> 00:50:22,048 the rock was, you know, a perfect rock. It was just quite spectacular. 1008 00:50:44,056 --> 00:50:46,020 Nice one. 1009 00:50:50,088 --> 00:50:52,092 So the top pitch is just beautiful climbing, 1010 00:50:52,092 --> 00:50:55,052 like an open book corner with a crack in the middle, 1011 00:50:55,052 --> 00:50:58,016 which is formed by a cleft that splits the stack, 1012 00:50:58,016 --> 00:51:00,020 and a series of awesome moves. 1013 00:51:00,020 --> 00:51:02,060 You reach up and you find these holds, 1014 00:51:02,060 --> 00:51:05,000 and you've got this huge sense of satisfaction of, like, 1015 00:51:05,000 --> 00:51:06,064 you know you're almost there. 1016 00:51:06,064 --> 00:51:09,040 You can start to relax and enjoy at this point. 1017 00:51:17,084 --> 00:51:20,004 Any more cracks up there you can feel? 1018 00:51:20,004 --> 00:51:22,008 Just fondling. Hang on. 1019 00:51:24,008 --> 00:51:26,088 Found something? Something in there... 1020 00:51:26,088 --> 00:51:28,052 Nice. 1021 00:51:29,096 --> 00:51:31,028 Yeah. 1022 00:52:13,012 --> 00:52:14,076 Is that tat? Yeah, it is. 1023 00:52:14,076 --> 00:52:18,028 You can see the light shining through the, er...crack. 1024 00:52:18,028 --> 00:52:21,096 I can see the sunset shining through the crack. 1025 00:52:21,096 --> 00:52:23,056 Very special. 1026 00:52:25,092 --> 00:52:27,088 Good work, matey. 1027 00:52:29,008 --> 00:52:31,004 Is that the top of it? 1028 00:52:32,072 --> 00:52:34,044 That is flipping awesome. 1029 00:52:36,008 --> 00:52:37,040 Nice! 1030 00:52:37,040 --> 00:52:38,088 All right. 1031 00:52:38,088 --> 00:52:40,084 Have you got some tat there? 1032 00:52:40,084 --> 00:52:42,092 OK, Molly, I'm safe. 1033 00:52:44,024 --> 00:52:46,084 Are you filming? I am filming. 1034 00:52:46,084 --> 00:52:49,008 Well done, that man. Cheers. 1035 00:52:49,008 --> 00:52:52,040 There was a time, maybe about three years ago, 1036 00:52:52,040 --> 00:52:55,088 where I thought I might have to give up leading as my eyesight got worse 1037 00:52:55,088 --> 00:52:59,064 and I thought maybe, well, not give up climbing, 1038 00:52:59,064 --> 00:53:03,032 but certainly leading trad - my days were probably numbered. 1039 00:53:03,032 --> 00:53:05,048 Look where you're sat now! 1040 00:53:05,048 --> 00:53:08,012 Where am I sat now?! 1041 00:53:09,020 --> 00:53:11,068 Right. You can take me off belay, Mols! 1042 00:53:11,068 --> 00:53:15,032 I really hope that when Molly gets up here, she's going to take 1043 00:53:15,032 --> 00:53:18,048 some awesome photos because in 20 years or so, 1044 00:53:18,048 --> 00:53:20,076 when they fix my eyes, I want to see that view. 1045 00:53:25,052 --> 00:53:26,060 Yes! 1046 00:53:30,056 --> 00:53:31,060 Oh! 1047 00:53:33,028 --> 00:53:34,060 Oh, my God. 1048 00:53:37,040 --> 00:53:39,076 How the hell did you do that on lead? 1049 00:53:41,032 --> 00:53:44,076 That coffin...was so hard. 1050 00:53:44,076 --> 00:53:46,068 That was awesome. 1051 00:53:46,068 --> 00:53:50,024 How do you feel? Yeah. Pretty good! 1052 00:53:51,072 --> 00:53:53,036 You raced up that last bit. 1053 00:53:54,064 --> 00:53:56,096 Did you cry when you got to the top? No. 1054 00:53:56,096 --> 00:53:58,052 I didn't think you would. 1055 00:53:58,052 --> 00:54:00,072 I can feel the sand in my eyes. 1056 00:54:04,060 --> 00:54:07,064 Are you going to use this to find your way down? Yeah, yeah. 1057 00:54:09,088 --> 00:54:11,056 Put your arms up... 1058 00:54:15,028 --> 00:54:18,024 Oh, there's a puffin on top! Yes! 1059 00:54:19,084 --> 00:54:22,008 A little puffin, right up there! 1060 00:54:22,008 --> 00:54:23,072 Whoa! 1061 00:54:47,016 --> 00:54:50,068 I think doing the Old Man of Hoy was really great. 1062 00:54:50,068 --> 00:54:53,036 It was a route that I always wanted to do, 1063 00:54:53,036 --> 00:54:57,092 and a testament, really, to the outlook that I've always had, 1064 00:54:57,092 --> 00:55:00,076 which is that I'm not disabled. 1065 00:55:00,076 --> 00:55:03,016 I'm blind and able.