Dufton had hoped to climb the route “on-sight,” without falls or prior observation. However, a slip and fall prevented this. Despite describing El Matador as the hardest route he has attempted, Dufton refuses to let his lack of eyesight hold him back. He continues to climb challenging rock faces as a way to defy fate and take control of his life choices. Dufton emphasizes the importance of taking risks and not letting fear of the unknown prevent one from experiencing life to the fullest.
Born with cone-rod dystrophy, Dufton has been climbing since childhood. Supported by his wife Molly, the couple has developed a unique communication system using a two-way radio while climbing together. Molly ensures safety by guiding Dufton through the route before he starts climbing and focusing on crucial details during the ascent.
Their partnership, built on trust and mutual respect, has seen them conquer over 2,000 routes together. Dufton relies on non-visual cues, such as feeling the footholds through his shoes, to navigate the climbs. He credits his endurance as his greatest strength, compensating for any lack in finger strength. The couple’s synchronized climbing approach minimizes the room for arguments and distractions, allowing them to focus completely on the challenging mental and physical demands of climbing.
“(Sometimes) she’s way down below, and she just can’t see, so especially on some pitches where you go around the corner or over a roof or something like that, well, the line of sight is blocked,” says Dufton. “She can’t give you any information. That’s a fairly standard occurrence.”
As with any high-stakes activity, theirs is a bond built on trust.
“In any kind of normal climbing, you are literally putting your life in your partner’s hands because, if you fall off and they don’t catch you on the belay, you know, if you’re high up, you’re going to die,” he explains. “That is a fundamental part of any climbing partnership.”
“The fact that we are life partners as well, in some ways, doesn’t make that much difference, I think, because you’ve already committed to trusting your life to someone.”
Molly agrees: “We’re both really passionate about (climbing), so it isn’t like a drain on one of us. And I almost get more out of watching him succeed than my own climbing.”
