Life of a mountain:Scafell Pike premieres at Rheged on May 10th

Getting over the fact that Director Terry Abraham picks ridiculously complex titles for his films what you get with Scafell Pike (we're going to stick with that for now) is a touch over 2 hours of video that could change the future of outdoor documentaries for a decade or more. That Abraham should produce such a seminal piece of work in only his second full length film is little short of astonishing. The familar trademark time lapses are still there but there's a polish to the finished product that was missing from The Cairngorms in Winter; from the bookending of the 2 hours with the magnificent shepherdess Alison O'Neill to the perfectly matched score from Freddiehangoler. Where in his previous work there was the occassional discordant clash as the moods changed in the Cairngorms there's a beautiful feel of comfort and consistency with Scafell Pike.

Alison O'Neill, a star in the making

Kicking off the film in a way that set the theme for the next two hours the Wasdale shepherdess extolled the beauty of the Scafells with such a passion and insight that though softly spoken her words resonated a vast crowd. At times she was reminiscent of the writings of John Muir with her perception of the natural features around her and their spiritual value and all the time you could see in her eyes a pride for her workplace mixed with a mother's protective instincts. Though celebrating the joy the Scafells and Wasdale bring she reminded us of the need to guard them jealously and not impose more on them than they can endure.

The line up of well known names and characters flows almost seamlessly throughout the film, and not just the well known. The Scotsman at Scafell Pike summit declaring "why would you ever need to go abroad when you've got views like this" may not have got the screen time of Researcher David Powell Thompson or author Mark Richards but his point was as well put.  While Scafell Pike always grabs the attention this film gives equal attention to the valley and its people. From the farmer at Church Stile Farm to the coverage of the Wasdale Show, Life of a Mountain portrays every aspect of life under the shadow of England's highest mountain.

Scafells sunset from Yewbarrow

Naturally the subject of Wainwright was never far from the tongues of many, a common thread connecting Powell Thompson, photographer Mark Gilligan, and broadcaster and author Eric Robson but it never overwhelmed the the conversation, paying due reference before moving on to the valley and mountains today. As the seasons change from Spring, through Summer, into Autumn the film reinforces the shepherdess's plea to look after this special place through the BMC's Hillwalking Officer Carey Davies before a fascinating conversation with the legendary fell runner and shepherd Joss Naylor. Where in the Cairngorms film the dramatic scenery and time lapses were often the focus in Scafell Pike they form the flowing transitions between seasons, no less dramatic but with a sympathetic soundtrack producing a more warm and welcoming atmosphere throughout.

The mountain rescue team come and go, revealing along the way the pressure on people and resources both throughout the year and during the environmentally and socially dubious 24 hour 3 Peaks period which sees the valley attract thousands in the dead of night. Before you know it the minutes have ticked by and you're watching another legend of the outdoors as Alan Hinkes celebrates the history of climbing on the Scafell Range combined with a word or two of caution for those taking to the fells, and those taking to Broad Stand in particular. If you're looking for a link with Abraham's earlier work the appearance of the BMC's recently appointed Hill Walking Ambassador, Chris Townsend, will come as no surprise. Where in the Cairngorms he dominated the dialogue, however, here he was in concentrated form, visibly enjoying the opportunity to wild camp in England's highest hills. The experience of the Cairngorms appears to have put Townsend more at ease with both camera and audio, and while not particularly associated with the range his short segment has a clarity of the purpose of wild camping few other films have portrayed. With a symmetry that just seems natural Alison O'Neill closes proceedings and the two hours has flown by.

Chris Townsend wild camping in Upper Eskdale

So what's it like? Well in many ways it's a hard film to review. It's so different from anything before, Cairngorms included, that it's almost impossible to reference. It's not going to appeal to the adrenaline junkies of Kendal Mountain Festival or Epic TV but Scafell Pike has the potential to reach out to a bigger audience. If Fiona Bruce or Julia Bradbury had appeared on screen it would have come as no surprise, it had that warm, sat in front of a log fire, sipping hot chocolate and listening to the Archers kind of feel associated with the world of mainstream broadcast. It could have been a Countryside Special, except Countryfile probably couldn't build the obvious rapport enjoyed between Abraham and the locals of this isolated and very parochial valley. It feels as though in filming Scafell Pike he's actually walked the mile in each of their shoes to understand the people of Wasdale and the Scafells.

Half a century ago Alfred Wainwright set the standard for the written word on the Lake District and now through Life of a Mountain: Scafell Pike Terry Abraham has set the standard for the 21st century equivalent in video format. In may ways Abraham resembles Wainwright, from being an outsider whose heart was captured by the country's highest fells to his love of solitary hours and days in his beloved mountains. Where Wainwright has had his books tweaked over the years to reflect change they still remain the hill walkers' bible despite imitation and in the same way Life of a Mountain will become the Wainwright of the 21st Century - there's no point in

trying to imitate it or expand on it; in 2 hours it's defined the fells, the valleys and the people - until technology comes up with something more immersive than video. Quite simply outdoor documentaries have changed in the making of a single film and the scale of the change is going to make it very hard for those who follow - perhaps even for Abraham himself. This was his "baby" and his baby's just come of age.

Sunrise from Scafell Pike

'Life of a Mountain: Scafell Pike' - A cinematic documentary showcasing England's highest mountain through the seasons, featuring all those who live, work, care for and play around this iconic peak. Released May 2014.
Rab Presents A film by Terry Abraham
Music by Freddiehangoler/Soundgem Studios
http://www.rab.uk.com/
In association with:
The British Mountaineering Council
http://www.thebmc.co.uk/
Force Ten
http://www.forcetentents.com/
Vango
https://www.vango.co.uk/
Sawyer Europe
http://www.sawyereurope.com/
The National Trust
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/north...
Cumbria Tourism
http://www.cumbriatourism.org/

Note: This article was restored from the archives. It's published creation date is inaccurate.