Terry Abraham on Life of a Mountain: Blencathra Interview

© Terry Abraham

Acclaimed outdoor film maker Terry Abraham is putting the finishing touches to his latest work, Life of a Mountain: Blencathra. ​Over the last year he has practically lived on and under the fell, capturing it in all seasons as he's explored Blencathra's place in the life of the local community and its significance to hillwalkers. From the floods of December 2015 to ongoing efforts to buy the much-loved fell on behalf of the nation, it has been an eventful time to shoot a documentary, and no doubt this will be reflected in the film.

Life of a Mountain: Blencathra is due for release in May 2016, so we thought we'd grab Terry before he becomes hot media property yet again, to see how he's been getting on.

But first here's the trailer:

"Don't ask how many times I've been up Blencathra - I lost count months ago, but it's certainly made me fit!"

Lakeland filming  © Terry Abraham
Lakeland filming
© Terry Abraham

UKHillwalking: Your first Life of a Mountain film on Scafell Pike (see our review here) struck a chord far beyond the dedicated hill-going community, and even hit national TV. As the highest point in England Scafell Pike was an obvious choice for this sort of attention. What made you pick Blencathra next?

Terry: I was coerced! I had planned on doing Helvellyn next in 2017 but prior to that idea I was set to work on another documentary. Alas broadcaster Eric Robson persuaded me to set to work on Blencathra instead, emphasising it was a topical fell at the moment what with it being up for sale. And it's a popular fell too. I'll admit I'd always been somewhat indifferent to ole Saddleback (as the locals genuinely call it despite what you may read in guidebooks and magazines) so I figured I'd go along and see what all the fuss was about.

I'm pleased I did. I've fallen head over heels for Blencathra! Within a couple of months working on the documentary it soon became apparent to me how much love and affection there is for the mountain. And in a roundabout way, the popularity of the fell has been in the back of my mind ever since. I've been acutely aware that there are a lot of eyes on me with high expectations because of this, and also because of the success of my Scafell Pike film.

Steve Birkinshaw running Blencathra  © Terry Abraham
Steve Birkinshaw running Blencathra
© Terry Abraham

"I wasn't going to include the floods in the film, thinking it would be distasteful. But the locals all screamed at me to capture it on camera to help raise awareness"

How long have you been shooting it?

I began filming in February 2015 and had completed all principal filming by January. So a year basically. I essentially lived by Blencathra for much of the past year, ready to pounce and hit the tops when the conditions were right to capture the area at its very best. The locals and wider public have been tremendously supportive of me and the project, to which I'll be eternally grateful. Saying that I still work alone doing what I do, with the exception of the aerial scenes you'll see in the final film. I've done some [of the drone footage], but the rest has been down to Alun and Adam at Flying Glass. Alun got in touch with me last year as he was a fan of my Scafells film and consequently offered to work with me on Blencathra.

David Powell-Thompson on a wintry Blencathra  © Terry Abraham
David Powell-Thompson on a wintry Blencathra
© Terry Abraham

Sounds like a mega project. Are you really still on track for the May release?

I'm ahead of schedule. I've been very lucky with the weather for the most part with Blencathra. I'm set to complete editing of the film by mid-March whereupon it will then be off to the printers for DVD and prepared for cinema screenings. In many respects I've had much more time to work on this documentary than I did with Scafell Pike. It doesn't feel like it mind.

What have been the main challenges with this film?

Blencathra isn't an easy fell to capture on camera. That may sound daft to some readers as its southern aspect is very dramatic. But bar that, round the back it's smooth and rounded which is rather boring! I've been keen to not be repetitive with scenes of the fell through the seasons so it's meant me having to really think outside the box and wander to places I may not have considered to bring variety to the visuals; be it up close or from afar. It's been enjoyable. There are vantage points I've visited countless times waiting for the right light and conditions, not all of which I've been able to film sadly. That frustrates me a great deal. But I got enough in the bag so I can't complain.

And don't ask how many times I've been up Blencathra - I lost count months ago, but it's certainly made me fit!

Shooting Sharp Edge with Stuart Maconie, Ed Byrne and David Powell-Thompson  © Terry Abraham
Shooting Sharp Edge with Stuart Maconie, Ed Byrne and David Powell-Thompson
© Terry Abraham

"Blencathra isn't an easy fell to capture on camera​. I've had to think outside the box"

Presumably it's been a lot of fun too?

[There have been] too many rewards to list here! I'm just grateful I've pulled through without any problems. I guess the best thing about working on this has been the friends I've made in the area. Without their company and support I'd never have been able to complete the film. I hope to move to the area one day as a result. Fingers crossed!

Terry camping on Jenkin Hill  © Terry Abraham
Terry camping on Jenkin Hill
© Terry Abraham

The December floods must have had a bearing on your filming - what was it like?

I've never seen anything like it. It was heart breaking, awful. I was lucky to have been based at the Blencathra Field Centre which resides about 600ft above sea level. The worst thing I had to contend with was hurricane force winds that weekend. 

But the effects [of the flooding] are still being felt today, and will continue to be for years to come.

Tourism has dropped off a cliff for many businesses, so do pop back!! It's open for business. I was astonished not more people visited the area when the snows came. I think there's this perception that the floods wrecked the Lakes and it's not worth bothering to visit. But it is. Granted some roads and bridges are down and all that, and a great many paths are closed too, but all in all it's much the same as before.

I wasn't going to include the floods in the film, thinking it would be distasteful. But the locals all screamed at me to capture it on camera to help raise awareness of their plight. I've tried to be thoughtful and sensitive to the subject in the documentary as a result. 

Milky Way and inversion over Keswick  © Terry Abraham
Milky Way and inversion over Keswick
© Terry Abraham

  • Life of a Mountain: Blencathra premieres at the Rheged Centre, 14th May, and then goes on sale at stridingedge.com

 

 



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