No.8 Beware Scafell Pike's Bloody Boulders!

Bloody Boulders, Ruddy Rocks

Scafell Pike,

The Lake District.

Acrylic on stretched canvas

16.5" x 11.5"

2019

Why I chose this scene/subject:

Before my BG, I got lots of help and advice from my good friend Geoff, at Elvet Striders. He'd do a bit of a leg with me and then I would go alone and master it. There was one section, Lord's Rake, that I had not managed to recce because of the snow over the winter. I was due to support a friend's BG a couple of weeks before my attempt. He planned to go down Lord's Rake, so I wanted to do it beforehand. I recruited Mike, another friend from the club and we drove around to Wasdale, went up Scafell and stood at the top of the West Wall traverse. I had a little peek down and said there's no way you're going to get me down there. He looked at me with a twinkle in his eye and said it's all in your head Elaine, get yourself moving. We did it, got up to the top of Scafell Pike and he asked me if I wanted to try Foxes Tarn route as well, however, this would lose a lot of height and so take longer. Energised and determined, I said that I would keep to Lord's Rake. I was really happy because I had just completed the whole of the BG route. We stopped for a little celebratory picnic. This is the view that I have captured here. Mike's not with us any more, so that holds particular fondness for me. He was a good friend and lovely man.

This is when I learnt my trade. Learning the fells, how to map read, learning kit - what kit to use on bad days, how to bail on bad days and how to navigate in mist.

The view here is our picnic spot when we were descending the tourist track from Scafell Pike to Wasdale, on the saddle with Lingmell Fell.

Why I gave it this title:

On a good day, it's quite nice to bounce across the rocks, boulder hopping, but when it's wet, its a bloody nightmare and you will hear me cursing.

Why it makes my Top 10:

It was the day when I came down and said, that's my BG route sealed and perhaps that dream of reaching the Moot Hall was in my grasp. It holds a special place in my heart. It's also the highest peak in England and a popular walk and run for many, so I felt it needs to be on the list.

The painting itself is filled with energetic brushstrokes and vibrant colours that sweep upwards to the heavens and the summit of Scafell Pike. I felt that I wanted to capture the joy of my achievement and just the happiness of being out with good friends and falling in love with the fells.

Thanks for joining me on my ruddy ramble!

Next up will be No.9 'All the Time in the World', from Cape Wrath Ultra.

Have a great week

Elaine.