A few weeks ago, it was announced that the Abrigu Speleological Group had discovered new cave paintings in the Cueva del Linar, in the Cantabrian municipality of Alfoz de Lloredo. The news, which went viral on social networks, generated countless comments of support and congratulations for these speleologists. “Bravo”, “we must support the people who care for and study our heritage” or “they deserve an award” are some of these comments.
Three days later, the resolution of the Government of Cantabria was announced, imposing rescue costs on the two speleologists lost this summer in the Mortillano system. On that occasion, the comments raised on the networks or in the media were of a completely different tenor: “I don’t think so”, “bravo, not with my taxes”, “let this serve as a lesson”, “perroflautas”.. Isabel Urrutia, advisor to the Presidency of Cantabria, stressed the next day that the rate imposed is “a warning for the rest”.
In just three days, the members of a group that in Spain has more than 10,000 people (according to the Higher Council of Sports in 2022, 9,635 people were federated, although many others practice it without federating) have gone from being almost scientific for some reckless and brainless people. In a media ecosystem characterized by the viscerality and polarization of social networks, these reversals of public opinion should not surprise us too much. But is there a basis for these exacerbated reactions?
The rate of discord
Ángel García is secretary of the Ramaliega Speleological Group, a club that has just celebrated its 60th anniversary. Focused on the exploration of Ramales, Ruesga and Soba, during their career they have found a good number of archaeological sites, contributed more than 75 kilometers to the exploration of the Mortillano system (second in Spain, with more than 140 kilometers), discovered the second largest underground room on the peninsula or collaborated in the recovery of the remains of Eloy Campillo at almost 200 meters deep in the Picos de Europa (in accordance with the Memory Law that the PP and Vox now intend to repeal). For years they have also managed rescues in Cantabria in collaboration with many other speleologists, after signing an agreement with the Civil Protection.
Asked about the collection of the fee, García is precise. Although he considers that the speleologists “may not have acted in the most appropriate way”, he considers it “absurd and unfair” to collect this ransom, when “the thousands of 112 interventions in other areas do not go through cash”. “Have they charged those who blocked their cars on the different Cantabrian beaches, or the owners of ferrates who were left hanging from a cable?”, he asks indignantly.
“No one would consider charging an overweight person who smokes and drinks the costs of their health care, which amount to tens of thousands of euros, even though it is obvious that in certain circumstances maintaining this lifestyle is pure negligence.” On the contrary, he says, caving is an activity that promotes a healthy lifestyle and has led to interesting archaeological, geological and other discoveries.
“The government of Cantabria likes to highlight as much as the discoveries of La Garma or the recent one of the cave of El Linar, but none of this would be possible without the quiet work of generations of speleologists who have crawled into the bowels of Cantabria,” it indicates.
Carelessness or not?
Another aspect that is unanimous among the group of speleologists is that it is wrong to speak of “imprudence” in the case of colleagues rescued in the summer. García explains that the Government of Cantabria “requires calling 112 before entering a cave”. This is a very unpopular measure among the group of Cantabrian speleologists. And this requirement does not apply to any other activity and does not exist in any other autonomous community.
“Whether you agree with this measure or not,” he emphasizes, “you can’t talk about imprudence simply because you don’t call 112.” In reality, groups with an annual exploration permit are not required to comply with this requirement, unlike sporadic visitors. “Imprudence would be to enter without warning anyone, so that no one knows where you are. But that wasn’t the case, these people warned others, but not 112.”
Alfredo Moreno is the technical director of the MTDE and ETDE, a national reference in caving-rescue training. This week, he is giving a rescue course in Ramales de la Victoria. When asked about carelessness in the world of caving, his answer is straightforward: “They are very rare.” “In all the years that I have participated in rescues, I believe that carelessness was not the cause of any of them,” he emphasizes.
He explains that unlike other activities such as hiking or via ferrata, descending a chasm involves learning progression techniques that cannot be learned in a day, so there is a “filter”. Training is acquired in caving clubs, and there is a gradation in the level of difficulty that they assume, as experience increases.
Although there is usually no recklessness, it is still an activity that involves a certain risk: “Although it is a mistake to classify it as a risky sport,” says Moreno. Unexpected floods due to bad weather, the occasional falling rock, a sprained ankle… However, the incident rate in caving is very low. Although there is no unified data, we can give some clues: according to the Civil Guard, between 2013 and 2019 there were two deaths and 16 injuries while practicing this sporting activity. That is one death every three years and fewer than three injuries per year.
Officials from the Cantabrian Speleology Federation pointed out in a recent interview that, according to data provided by 112, “in the last nine years there have been 20 rescues in caves.” On average, just over two interventions per year, most of them simple losses or delays. Neither the data from the Civil Guard nor those from 112 seem to indicate reckless and imprudent activity.
Why this controversy?
At the ARE, they are clear: the communication model demanded by social networks leads to an overexposure and dramatization of these issues. García gives an example. “In the 90s, three of our companions found themselves without lighting in the Cave of the Wolf, and they stayed there for three days. The press simply reflected it in a brief note, no one raised an eyebrow. “This summer has been a somewhat imprescriptible media circus,” he says.
All the cavers consulted share this opinion. “It was ridiculous to see how some media or networks tried to update the content from time to time, while we all know that the search for lost cavers has its own rhythm,” says another veteran of the rescue. The tendency to turn any issue into a controversy, as well as the dynamics of comments aimed at making firewood from the fallen tree, did the rest.
The rate: prudence or populist punitivism?
The statements by councillor Isabel Urrutia on the “wise” nature of the collection of the fee have particularly badly received the group of speleologists of Cantabria, made up of 500 federated members. A speleologist from Santander highlights the inconsistency of the statements. “On the one hand, it is said that it is not a fine, but a fee; but on the other hand, it is a warning. “Let it be clarified,” he says, annoyed.
Enrique Ogando is president of the Grupo Caving La Lastrilla, another club with more than half a century of existence. He has been organizing exploration campaigns in the Picos de Europa for more than a quarter of a century and has participated in numerous rescues. With the perspective given by experience, this touches on the same idea highlighted by García: there is discriminatory treatment compared to other activities. “If you arrive in Berria and they have to take you by boat, you look the other way, because sun and beach tourism costs a lot of money. Today, a minority group like ours is perfect to become a scapegoat,” he criticizes.
The group advocates common sense. “We are neither scientists nor madmen. We develop a sporting activity that frequently benefits the knowledge of the natural and historical heritage of Cantabria. They do not need to put streets in front of us, but at least they do not need to bother us or treat us as reckless,” asks García.
