In love with the mountains and hiking. It is the profile of Chano Gil Ramos (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 1953), a retired banker and musician. Vocal of Environment and Communication in the Tenerife Mountaineering Federation, has coordinated the cleaning of volunteers in the Teide National Park.
How did the idea of cleaning the Altavista Refuge come up?
Through a conversation between Humberto Domínguez, president of the Insular Federation, Pedro Millán and myself. We value the quick response of the National Park, whose director has given us all the facilities, as well as the cable car for their collaboration. The selfless offering of the volunteers is worth noting. From the beginning, at dawn, people turned to waste collection, impressed by the large amount of garbage, especially in the Altavista Refuge area. We are concerned about the state of many natural spaces and more about the Teide National Park. Every day thousands of people come to Las Cañadas and this brings with it added problems that require social consensus to find solutions among all. Between all of them, promote a great debate and generate synergies to find alternatives for sustainability.
What must be done so that these images do not repeat themselves?
It is essential to create informational and training fronts to promote comprehensive environmental education. The same citizens who follow the recommendations of the three R’s, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle in our daily lives, when we get close to nature we must also follow some guidelines, measures as simple as not dirtying, not generating noise, leaving only the footprint of our feet when walking, respecting wildlife, etc. Nature is not an amusement park and our future as a species requires a radical change in behavior, valuing and planning our actions to cause the least possible impact in order to preserve biodiversity.
One key is the reopening of the Altavista Refuge?
Definitely. Mountaineers have claimed since its closure, which we never understood, that it is reopening; We are aware that a large part of the institutional managers are for the work. For more than a hundred years, the Refuge has helped people in trouble. But the most important thing is the large number of lives saved, without forgetting their guards, always committed to helping. It is not just any installation, it is among the oldest and most significant refuges in the Spanish geography; We ask that it be reopened, with the Covid-19 protocol, as soon as possible. With the high demand from the Canarian mountain community, the peninsula and other countries, its disqualification is incomprehensible.
How do you see the idea of taking the cars off Teide?
Traffic through the National Park has been a pending issue, especially when there is snowfall, since everyone wants to climb and there is no space. Legally it is not possible to prevent the passage of vehicles on the road but it is necessary to control those whose occupants are going to visit the park. The idea shuffled years ago is to put shuttle buses. A parking area would be enabled at both ends, thus greatly reducing traffic. Formulas should be studied so that mountaineers and other groups can access by car and park at certain points. We have already submitted submissions to take into account special situations like this.
Founded in 1996 Montañeros de Nivaria. Analyze the club.
It is a non-profit organization and all its initiatives are voluntary. It owns a property where the board of directors and coordinators meet, key figures, since all activities emanate from them, especially hiking. The main objective is to enjoy nature, do sports in a sustainable way, defend its conservation and make it a meeting point. We pay special attention to the environment and the recovery of heritage associated with the trails. We carry out endless campaigns to collect waste and control invasive plants. We carry out environmental tasks in the Bosque de Agua García together with other groups. In addition, we give talks in schools, as well as practices in the open field.
Convince a sedentary person to go hiking.
The benefits of hiking are very positive for physical and emotional balance. Sedentary life generates, directly or indirectly, imbalances in people, making them prone to diseases. Besides that walking in nature improves blood flow and is good for emotional balance.
He is a defender of the traditional roads of Tenerife.
We are disciples of the father of Tenerife mountaineering, Miguel Pérez Carballo, the first honorary member of our entity. Miguel’s work in defense of the traditional ways of the Island has led him to make real encyclopedias. We defend with him the idea that we should all be able to leave the house and connect with the network of trails. An example is in our rescue of the Camino de Las Lecheras. A tough task because we find problems such as the usurpation of public roads.
Nature, infrastructures and humans. Difficult balance?
Our Island is already on the verge of population collapse. We have to come to the conclusion that new infrastructures that cause damage to natural spaces are not necessary. We must promote sustainable tourism compared to sun and beach tourism.
Do you need more environmental awareness?
It is essential. The years that have passed since the discipline of basic education was eliminated weigh heavily.
The most complicated situation you have experienced in the mountains?
I have lived them when there have been mishaps, but they have been resolved. We have been lost and we have found ourselves by applying knowledge of orientation and survival; We have helped colleagues to overcome difficult moments derived from bad weather or small accidents. I couldn’t highlight any in particular.
The most beautiful natural space on the Island for you?
I respect and love all the Natural Spaces of the Island equally, but if they give me a choice, I’ll take the Anaga Biosphere Reserve, an essential witness of our geological and natural past and present. Unique and unrepeatable.
