Pete K
Well-known member
Posting this across from the mods on AditNow as it is relevant to cavers too. The following black text is mine though.
https://www.aditnow.co.uk/Community/viewtopic.aspx?p=199479#msg199479
"This is a general warning to all mine explorers, cavers and URBEXers about a group called Exploring with Fighters.
The group is well known in URBEXing circles for their sensationalist videos and for bringing public attention to locations that responsible explorers have kept off-radar for years.
They have recently turned their attention to mines, and most recently Welsh slate mines.
I'm mindful many - probably most - of us have been places we shouldn't, so this sort of post always feels a bit hypocritical; but their explorations are always followed by click bait videos pushed out to a very large social media following. They have potential to do real harm to access arrangements and even to businesses operating in disused mines.
There is a mass of information about mines and quarries available online, including on here. But, if you are contacted by Exploring with Fighters then please do not:
- Give them any information that will help them locate or access sites
- Guide them places
I'm not going to give them the fuel of publicity, Google them if you wish."
I believe these are the people responsible for a rescue in Box which resulted in the mine being welded up. They have recently caused some issues in Cwmorthin, a working mine, which might impact on future access for explorers. There are other sites that the owners or managers are now aware can be accessed too, or who have been quite happy knowing explorers do enter but do so secretly until recently, so we might lose some of the best mines in the UK if this carries on.
These chaps are obviously not solely responsible for the increase to damage and exposure in some of the most sensitive mines in the UK, there are a number of culprits. Certainly in N Wales, a number of well preserved but very sensitive sites have recently been plastered over social media, some innocently and some with full knowledge of the sensitivity of access. Some of the folk in or behind FB groups like 'The Amazing Quarries and Mines of North Wales And beyond" or YouTube validation seekers like Exploring With Fighters, C9C or anyone who uses the term "Explores" or clickbait crap titles, they are all in part to blame for this state of affairs.
I urge you to make sure that anyone you pass details of sites on to is trustworthy and knows that the site needs to remain off social media.
I also suggest we all look very carefully at what we post on places like FB and Twitter to make sure that we are not in part fueling the problem. Use private forums, keep entrance details and locations off public posts, don't name sites!
Finally, if someone tells you a site is sensitive or you know this to be the case already, then for goodness sake keep it off Facebook. Yes you might have taken some lovely photos you wish to share, and yes it is nice to know people are impressed that you managed to get into 'X' mine or cave, but your need for personal validation by the approval or 'likes' of others is not more important than the security and preservation of these locations. Use a private forum if you must and remember that every time you put something online, you are risking that site for the next generation of responsible explorers by attracting idiots like Exploring with Fighters or people with no experience who just want to go a visit the 'Cavern of Lost Souls' because they saw it on Instagram (which is another Welsh mine recently lost to explorers due to social media).
I know that might come over a bit preachy, but we can activity see the damage being done to access in N Wales and the social media problem will only get worse. Have a thought for the mines, caves and any future visitors before you post. Your personal affirmation via social media is not worth the damage, graffiti or access issues that you are likely contributing to.
https://www.aditnow.co.uk/Community/viewtopic.aspx?p=199479#msg199479
"This is a general warning to all mine explorers, cavers and URBEXers about a group called Exploring with Fighters.
The group is well known in URBEXing circles for their sensationalist videos and for bringing public attention to locations that responsible explorers have kept off-radar for years.
They have recently turned their attention to mines, and most recently Welsh slate mines.
I'm mindful many - probably most - of us have been places we shouldn't, so this sort of post always feels a bit hypocritical; but their explorations are always followed by click bait videos pushed out to a very large social media following. They have potential to do real harm to access arrangements and even to businesses operating in disused mines.
There is a mass of information about mines and quarries available online, including on here. But, if you are contacted by Exploring with Fighters then please do not:
- Give them any information that will help them locate or access sites
- Guide them places
I'm not going to give them the fuel of publicity, Google them if you wish."
I believe these are the people responsible for a rescue in Box which resulted in the mine being welded up. They have recently caused some issues in Cwmorthin, a working mine, which might impact on future access for explorers. There are other sites that the owners or managers are now aware can be accessed too, or who have been quite happy knowing explorers do enter but do so secretly until recently, so we might lose some of the best mines in the UK if this carries on.
These chaps are obviously not solely responsible for the increase to damage and exposure in some of the most sensitive mines in the UK, there are a number of culprits. Certainly in N Wales, a number of well preserved but very sensitive sites have recently been plastered over social media, some innocently and some with full knowledge of the sensitivity of access. Some of the folk in or behind FB groups like 'The Amazing Quarries and Mines of North Wales And beyond" or YouTube validation seekers like Exploring With Fighters, C9C or anyone who uses the term "Explores" or clickbait crap titles, they are all in part to blame for this state of affairs.
I urge you to make sure that anyone you pass details of sites on to is trustworthy and knows that the site needs to remain off social media.
I also suggest we all look very carefully at what we post on places like FB and Twitter to make sure that we are not in part fueling the problem. Use private forums, keep entrance details and locations off public posts, don't name sites!
Finally, if someone tells you a site is sensitive or you know this to be the case already, then for goodness sake keep it off Facebook. Yes you might have taken some lovely photos you wish to share, and yes it is nice to know people are impressed that you managed to get into 'X' mine or cave, but your need for personal validation by the approval or 'likes' of others is not more important than the security and preservation of these locations. Use a private forum if you must and remember that every time you put something online, you are risking that site for the next generation of responsible explorers by attracting idiots like Exploring with Fighters or people with no experience who just want to go a visit the 'Cavern of Lost Souls' because they saw it on Instagram (which is another Welsh mine recently lost to explorers due to social media).
I know that might come over a bit preachy, but we can activity see the damage being done to access in N Wales and the social media problem will only get worse. Have a thought for the mines, caves and any future visitors before you post. Your personal affirmation via social media is not worth the damage, graffiti or access issues that you are likely contributing to.