Urban Exploration.

[Sanzenbacher]

I've been interesting in getting into this for awhile. Anyone have any stories to share? Any and all input appreciated.

I'd probably be doing this alone, since my friends don't really share this desire to do things such as this. I don't know if that'd be a hindrance or a benefit. I suppose it probably depends on the situation. Certain circumstances probably work better in teams, whereas other times it's probably best to be alone.

There's an old movie theater that's been abandoned for years that I'd like to check out. Also an old grocery store that's been rotting away.

I'm sure most of you are familiar with it, but here's the wiki article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_exploration

[Lucid]

It's generally best to go with someone. You can make the call depending on where you're going. If you're planning on draining, definitely take a friend. Do yourself a favor and track down someone local who is experienced if you want to go "under" the city. Any center large enough to have explorable drains more than likely has a group of drainers you can track down online, and they are almost always plenty willing to take newbs out. Old abandoned stuff is always cool to check out, my personal favoite hobby when i was in the city was "topping" buildings though. Getting on top of big active buildings is a rush.

[Sanzenbacher]

Originally Posted by Lucid

It's generally best to go with someone. You can make the call depending on where you're going. If you're planning on draining, definitely take a friend. Do yourself a favor and track down someone local who is experienced if you want to go "under" the city. Any center large enough to have explorable drains more than likely has a group of drainers you can track down online, and they are almost always plenty willing to take newbs out. Old abandoned stuff is always cool to check out, my personal favoite hobby when i was in the city was "topping" buildings though. Getting on top of big active buildings is a rush.

Thanks, man.

I'll browse around and try to find a group online or some sort of forums. I did find a forum that looks to be promising, they even have a Regional section. I think that doing it an active building would be tight, but also a lot riskier (I'm guessing?). Maybe not, though? Couldn't you like blend in and then just act like you know where you're going and find the elevator or something..? I don't know.

I'll read the FAQ on this forum I found, and just start reading some threads about it.

EDIT: Oh, I was going to ask. What do you suggest "taking" with you on a trip? I would be hesitant on bringing a cellphone, since if one were to get caught they could probably use it to find out who you are and such. Though, if one were to fall or get hurt or stuck, you'd be screwed if you didn't have a way of contacting anyone.

[The Pat-Man]

i went into an old chemical plant and it gave me neurological damage woop.

[Sanzenbacher]

Originally Posted by The Pat-Man

i went into an old chemical plant and it gave me neurological damage woop.

Sounds like a cheap way to get high, man.

[Satyr]

We had this abandoned old factory nearby. It's now renovated and turned into a private artgallery. Quite a shame. We (friend and I) went exploring there frequently. We've been all the way from the pitchblack basement to the absolute top of the building. It was pretty scary actually. We also went to check it out at night once. Looking back, that probably wasn't the best of ideas, place was full of junkies and crackheads.

We loved the place. It was an old grainsilo. In the concrete flooring you can still see where the silos used to be, going several tens of meters deep. Just looking into it gave me the creeps. The stairs were either rusty spiral staircases or concrete ones with chunks missing.

The creepiest moment was when we visited the livingquarters at night. It was something straight out of Silent Hill. Torn down wallpaper, rotten and squeeking wooden flooring, damaged furniture, broken windows..

This guy seems to have a photoset of the place before the renovations. Not all of them are relevant, but some give a pretty good impression. Especially the ones of the living quarters.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brunode...th/3392768543/

And another gallery if you're interested:

http://www.urbexforum.nl/viewer/index.php?album=dolfijn

[Lucid]

Originally Posted by Sanzenbacher

Thanks, man.

I'll browse around and try to find a group online or some sort of forums. I did find a forum that looks to be promising, they even have a Regional section. I think that doing it an active building would be tight, but also a lot riskier (I'm guessing?). Maybe not, though? Couldn't you like blend in and then just act like you know where you're going and find the elevator or something..? I don't know.

I'll read the FAQ on this forum I found, and just start reading some threads about it.

EDIT: Oh, I was going to ask. What do you suggest "taking" with you on a trip? I would be hesitant on bringing a cellphone, since if one were to get caught they could probably use it to find out who you are and such. Though, if one were to fall or get hurt or stuck, you'd be screwed if you didn't have a way of contacting anyone.

Take the cellphone. It'll get you out of more shit than it will ever get you into. If you get caught, and hey want to be fucking pricks about it, the most you'll get hit with is a trespassing charge. Most people just give you a warning and tell you to gtfo and not come back. Any time I ever got caught I just played dumb, or fucking ran if it seemed like the more reasonable option. If you do happen to find yourself stuck, or hurt, or in trouble in an old abandoned building, you're going to wish you had it. Most abandoned buildings have their fair share of dangers lurking around. Wandering around where you're not supposed to be in an active building is all about looking like you're supposed to be there. Stroll around like you don't give a fuck, dress the part if you think it'll help. Occasionally it's good to even approach other people or initiate conversation first. Say hello if you happen across someone. Remain friendly, and act like it's no big deal to be where ever you are.

What should you take? Well, depends where you're going. If you're getting into some old abandoned shit, wear hiking boots, take gloves, a flashlight, digital camera, and those little white dust masks come in extremely handy for some places if you have the forethought to take them. You'll find yourself stomping through foot deep dried up old pigeon shit in a lot of old buildings. Things not to take, anything that will get you in shit. Leave the spray paint and pellet guns at home. Don't break anything, as tempting as shattering glass is. You don't need to give anyone an excuse to get you in shit if you are caught.

[Lucid]

Originally Posted by Satyr

We had this abandoned old factory nearby. It's now renovated and turned into a private artgallery. Quite a shame. We (friend and I) went exploring there frequently. We've been all the way from the pitchblack basement to the absolute top of the building. It was pretty scary actually. We also went to check it out at night once. Looking back, that probably wasn't the best of ideas, place was full of junkies and crackheads.

We loved the place. It was an old grainsilo. In the concrete flooring you can still see where the silos used to be, going several tens of meters deep. Just looking into it gave me the creeps. The stairs were either rusty spiral staircases or concrete ones with chunks missing.

The creepiest moment was when we visited the livingquarters at night. It was something straight out of Silent Hill. Torn down wallpaper, rotten and squeeking wooden flooring, damaged furniture, broken windows..

This guy seems to have a photoset of the place before the renovations. Not all of them are relevant, but some give a pretty good impression. Especially the ones of the living quarters.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brunode...th/3392768543/

And another gallery if you're interested:

http://www.urbexforum.nl/viewer/index.php?album=dolfijn

Reminds me a lot of the first old building I ever snuck around in as a teenager. There used to be an old power plant in the valley that was abandoned for decades looked just like that inside. the basement used to flood, but if you waited it out, you could get down and snoop around all these crazy corridors at the end of the summer. Good times.

[Sanzenbacher]

I've been getting itchy feet, and I'll be moving soon, so I need to check out some of the places.

I was thinking of going tonight, possibly, just on a whim. I probably shouldn't since it's good to have plans of entry, exit, all that jazz.

I'm just bored as hell. There is a new grocery store being built, and I'd like hypothetically to go around and explore the insides of it, before it's all the way built. I assume construction zones are generally watched closely by police, though...

Also, an old aluminum tin crushing can facility has been empty for a few years.

[sexually vulnerable CPR dummy]

This is some Silent Hill shit right here.

[Satyr]

Originally Posted by sexually vulnerable CPR dummy

This is some Silent Hill shit right here.

That is quite fucking disturbing. It's the shit nightmares are made of.

[SHARP]

Originally Posted by Sanzenbacher

I've been interesting in getting into this for awhile. Anyone have any stories to share? Any and all input appreciated.

I'd probably be doing this alone, since my friends don't really share this desire to do things such as this. I don't know if that'd be a hindrance or a benefit. I suppose it probably depends on the situation. Certain circumstances probably work better in teams, whereas other times it's probably best to be alone.

There's an old movie theater that's been abandoned for years that I'd like to check out. Also an old grocery store that's been rotting away.

I'm sure most of you are familiar with it, but here's the wiki article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_exploration

Yeah, I've been a couple o' places back in the days, a couple of abandoned chemical plants, an abandoned textile factory, a few active construction cranes, a subway under construction, a sewer or two, an abandoned shipyard, and a few military fortifications from 1600-1800 along with a couple o' other places I'm not dumb enough to name.

I don't really have any stories I'd like to share right now, but at least I have a pro-tip for anyone who likes above-ground abandoned buildings; tie rug under your boots, and you can easily walk over broken glass on a hard concrete floor without making a sound.
And I mean that literally, I once lost track of a mate who was only a few steps behind me, after we'd installed mufflers on our boots as we were to cross a bigass hall with broken glass scattered all over the floor.