Urban Exploration

[chstens]

I think I wanna try this, any Escapists that have any experience with it? Any tips of any kind?

For those who don't know what Urban Exploration is, here's something I pulled off Wikipedia:

"Urban exploration (often shortened as urbex or UE) is the examination of the normally unseen or off-limits parts of urban areas or industrial facilities. Urban exploration is also commonly referred to as infiltration, although some people consider infiltration to be more closely associated with the exploration of active or inhabited sites. It may also be referred to as "draining" (when exploring drains) "urban spelunking", "urban caving", or "building hacking"."

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

So going into the places behind the "Do Not Enter" signs?

That's why I can't go bowling any more.

 

[DannyBoy451]

Isn't that what homeless people do when they're looking for a place to sleep?

 

[Amethyst Wind]

I was all over the Lever Brothers facility in my town one night, just hopped the wall, strolled around for an hour or so, walked through some buildings, and left. There was a curry shop just down the road, when I came out of there with my takeaway there were security guys in the area looking pissed off. I hightailed it.

 

[chstens]

Isn't that what homeless people do when they're looking for a place to sleep?

More or less yes.

I was all over the Lever Brothers facility in my town one night, just hopped the wall, strolled around for an hour or so, walked through some buildings, and left. There was a curry shop just down the road, when I came out of there with my takeaway there were security guys in the area looking pissed off. I hightailed it.

Sounds slightly awesome.

 

[chstens]

Hmm its usually called trespassing, but i guess telling the judge you were just "urban exploring" might work? Then again when i told them i was just "liberating merchandise" from that best buy the other week it didnt seem to work too well. Good luck.

It wouldn't really be trespassing if the building was abandoned years ago, now would it?

 

[ElephantGuts]

This is something I've heard about and actually been fairly interested in. Atleast when it comes to old, abandoned buildings. There's something about abandonded buildings that really appeals to me.

I wouldn't care to "explore" a regular building that's in operation though. I mean, it's "explored" by everyone who works there every day, and you don't have a big chance of finding anything interesting.

 

[DannyBoy451]

More or less yes.

Sounds like an indulgence for pretentious whiteboys, learn parkour and wear a sideways baseball cap for bonus points.

 

[chstens]

More or less yes.

Sounds like an indulgence for pretentious whiteboys, learn parkour and wear a sideways baseball cap for bonus points.

I can't stand pretentious sideways-baseball-cap-wearing whiteboys, also, I'm not fit for parkour.

It would because the property doesn't belong to you.

Well, yes, but I doubt there would be any security around to enforce it, nor do I think anyone would care.

 

[Private Custard]

I've done quite a bit of urbex. A friend of mine runs the website sickbritain.co.uk.

All I can say is that you should always carry a P3 dust mask as a lot of abandoned buildings are littered with asbestos, and when it breaks up and goes airborne, it's pretty nasty stuff. You can buy them from places like screwfix for a few quid, but they'll save your lungs in the long run.

Also, watch out for loose floors, dodgy ceilings, security guards and tramps. If exploring in built up areas, always look out for troublemakers like chavs, you don't want to get spotted in a lot of these places.

You see some pretty cool stuff

As you can see, I'm primarily into it for the photography.

Always carry a torch.

 

[DannyBoy451]

More or less yes.

Sounds like an indulgence for pretentious whiteboys, learn parkour and wear a sideways baseball cap for bonus points.

I can't stand pretentious sideways-baseball-cap-wearing whiteboys, also, I'm not fit for parkour.

Well then, you're proably not right for tresspassing "urban exploration"
Just go and visit historical buildings, they'll be much more interesting than some squat full of broken windows and junkies.

 

[Rhayn]

Sometimes, I reckon it would be fun to explore a city after it's been bombed to pieces. Think CoD4 Chernobyl level.

 

[Private Custard]

Just because there isn't any security there doesn't make it any less right or legal.

It only becomes a legal issue if you break in. Merely walking through a gap in a fence makes it a civil matter.

 

[bookboy]

Sometimes, I reckon it would be fun to explore a city after it's been bombed to pieces. Think CoD4 Chernobyl level.

you saying that you want to explore Chernobly, or, as in COD4, Pripyat? forget the dust mask, bring a HAZMAT suit.

OT: I say an episode of G4 Underground about this, basically, though it is often considered illegal, Urban exploration Can definately be a really coll experience for those who are into exploring the unknown or forgotten. but always bring a friend, they will be needed to help avoid guards, get boosts or lifts into areas, and/or defend against less than friendly inhabitants of your exploration area.

 

[chstens]

You see some pretty cool stuff

Nice pictures, yes, this seems interesting.

OT: I say an episode of G4 Underground about this, basically, though it is often considered illegal, Urban exploration Can definately be a really coll experience for those who are into exploring the unknown or forgotten. but always bring a friend, they will be needed to help avoid guards, get boosts or lifts into areas, and/or defend against less than friendly inhabitants of your exploration area.

Thanks for the advice, also the mask that was mentioned earlier seems like a good idea.

 

[Rhayn]

Sometimes, I reckon it would be fun to explore a city after it's been bombed to pieces. Think CoD4 Chernobyl level.

you saying that you want to explore Chernobly, or, as in COD4, Pripyat? forget the dust mask, bring a HAZMAT suit.

Forgot to mention that. Explore a bombed city without the whole stay-in-too-long-and-you-die thing.

 

[Sable Gear]

You see some pretty cool stuff

That barrel looks pretty sketchy XD.
A friend of my dad's did some urbex-ing, there's apparently an abandonned pipe system behind Niagra Falls that comes out right behind the falls themselves. I'd like to try sometime...

 

[Private Custard]

Just another note, try and explore with someone else too. A friend and I found some dodgy stuff at an abandoned factory a few months ago.

Exhibit a ) A steel framed chair with untied ropes around all four legs. It looked suspiciously like someone had been tied up and beaten senseless. Found in the main factory floor area, next to a mirror.

Exhibit b) A brown womens strappy top and a pair of hot-pants (size small) in a room out back. Not things you'd expect to find in an out-of town abandoned factory complex.

Needless to say, we notified the local police just in case someone had gone missing wearing clothes like that. The entire complex remined us of a wierd Black Mesa-esque sort of place.......one of the rooms was marked as 'Life Test Room'!!

 

[chstens]

Just another note, try and explore with someone else too. A friend and I found some dodgy stuff at an abandoned factory a few months ago.

Exhibit a ) A steel framed chair with untied ropes around all four legs. It looked suspiciously like someone had been tied up and beated senseless. Found in the main factory floor area, next to a mirror.

Exhibit b) A brown womens strappy top and a pair of hot-pants (size small) in a room out back. Not things you'd expect to find in an out-of town abandoned factory complex.

Needless to say, we notified the local police just in case someone had gone missing wearing clothes like that. The entire complex remined us of wierd Black Mesa-esque sort of place.......one of the rooms was marked as 'Life Test Room'!!

Reminds me of an off-limit area I explored some years ago, the air was full of hair.

 

[Ignignoct]

I think I wanna try this, any Escapists that have any experience with it? Any tips of any kind?

For those who don't know what Urban Exploration is, here's something I pulled off Wikipedia:

"Urban exploration (often shortened as urbex or UE) is the examination of the normally unseen or off-limits parts of urban areas or industrial facilities. Urban exploration is also commonly referred to as infiltration, although some people consider infiltration to be more closely associated with the exploration of active or inhabited sites. It may also be referred to as "draining" (when exploring drains) "urban spelunking", "urban caving", or "building hacking"."

I like having my wallet, thank you very much.