As the title says. It's a concrete tube in a creek located in Oakland. I've reached out to some friends and they said they would come, but none seems to really be interested. I figure here's the best place to find someone to explore it with. Anybody down to come?

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Nice find.

I don't want to be mean, but what's the reason you can't go alone? Drains are not that dangerous if you check the weather forecast and if you are equipped, and you will get more credibility if you are not afraid to explore things by yourself. I actually had the same problem when I started exploring: all my friends found it exciting at first, but they always came up with an excuse not to come at the last minute. One of them let me down less than 100 meters away from the entrance of an awesome SF drain that is accessible only twice a month! Don't rely on your friends for exploring if they are not really into it.

I don't know the exact drain in your picture, but Oakland drains are usually quite exciting, so go in them!

Posted by romainpp Nice find. I don't want to be mean, but what's the reason you can't go alone? Drains are not that dangerous if you check the weather forecast and if you are equipped, and you will get more credibility if you are not afraid to explore things by yourself. I actually had the same problem when I started exploring: all my friends found it exciting at first, but they always came up with an excuse not to come at the last minute. One of them let me down less than 100 meters away from the entrance of an awesome SF drain that is accessible only twice a month! Don't rely on your friends for exploring if they are not really into it. I don't know the exact drain in your picture, but Oakland drains are usually quite exciting, so go in them!

^ I was trying to type that exact same thing. I mean, company is great and all, I really enjoy exploring with other people. But if you wait around on somebody else's schedule you might not ever get around to seeing things!

You only have to really worry about a drain being dangerous in three instances:

1.) It is filled with homeless crackheads. Even then, some tend to be tolerable or will even give you a tour!

2.) It is raining in or near the drains watershed.

3.) You do not see any graffiti. If you are in a cool drain and do not see any graffiti, you are very gifted at getting into hard to reach locations, somewhere dangerous, or a combination of the two.


I find it pretty difficult to convince normal people to follow me into a drain. At the very least any drain I have ever taken anyone, I have already scouted ahead of time.

1.

I feel gifted to have a bunch of friends who are interested in exploring places. It still is difficult sometimes due to mine and their work/school schedules.

3.) You do not see any graffiti. If you are in a cool drain and do not see any graffiti, you are very gifted at getting into hard to reach locations, somewhere dangerous, or a combination of the two.

What's the problem with cool drains? I've never been draining before, but have been meaning to check out the drains in my area. The drain in question is near one of those areas where water builds up in a "tank", almost, from what I gathered from a conversation with a public works employee while she was performing maintenance.

I can see why no graffiti is a warning sign, but I don't really know what subtler signs to watch out for. Any tips?

Posted by Aran What's the problem with cool drains? I've never been draining before, but have been meaning to check out the drains in my area. The drain in question is near one of those areas where water builds up in a "tank", almost, from what I gathered from a conversation with a public works employee while she was performing maintenance. I can see why no graffiti is a warning sign, but I don't really know what subtler signs to watch out for. Any tips?

Hmm, I suppose I could reiterate; my emphasis was not on "cool drains" but rather the lack of graffiti, like you noted. There were only a few time I've ever been in a drain without graffiti. Mostly they are noted for being difficult to reach or somewhat dangerous to be in.

An example of once such place was in the City of Columbus's (Ohio) Wittier Storm Tanks manifold system. This drain exhibited characteristics of both. I had to scale a heavily lit and camera recorded curtain wall of barbed wire fences then sprint across about 50 meters of open grass to a pre-planned ladder to drop into the retention tank. From there I navigated around a few bends into the manifold area of an interceptor sewer/ holding tank/ overflow location/ river. Once I was inside, realized how deep I was in. Zero graffiti... Nada. I was standing in a huge underground concrete vault with giant (12'x4x) steel gates that controlled the city's water flow. I suppose one of those gates could have opened any instant and washed me into either the river or to the treatment plant at a moments notice. Boy, the moment, I realized what was up, was I happy to unass there.

Cool story aside, you can enter any location with a bit of background info and surveillance. In my story I didn't mention I had walked the perimeter of the Storm Tanks three times before entering the fenced area. I also had done a bit of driving around and exploring the surrounding areas. Still, though, definitely gave me the creeps being down there.

Not really related, but here are some schematics of where I was.

1. A shot from across the river (W to E) of the outfall and the control house.


2. (L) the three tanks and sludge collectors. (R) The outfall channel, which was the once I traveled down to reach the internal vaults.


3. Some sort of GIS or control layout of the tanks and gate operation. I think the Tanks in question operate at 10MG.


4. Another picture of the tanks at capacity. Normally they are semi/dry and can be walked through/ in.

I didn't know people had responded!

Posted by romainpp Nice find. I don't want to be mean, but what's the reason you can't go alone? Drains are not that dangerous if you check the weather forecast and if you are equipped, and you will get more credibility if you are not afraid to explore things by yourself. I actually had the same problem when I started exploring: all my friends found it exciting at first, but they always came up with an excuse not to come at the last minute. One of them let me down less than 100 meters away from the entrance of an awesome SF drain that is accessible only twice a month! Don't rely on your friends for exploring if they are not really into it. I don't know the exact drain in your picture, but Oakland drains are usually quite exciting, so go in them!

Well this is my first one so I'm extra antsy. I found a friend willing to come with me, I've read the whole thread and I understood why, even if they were willing, people wouldn't want to come given I don't have much credibility. I plan on going in soon and hopefully I'll build some credibility and have some fun. Thanks everyone! it's just the thought that even if i got into shit and died, it would take a while to be found. idk that makes me nervous.

wranglerroadhead, that's a crazy story man dear god just reading it made me nervous.

Posted by magick I didn't know people had responded! Well this is my first one so I'm extra antsy. I found a friend willing to come with me, I've read the whole thread and I understood why, even if they were willing, people wouldn't want to come given I don't have much credibility. I plan on going in soon and hopefully I'll build some credibility and have some fun. Thanks everyone! it's just the thought that even if i got into shit and died, it would take a while to be found. idk that makes me nervous. wranglerroadhead, that's a crazy story man dear god just reading it made me nervous.

Yes wranglerroadhead's exploration is impressive! But don't be nervous, the few Oakland drains I have explored don't have any dangerous sections where you can fall or be washed out unexpectedly, and I didn't see any pictures of such a section in any of my friends pictures either. Your only concerns should be the weather forecast, your flashlight batteries and not being caught.
Side note: there is a special legislation for Oakland parks/drains, and the trespassing fine can be up to $400. One of my friends got caught in such situation by construction workers at an infall and had to pay this amount.

Bill? Is that you?

Posted by magick Anybody down to come?

So what's the update?
Did you man up and enter the super scary tunnel?

Posted by A Through Z Explorations man up

oh man my ego. Haha... Yeah I haven't I found someone who might be willing, but nevertheless I rented a fisheye for this weekend so I'll man up and see how far in I'm willing to go into a damp hole in the wall with loud noises coming out. (You know, from the cars or something)

Posted by wranglerroadhead -snip-

Shit man I envy how thorough you are with planning your explorations! It seems like you had this all planned out with military precision haha. I assume you researched so much due to how much of a high security explore this was. Do you gather this much information for all your explorations?

Posted by JKuhnss ..."Do you gather this much information for all your explorations?"

No not quite, though I wish I was able to. While living in Columbus, Ohio, I developed a small obsession with the city's sewer and stormwater infrastructure. I really just have files and files on all the projects ranging from historic photos to current public policy and engineering bids. Outside of that specific niche, I don't know much about my other explores. Since the stormwater and sewer systems are all interconnected it is very useful to have a bigger picture to work from, even if only to help locate outfalls and larger diameter tunnels.

I may not have been clear in my original response, but it was not intended to detour anyone from exploring, but rather to exhibit that to get in over your head in drains is generally rather difficult. As long as you have some good flashlights and are not exploring while it's raining you will be golden.

Based on the picture OP posted, this drain looks like a very safe and fun explore. Things like the elusive "dry weather flash flood", toxic air, drop hazards, etc are rare finds. I am sure it is written in Infiltration somewhere, but I will also suggest that if you are worried about being washed downstream at any time, it is best to start at the actual outfall of a drain to make sure it isn't grated/ends above sealevel/ isn't a sewage plant/doesn't involve any large dropboxes. That way you always know your emergency exit.

There's NOTHING wrong with trying to have a competent companion with you for safety & security reasons, so don't let a couple idiots here tease/harass you into exploring something alone if you're not comfortable doing so.

/-/ooligan

Posted by /-/ooligan There's NOTHING wrong with trying to have a competent companion with you for safety & security reasons, so don't let a couple idiots here tease/harass you into exploring something alone if you're not comfortable doing so. /-/ooligan

I agree. Harassing newcomers is the least of my goals, I know how it feels and I don't want to get into that. I was just saying that if he is looking for friends to explore with him, he may be surprised by the number of people who find UE super cool but always find an excuse not to come at the last minute.
As sara'mer said, having company while exploring is great, but I know how hard it is to find reliable friends to explore with. And given the actual dangerousness of most Oakland drains, it's maybe not worth waiting so long to have a look.

Posted by /-/ooligan There's NOTHING wrong with trying to have a competent companion with you for safety & security reasons,... /-/ooligan

Friends to explore with are great, and I definitely hope no one has come across as being brazen in this thread. It is an entirely different feeling exploring with someone versus exploring alone. I almost never get that "just turned out the light in a dark room" or "panicked" feeling when I'm with other people but it is a feeling I sometimes seek with the proper preparation every once in awhile.

Having a buddy to get help if you are immobilized is definitely an important benefit of buddy exploring. However, two people who do not know what they are doing is not necessarily the safer option- especially if OP somewhat pressures another person of his own experience level to tag along.

My recommendation is to do some research on the drain. Find out what it is, where it goes, for how long, whether or not there are exits, worst case scenario eventualities, how to handle them, etc. Make a risk diagram in your head (or on paper) and decide if it is worth it.

This next part may come off as brazen, and I understand that it may, but bear in mind that it is only my opinion. If you are not confident enough to do an explore on your own, you have absolutely no business conducting that explore. If something happens to your partner, being SOL is not an option you want to afford. This may not seem super applicable to OP's situation (I have not personally reviewed his risk analysis chart or the specific drain he intends to enter) but it is a lesson I try to take with my on even my most technical adventures. I am not saying that to have an exploring buddy means you have pre-scouted every location or that you should be their tour guide (where's the fun in that?), but that you BOTH should make an informed decision and are competent enough to operate solo.

If your risk analysis chart says you should hold off- Hold Off- That's what the chart is there for. Back to square one. Find another adventure that better suits your abilities. We all started somewhere. My first explore was an underpass. It may not have been much, but I still remember the feeling I got and what it meant to me.

Haha "free hugs" I think it would be so fun to go into that tunnel

Posted by Jason click to view