I wasn't able to find a post about this specific question, so forgive me if I'm being redundant

I'll be exploring a spot that potentially has a lot of hell holes. I was told by a ghost hunter that the spot has "lots of trash and nasty things everywhere, random 30-50' holes and a noose." While I'm really sceptical of this hunter for a few reasons, I'd rather assume there are "30 foot holes" and come prepared. With that assumption comes my questions.

What tool would be the best for prodding the ground for holes?

What is the best technique for traversing grounds with potential unseen holes?

I'm not specifically talking about structures which may collapse randomly, but pre-existing holes which could be covered by leaves, trash and cardboard. However, tips on structures and grounds giving are just as welcome.

Just use your head man, i dont see how you could explore while always wondering if there is a hole at each step.

if a cardboard look sketcky or something, just kick it and check but overall you dont need any more technique than just check around you with your eyes.

Rare are the case of ramdom holes, if the place you are in is in faily good shape, it should be ok.

Look in front of you thats it.

Just one time, i was no trusting the whole floor, so i was walking with my arms straight on each side so if it break i will not fall tru the hole.

Posted by ClementRSedona Just use your head man, i dont see how you could explore while always wondering if there is a hole at each step.

I'm not in constant fear of falling or anything, but it is one of my bigger concerns. Falling to death in some ghost hunter's favorite hideout isn't my ideal way to go lol. Especially if I could have found some tip to counter the hole.

Thanks for the confidence though. Knowing that an experienced explorer feels that way makes me feel less paranoid about falling in general

Stay near the walls and if it is visibly sagging then nope out of that.

As far as probing them, I suppose you could try a stick or something? I haven't bothered to try probing for holes like that. The key problem would be weight difference between what you weigh and what you can test with. I'm not sure I'd trust a stick to do much more than brush off leaves to make sure it isn't just a covered hole. If you felt like carrying around your weight in a boulder that would be exceedingly funny, so take video if you do something like that.

Best practices if you put probing aside (perhaps somebody else has an actual idea on how to do that) would be something like keep your headphones out and listen for anything that doesn't sound... right (timbers groaning, etc), if you run into one 30 foot hole it is probably safe to say there will be more so move slower, send someone in ahead of you as a canary. I'm also all for a tether to a couple of other explorers if you are expecting it to be bad and have company. If you have 3+ people the odds of one pulling the rest down with them are smaller, and with a tether long enough to give breathing room but short enough to prevent a crippling/fatal fall I think it is a lot safer (note: I haven't done anything with a tether or where there are lots of open holes, this is purely my speculation). I'd imagine there will be people vehemently against and who will agree and who will say a tether doesn't matter.

For the uber paranoid, bring some rope and some gear. For everyone else, common sense should be sufficient. Or just be me and don't go near places with hell holes cause I don't need that kind of stress in my life (even if you don't get hurt in a fall, don't wanna damage that $$$$ camera or lens).

tl;dr Use your brain and if you get a bad feeling about something I'm all for following that right out the POE and down the road (or if someone else isn't comfortable, humoring them and coming back later if you still want to try).

Explore it during the daytime/light, not during the nighttime/dark. Your eyes are going to be your best sense when it comes to noticing holes.

Posted by relik Explore it during the daytime/light, not during the nighttime/dark. Your eyes are going to be your best sense when it comes to noticing holes.

Don't explore unknown locations at night especially without a couple good flashlights! Sometimes it's always dark, tunnels, bunkers, missile silos, boarded up buildings, etc. Special caution and care is needed here. Go slow, never run, and each step you take counts; stay alert whenever moving even if it's just a step to line up a shot.

Anti hellhole devices? A walking stick.

Hellholes come in many shapes and varieties. See my free falling thread in the main forum.
http://www.uer.ca/...=1&threadid=122644

Falls and structural collapses are the biggest threat explorers face. Abandoned buildings are not safe environments and it falls on you alone to control the risk.

Alright, thank you guys. Blackhawk, I'm going to try my best to keep photography and movement separate, like you suggested on your thread. I'll have to find a sturdy hiking stick to prod the ground and sift the trash before we go.

I don't feel like spending hours playing minesweeper with sticks will be necessary on all my journeys, but for this particular one I'd like to be as cautious as possible.

Posted by IntrepEd Alright, thank you guys. Blackhawk, I'm going to try my best to keep photography and movement separate, like you suggested on your thread. I'll have to find a sturdy hiking stick to prod the ground and sift the trash before we go. I don't feel like spending hours playing minesweeper with sticks will be necessary on all my journeys, but for this particular one I'd like to be as cautious as possible.

The walking stick is more useful for finding open holes and snakes, not for probing structures.
It's prime use is as a walking aid in rough terrains or navigating sand dunes. It's a good defense for feral hogs and dogs.

Never assume a structure is sound and solid.
One hellhole can change your life forever.
As many here have learned, myself included, structures most times fail when you have all your weigh on them. If you're fast and lucky, you might react in time to get off the collapsing portion.
Many times that's not what happens especially if you step into air... blackness isn't always solid.

I've never really came across a hidden hell hole, but the signs are usually there. Buckled floor boards, a "squishy" feel, dips or puddles. A walking stick comes in handy for probing & while it won't tell you if the floor will bear your weight, the ones with a steel point will stick in a soggy floor and punch through a debris pile

I took a shovel with me one time for something very similar but to test the ice on this adventure.

http://www.uer.ca/...id=1&msgid=1626803

If you are so afraid just get a climbing harness and attached a rope with a grappling hook. When you fall throw it as far away from you as possible and hope it will catch on something.

Or connect the rope to your vehicle and home that it won't also fall into a hole.