Although UE and RE share a great number of risks, I believe that there are some unique hazards to each.

There are two particular hazards that concern me with RE: Gun toting property owners and meth labs.

I think my greatest fear with this hobby would be to roll into an abandoned house and find someone cooking a big batch of ice inside. Perhaps this isn't so much of an issue in some areas as much as it is mine, but anyway. Thoughts?

Neither of those are really a problem around here. I really don't see many risks with RE around here. The biggest problem would be sharp objects such as nails that one might step on and have a hole in the foot. Maybe bees (I got stung when I put my hand on a hive trying to climb a building and quickly found out I am mildly allergic to stings) but not many other animals like lions or polar bears.

Theres other stuff like falling and such but thats not really unique to RE.

Yea I don't see much problems with RE. Granted you could run into moonshiners or drug labs of some kind, but that all depends on where ya are. I'd be more afraid of wild animal attacks over some guy with a gun. Unless you're in Texas after dark they can't really shoot you without some really good cause.

The remoteness of some places might make it a bit more risky than others as they're probably completely forgotten and not wandered by too often. Falling and being incapacitated in some places would be a bitch.

Running into someones weed-growing business is a unique problem, not many fields in urban areas

Has anyone ever run from a bull charging after you?

Metalwitch, it sounds like a story is in there...

Posted by Kelwyn Metalwitch, it sounds like a story is in there...

A few yrs ago I had heard about an abandoned house in the woods.
Was told I had to cross a farm to get there.
Thinking it was just cows and chickens, I went.
No house just the remains of a foundation, not very interesting.
On the way back I saw a group of bulls that were not there before.
They saw me and bolted, so I ran, got out of the pasture.
That was the extent of the excitement.

Awww.

No anal goring? I am very disappointed.


Yeah. Up near the top of Tennessee, meth labs are a serious problem. Thanks for reminding me about that. Anyone know what to do if you happen to stumble into one?

Posted by RedReaper Yeah. Up near the top of Tennessee, meth labs are a serious problem. Thanks for reminding me about that. Anyone know what to do if you happen to stumble into one?

Get the fuck out and hope to God no one involved saw you! And no photos.
If you found one, would you call the cops? I can think of both pros and cons of doing so.

You know? At first I thought, hell yes, I would call the cops. But I dont think I would because once those guys get out of prison.... I'll be constantly watching my back. Supposing they dont call someone else to come kill me.


I mean, I'm a ninja but I can only do so much!

Posted by metalwitch40 Has anyone ever run from a bull charging after you?

Happened one time. scary shit.

I have also encounterd the semi wild farm dogs,also scary shit.

Posted by Ronin House There are two particular hazards that concern me with RE: Gun toting property owners and meth labs.

Drugs have never really been a problem in my experience (unless I smoke a big spliff before going in a house!). Also, encountering property owners is usually not an issue if the property is really abandoned.

I've found hazards to be more physical. Houses tend to deteriorate much more than they would ever be allowed to in urban settings so you're dealing with some real crumblers. Falling through floors and stairs is a real hazard.

Wildlife more often than not takes up refuge and you're bound to encounter some critters at one point or another.

Also, rural settings have a larger variety of sites such as mines and military installations which, for obvious reasons, you would never find in rural settings. These have their own sets of hazards.

Another thing I've noticed is that many rural sites require a good hike to get to. Streams, swamp, forest, and fields all have their share of natural dangers and critters.

Generally speaking, I find RE considerably more difficult than UE but more rewarding. I think we all imagine finding some really old, overgrown places that no one's seen in over a hundred years, and in RE you actually find these places. In UE I think it's much more rare (though not impossible).

how about people still living in the houses. and when they find you in their house all they say is hunny get my gun. alot of the places around clarion look delapidated and abandoned but they still have life in them. its kinda scary. Or running into the KKK's nice little "hang out" and having to run from about 4 raised up pick ups and a few quads until you find your car and have to drive WAY too fast for back roads til you are by civilization. that is about all i have encountered so far.

i was exploring a few years back and found a basement structure. inside there were mattresses covered in people, all drugged out and shooting up. they really didnt care/ notice my presence and when someone finally did, i gave her 5 bucks. she disapeared deeper in to the building, presumably to buy drugs with the money. after that, i only RE in groups, and armed. (and we usually bring some ganja or money for bribery materal)

My two cents:

I go alone. I have to. Stupid? Yes. Cell Phone? Useless.

And if I fall thru the floor and manage to get a signal, I hear:

"Hi, 911? Yeah, I've fallen through 2 floors of a rotting old hulk of a house somewhere in BLAH county". Stupid.

I thank GOD I am an architect's son, and was dragged all my childhood through buildings DURING construction, so I think that helps in determining how things fall apart, and where to natively look for "floor support".


As far as inhabitants, thank god I've never come across ANY, but I know I've been behind them by only minutes. Check out the Northern Neck Gallery on my site, and uh, well... see.

Some people climb sheer rock walls with their fingers. I do this.







911 Cowan lane Gallery - http:/www.theskewedeye.com/

In no particular order:

1. Meth labs
2. Pot farms
3. KKK, etc.
4. Physical isolation (no cell reception)
5. Insects
6. Wild/farm animals

I live in rural WI, so the main thing we worry about are the occasional stampeding animal (cow, horse, and yes pigs) and the shotgun-toting old farmer from arousing said animals. But as it has been stated, if the place is really abandoned, you shouldn't have to worry about such things. But yeah, the occasional Meth Lab is also a problem. I have never run into one, but it may happen.
Other things in Rural areas are bugs, badger holes (I fell in one one time and almost broke my leg), and of course wild/rabid animals. Can't think of anything else off-hand, but those are what I usually look for while out in a woods/field looking for a site.

I had my car blocked in by angry farmers. They didnt have guns but the one lady shot her mouth off big time. I can understand these people not wanting others on their property. There is a good chance they have never heard of UE or RE and just think we want to steal stuff.

My next RE or current project are some mines. These places will be in bear territory. I have cottaged in the area and seen bears . Think i prefer the bears over the screaming land owner

Posted by otonabee My next RE or current project are some mines. These places will be in bear territory. I have cottaged in the area and seen bears . Think i prefer the bears over the screaming land owner

We should bring small animals we can throw at the bears to distract them.

Speaking of small animals, I was thinking about training my ferret to do some scouting for me. You know, hook up a small camera and have her go around and find entrances and to see if it is even big enough for me to fit in.