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698 online
Server Time:
2024-05-16 17:43:23
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 IndianaBones
Location: St. Paul, MN
Gender: Male
 |  |  | “I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.”
< on 8/27/2012 3:27 AM >
|  | | | I was just curious to know how many of you people go about doing this sort of thing alone. No matter how hard I try to convince my friends to explore with me, by the time we can actually go they always refuse. So, I usually go at it on my own. This makes things even more exciting, but also makes things more weird and borderline pathetic.
I guess I am just wondering if I am the only one who does this by his or her self most of the time. I know that it’s probably more dangerous this way, but my friends are lame and I need to do this. That’s all.
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buddykermit
Location: Mid Atlantic
Gender: Male
"hey dude watch this"
| | Re: “I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.”
<Reply # 1 on 8/27/2012 3:35 AM >
| | | | it seems not alot of people go at it alone. i like going with other people but mostly go alone as well, usually at night. i think you are right about it adding a level of excitement. just let someone know in case you get f'd up they have an idea of where to look
When one man, for whatever reason,
has the opportunity to lead an extraordinary life,
he has no right to keep it to himself |
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Jakk_Handsome
I'll be there soon.
| | Re: “I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.”
<Reply # 2 on 8/27/2012 3:51 AM >
| | | | I've been going it alone for many years now and I don't advise it. I got struck by a rattlesnake on an explore once and luckily it was a 'dry bite' otherwise I'd be dead. I'm now curtailing my activities until I can get a co-pilot. Or at least a lookout to come scoop my corpse.
My favorite UE quote so far.
"U don't have to be suck a dick about it..." |
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MonkeyPunchBaby
     
| | Re: “I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.”
<Reply # 3 on 8/27/2012 4:15 AM >
| | | | I thought this was gonna be about bikes...
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Urban_Explosure
Location: Binghamton, NY
Gender: Male
| | | Re: “I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.”
<Reply # 4 on 8/27/2012 4:28 AM >
| | | | I have this problem a lot as well and it seems really odd to me how some people have to be convinced to go exploring. I recently promised someone I wouldn't go out alone any more and that's really been a damper on how much I can explore.
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dtewsacrificial
Location: Bay Area, CA
Gender: Male
On my way out the door.
| | | Re: “I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.”
<Reply # 5 on 8/27/2012 4:34 AM >
| | | | I used to do that, and some advantages of solo exploration is that:
1) You can obviously go on a whim or on any schedule necessary...
2) You can change plans on-a-dime...
3) You are much more efficient at getting from place-to-place on-site, and...
4) You are much better at sneaking around, as you are quieter and it is extremely simple to stop, listen, and ascertain your surroundings.
But I have stopped doing that, and it took some effort to convince myself to not go on a ready-explore just today. This is because enough things have happened to me both solo and with a partner, where it becomes obvious that solo runs a much higher risk of death.
Just this year, I fell into a pit in a place that had some 40-50ft pits. Not that a partner might have prevented it, but had I fallen into the deep pit, I would most likely have died even if I didn't die on impact.
I ran into a large crew of taggers at another site, and their leader took me aside to interrogate me. Fortunately, they turned out to be not violent, and later asked me to photograph their work. But they could have very easily robbed me of my camera gear.
A few weeks ago, we ran into an inhabitation in a large site. The occupant was hiding, probably because there were 3 of us. If it was just me, the situation might have been different.
Just a few days ago, me and my partner got sneaked-up-on by a scrapper who was much more familiar with the site than we were. He literally got right behind me in a pitch dark room. He turned out to be a decent guy (even in light of the scrapping; this is a complicated story involving lawsuits between the owners and the city), but who knows had there been only one of us.
So no, I don't go solo anymore. If something were to happen, I would die (assuming I had the time to consider this) feeling incredibly stupid given all the experiences and warnings that I was fortunately given with no serious repercussions.
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NotBatman
Location: MSP
Gender: Male
Secret Cult Member
| | Re: “I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.”
<Reply # 6 on 8/27/2012 4:35 AM >
| | | | I do my thing alone, more often than not, as well. (Though to be fair, I recently got an old friend into coming out with me, so it's been shifting things around a bit, recently, and I haven't been solo as much as I'd been used to.)
That being said, I completely forgot that we were trying to set something up. Let's get back to talking about that (offline).
I'm a "Leave only footprints, take only pornography" kind of guy, myself. |
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AtticAddict
Location: Flower Mound, TX
Gender: Female
Lie rather still because this is the first time I've used this equipment.
| | Re: “I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.”
<Reply # 7 on 8/27/2012 7:07 PM >
| | | | Every exploration I've done so far has been a solo mission--except the most recent one (I had my dog with me). I know it's dangerous--probably more so for a female--but if I could only go accompanied I'd probably never go since:
1.) My explorations tend to be spontaneous.
2.) My significant other could care less about this urbex business.
3.) I know a few people who would be interested in coming with me, but we've been unsuccessful so far at setting something up.
4.) I get off on the silence of abandonments and the feeling that I'm the only person there.
Everyone has secrets. It's just a matter of finding out what they are. |
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AtticAddict
Location: Flower Mound, TX
Gender: Female
Lie rather still because this is the first time I've used this equipment.
| | Re: “I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.”
<Reply # 8 on 8/27/2012 7:09 PM >
| | | | P.S. I really dig the PeeWee reference.
Everyone has secrets. It's just a matter of finding out what they are. |
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Million Dollar Man
Location: Massachusetts
Gender: Male
| | | Re: “I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.”
<Reply # 9 on 8/27/2012 7:14 PM >
| | | | Posted by AtticAddict
P.S. I really dig the PeeWee reference.
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+1
Before a big explore I like to work with leather. The Native Americans always said that working with hides and pelts releases the soul. |
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pincheck
Location: Scotland
Gender: Male
| | Re: “I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.”
<Reply # 10 on 8/27/2012 9:25 PM >
| | | | when i want to go out and now one else does, I just go myself. been doing it a lot lately some times a extra set of eyes and ears are good other times can be a pain as some people work faster than others on pictures but have no problem going out myself.
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MeoW
Gender: Male
| | Re: “I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.”
<Reply # 11 on 8/27/2012 9:54 PM >
| | | | Meh! I'm a loner too. My problem is I just need new friends, most always have some excuse as to why they cant come along. What sucks is I know for a fact that they have nothing to do, its just they're lazy. Like none of them work so its not a matter of prior engagements its just pure laziness.
I don't do magic Morty I do science! |
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Audacious
Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota
Gender: Male
| | Re: “I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.”
<Reply # 12 on 8/27/2012 10:32 PM >
| | | | I've gone alone quite a lot. Now I stick to mainly scouting out locations/new entrances by myself, and then coming back with a small group to do the actual 'sploring.
Going solo has its benefits; once upon a time I was wandering around an area near a very historic abandonment early afternoon. It is in a very populated area, and known to be very tight-sealed. Still, the exterior is extraordinarily photogenic and although wandering the complex is borderline-trespassing, me and my camera could probably talk our way out of any legal trouble. Four guys with flashlights and rope? Maybe not so much..
ANYWHO, I had just started shooting when.. *GASP* I saw an old board had been removed from a window, and there was an easy, ground level way in. Fuck the thrill of getting in a hard-to-access place, I wanted to photograph the inside of the complex SO BAD! Without the sketchiness of having other explorers with me, I climbed right into the building at 1pm in a busy ass part of town. Got down to several hours of exploration until my camera battery died. Was awesome!
But don't be my dumbass and go draining alone..
It was nearing the end of winter and a giant ice-wall had formed inside a large drain I've explored a few times. The only way through the drain is to climb around this giant slab of ice (10 feet high by 6 feet wide.. huge!) One day I was coming out of the drain, and I climbed around the ice wall seemingly effortlessly. Fifteen seconds later - BOOOOOM! The loudest, eeriest sound I've ever heard as this giant ice wall collapsed right where I stood a mere minute before.
It might not of killed me, but being pinned under a couple hundred pounds of ice in the middle of cold nowhere is NOT how I wanna die...
So my rule is never go underground without a buddy, and use caution otherwise!
Proud supporter of the pullout method |
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Asher0719
Location: MSP
Gender: Female
The World Abandoned
| | Re: “I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.”
<Reply # 13 on 8/28/2012 1:41 AM >
| | | | First off, I'm a fellow MSP explorer. If you're ever looking for company exploring message me, it'd be fun to meet someone new!
I explore solo and with others, it depends on the day and how "in the moment" the exploring is. I have a friend who loves rural exploring, so we tend to explore together. I also explore with a few explorers in the MSP area.
There have been plenty of times I've gone exploring solo though, because either I drive by the place and hop out of the car or I go exploring after work. I've explored an old greyhound racetrack, farms, a drive-in theater, an old freight shipping factory, a mill and an empty Menard's by myself and I've never been afraid. I got the creeps at the racetrack because I'm pretty sure someone "unsavory" was there with me, but nothing happened. Just keep your head up and your eyes open.
There are some places you honestly shouldn't go alone, but it all depends on the level of danger that the sites pose. I especially would caution against exploring alone if you're heading underground, and even more so if you don't know the underground site. Always let someone know where you're going and keep your cell phone charged and with you. Bring extra flashlights/batteries and something to protect yourself with (pepper spray works).
Exploring solo can be a ton of fun. Like you said, it adds to the excitement. Not only that but you can take as long as you want and take photos of everything that catches your attention without worrying about being left behind. It's also a lot of fun to explore with others. They might see something you don't, or find a way in when you can't. I definitely encourage you to reach out to local explorers in the MSP area, because they're seriously cool people that always have something new to teach you.
~Asher |
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barefootpoetry
Location: PA
Gender: Female
| | | Re: “I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.”
<Reply # 14 on 8/28/2012 2:56 AM >
| | | | Now I have that song in my head, thanks.
I'm a solo explorer as well. Easier to do stuff on the fly, and on my own terms. One of the reasons I enjoy doing this is because it's one of the extremely rare opportunities I get to be completely alone, in almost total silence. Being inside an abandoned building, all alone, is so soothing and peaceful. If I have somebody with me, that's ruined.
I do try to take friends on explores that seem like they might be risky. I have yet to go to a "formal" meetup with other UER folks, but I would really liek to in the future, even if just once, for the camaraderie. For the most part, though, flying solo suits me just fine.
She who hesitates, sees bulldozers. |
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Eschaton
Location: Western NC
Gender: Male
Entry: Eschaton (es-kuh-tawn) noun | end of time, climax of history | Etymology: Greek for 'last'
| | | Re: “I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.”
<Reply # 15 on 8/28/2012 3:53 PM >
| | | | My photos tend to come out much better when I solo a place because it goes at my pace. I can spend as much time as I want on a single shot, and there are no non-photo explorers to bitch and complain.
The pace while exploring is very different for a photo explorer than a non-photo explorer.
Ars Gratia Adventuris |
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DawnPatrol
Gender: Female
| | | Re: “I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.”
<Reply # 16 on 8/28/2012 9:46 PM >
| | | | About half the places I've visited I've gone to alone. There's definitely advantages and disadvantages to it but I would never say exploring alone is weird or pathetic. Honestly, I think it makes people a little LESS pathetic to be able to go out and do whatever the fuck they want whether or not anyone wants to come with them.
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EsseXploreR
Location: New Jersey
Gender: Male
| | | Re: “I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.”
<Reply # 17 on 8/28/2012 11:04 PM >
| | | | I go to places I know well by myself, but wouldn't just go somewhere alone if I hadn't been there before. It's good to be with somebody if you come up on a collapsed hallway with cool stuff on the other side, and the only way to get there is to cross the one rotting beam left in the whole room. It really only matters what you feel like doing anyway, why should you care what people think?
https://www.flickr...62837453@N07/sets/
http://www.tfpnj.blogspot.com |
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Derelict Compositions
Location: Burlington, ON
Gender: Male
| | | Re: “I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.”
<Reply # 18 on 8/29/2012 12:03 AM >
| | | | Going alone is awesome until the one time it's not. If you go alone, do yourself a favour and tell someone exactly where you are going and what time you expect to be finished.
Derelict Compositions, Nikon
http://www.flickr.com/dcc_028 |
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OryonsOracle
Location: twin cities MN
Gender: Male
| | Re: “I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.”
<Reply # 19 on 8/30/2012 10:05 AM >
| | | | Good post. I almost always go alone. For me its an escape. I started out just hiking at night. Some nights I go up to 20 miles in one night.Id explore the city or dark forested trails. I didnt care. Nobody I know wants to do that. Also, I go between the hours of 9pm and 7am. Not many people are up that late. While doing my extended hikes I started finding old water towers in mpls. This got me interested in the history of old places and then into subterranean locations. Regardless, if your going to go solo I also recommend pepper spray. It apparently works against dogs as well as people. I can confirm it works on people. Never tried it on a dog tho.
Im not necessarily opposed to going with others tho. Do you ever get that feeling when you see something so interesting you want to show a friend?Sunday Im taking someone to see what they think.
Carpe Noctem. Seize the night. |
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