Added: 01/28/2006 |
Urban Exploration Ring - Hazardous Hobby Or Lifestyle?Urban exploration ring is most often associated with the off-limits, or unseen, parts of property. Abandoned places are generally ventured by locals, which results in various signs of vandalism. Urban exploration ring may vary from one location to another, but the most popular destinations include touring storm drains, as well as other abandoned buildings, such as hospitals, sanatoriums, lunatic asylums, grain elevators, and missile silos.
There are several reasons, accounting for the popularity of abandonments among urban explorers. First and foremost is the low risk of being caught, or disturbed, on an unseen territory. The majority of explorers find abandoned places to be beautiful, which is another reason for their exploration.
Sometimes, urban exploration involves trespassing in active buildings, including secured areas, mechanical rooms, elevator rooms, roofs, and other obscure parts of the buildings. Most explorers understand the risk of trespassing and the charge they'll have to face when caught. This requires adherence to some basic ethical principles, like the respect of the location they visit. The idea is to leave buildings in the same state they were in before a visit.
The code of ethics strongly disapproves vandalism, theft, graffiti, tagging, and other crimes except trespassing. However, there exist exceptions to these rules. Some parts of urban exploration ring encourage graffiti, as long as nothing is damaged.
A large number of locations have small areas, known as guest books. They may vary from real books and blackboards to some pieces of wood or scrap metal. Some urban explorers seldom leave their mark, while the others prefer doing it permanently.
There are currently a number of sites focusing on the art of urban exploration, like transit tunnels, rooftops, and college steam tunnels. One of them was formed by the urban exploration ring Freebase Ideal, operating in the rural areas of London and Ontario. The members of the group photograph and document abandoned buildings, houses, and rooftops.
Freebase Ideal has established and maintains relations with other local groups through exchanging urban exploration experience and introducing new exploration tools and facilities. If you happen to know some interesting locations suitable for urban exploration, you are free to contact Freebase Ideal.
Those specializing in urban exploration should be aware of all possible dangers of the hobby. An explorer can get hurt, or even killed, while entering a building, which isn't safe enough. It is not advisable to go alone; otherwise there will be no one to help if you get in trouble. Be aware of such hazards as sheet metal, homeless people, or police.
Some places are difficult to access because of fencing or boarding. In this case, use special equipment.
Some of the buildings may have historical significance, and, hence, require careful handling. As far as the equipment is concerned, urban explorers usually use a camera and flashlight. Sometimes ladders are brought to climb different objects. Avoid carrying tools, which may arouse suspicion.
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