May 09, 2005
Don't go there!
Infiltrators, urban explorers, urban spelunkers...
While not a new concept, the "secret society" of people involved in such poking-arounds of urban landscape is getting wider exposure recently.
WhiteSword in Portland OR likes to share his exploits via video. Large Windows Media downloads - but if you want a how-to on hopping trains, somewhat interesting. The filth of humanity! Abandonded Places Cave Clan of Australia mentioned here in another context The Northville Tunnels of Michigan A sampling of the multitude...
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Years ago I explored the storm drains of Washington DC. You would pull the manhole at some point where you would not be observed, and climb in, with helmets and carbide lamps. It was a strange and compelling environment, with pipes large enough to (almost) stand up in. They were made of poured concrete bottom half and brick top half. Streams of water the size of pencils jetted in from the seams. The pipes would get larger, and sometimes intersect with sewer pipes. Finally, just before getting to the river, we would carefully pop a manhole cover. The trick was to not emerge in the middle of a street, as a car could hammer you like a nail as you lifted the manhole cover, we were told. Today I would not try this, as there is a chance that you could emerge with a rifle in your face. I do wonder if the pipes are more secure from people like me than they were.
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Really fascinating. Its like a real-life Half-Life. As a teen growing up near Lake Michigan outside Chicago, my friends and I explored cement storm drains that led from the top of several hundred foot high ravines down to the shoreline. The sound of waves echoed up the tubular drain. Usually, we'd emerge on a rocky shoreline. Depending on the weather/season/time of day or just randomly, the end of the drain was underwater....always freaky.