Do any of you guys explore by yourselves sometimes? I'm a pretty brave guy but for some reason the thought of being alone inside of an abandonment gives me the chills. I always bring a partner but sometimes they are unavailable on a day I want to explore.

If you do what are some precautions and or coping mechanisms you guys do when going solo? Very interested to hear you thoughts!

only AFTER I have done a place with a buddy will I go back alone.

All the time. My work schedule and impulsivity to just take off makes it difficult to coordinate with others. The downside is sometimes it would be nice to have someone take the car and wait out of sight and then we trade off.

Nope never.

Yep!

I've found some great mines when out by myself. I grab my maps and head out into the desert. That said, I am more cautious on where I go. A badly twisted ankle deep in a mine could be life threatening. I leave the technical rope work for explores with 2 or more.

With the proper gear, I used to solo scuba dive off dive boats. There is a certain amount of "zen" when you can dive without having to worry about keeping track of your dive buddy.

Part of what I get out of exploring is pushing my own boundaries.

Abby Normal

Most of my trips are solo. I take precaution in being thorough when I'm researching the place and finding the best times to go, etc. I have a strange work schedule as well and it's really hard sometimes to find anybody to tag along, let alone people that could handle it. Some places are worse than others too. If I will be in a densely populated area, I will try harder to find a partner or have to do the extra planning. Also, if you're thinking about going alone, it's best to have a good friend that knows what you're up to. You can give them the info on where your location will be and what time you expect to be finished. Just remember to let them know when you're done!

Having fallen most of the way through a floor, I don't explore alone.

Posted by yokes Having fallen most of the way through a floor, I don't explore alone.

I've had that happen one too many times haha. I'm not so much afraid of the physical hazards being alone, I'm more afraid of the unknown and who might be lingering around, maybe someone could be lurking around who has much more sinister intentions planned... Call me paranoid

People I can reason with. Floors I can't.

I am usually alone when I go out. In general, someone knows where I am. and if I take off without telling anyone, I leave a location and the time I left, somewhere on the refrigerator.

When I am out, I switch my phone's location thing to on. If I don't resurface, I hope someone will Ping my line.
I like going solo, because if I hear something, I already know it isn't someone I'm with, I feel better knowing I am not holding anyone up, and I don't have the added worry of keeping up with other people.
I am usually extra careful and quiet and somewhat anxious until I have warmed up to the place then the day is all mine.

I struggle to find people any where close to my age, that want to do this sort of thing. So I go it alone, most of the time. OR I travel to meet up with folks and that is always a welcome change.

Most of the time I explore solo, specially for scouting locations. I return with an helper/watcher if needed.

I prefer exploring alone, despite the inherent risks. I'll stay for hours where one of my explorer buddies has less patience and also gets spooked easily, wanting to hustle out of there at relatively benign concerns. There's also a contemplative element to wandering about an old building without diversions and dialogue.

I usually explore alone. It's hard to coordinate work schedules, and a lot of my friends have small children, so finding a time to get everyone together would make sure I never get anywhere. And as while I'm not new to exploring, I am fairly new to the concept of an Urbex community... so I don't really have a large selection of companions. *foreveralone.gif*

There's also the fact that a lot of my explores are pretty spontaneous... go out for a drive, have a couple hours to kill, and oh, wow, is that an empty house in those trees? Yeah, that happens to me a lot.

I only recently begun socially exploring. I prefer nothing but the light tapping of my footsteps, and, similar to going to movies with someone, people can ruin your peace. I've been having fun with people, though, especially on this forum.

'Cause I'm not that scary-looking, I carry protection, and that's about the only difference... well, I also pack extra gear for people (not the last time... I forget everything that mattered, lol).

Diving a silo alone, I do not recommend, but I've taken a few chances. There are some places that you should never go alone unless you are confident and prepared for the worst situations.

Posted by Hootie I like going solo, because if I hear something, I already know it isn't someone I'm with, I feel better knowing I am not holding anyone up, and I don't have the added worry of keeping up with other people. I am usually extra careful and quiet and somewhat anxious until I have warmed up to the place then the day is all mine.

This is the main reason I go solo most of the time. I don't get to go out with experienced explorers hardly at all so I end up 'babysitting' some of my friends who rarely explore. I just find it easier to go it alone. Then I can be focused on myself, photographing, and staying undetected.

I do a LOT of scouting though. Going into a place without figuring out a good time of day or entry scenario or anything gets me paranoid. I'm not much for the impromptu explore. Everything has to be in order.

Posted by puddlejumper12 I do a LOT of scouting though. Going into a place without figuring out a good time of day or entry scenario or anything gets me paranoid. I'm not much for the impromptu explore. Everything has to be in order.

Join the club! It just feels better when you've got everything covered. But sometimes you just have to be impulsive. So good for your adrenaline levels

In Gary, yes. Suburban areas, yes. New places in Chicago, no.

I explore alone 99% of the time but people don't generally carry weapons in the UK

Surprised to see how many people do this. I always assumed I was the minority out and about on my own. Sometimes I explore with a small group of others, but not usually. It has it's ups and downs.

I never do alone (ok, tiny things maybe). In general we are 2 or 3. More is difficult to manage with photo shooting and some people are much quicker than other...

Oh, and there is always at least one person (parent/friend) knowing where I am and ready to act if I don't give news in a given laps of time.