As a really tiny female it was pretty dumb of me to have gone on solo explorations the first few times I went, but now I wouldn't have it any other way. As said tiny female walking around alone, I've found I can get away with an absolutely absurd amount of trespassing without anyone even raising an eyebrow. Like, to the point that I "conned" a police officer into helping me climb a fence out of an abandoned factory. I put the word conned in parentheses just there because I didn't actively do any convincing; just being female was enough to emanate a glowing aura of innocence around me. Apparently.
Another fun thing to do is to ask security guards why they're guarding the building, and when they answer, go "oh wow, really? how do they get inside??" I swear the guards give me helpful, legit answers nine times out of ten.
One day I'll probably get thrown in jail, and I'll know it's my own fault.
But until then, I'll probably keep exploiting being tiny and female.

usually one extra. Not many people I know are a) interested and b) ballsy enough to come

I've never explored alone. Always with one other person. This is for a few reasons. One, he's a good friend and it's something we like doing together. Two, he has training in areas of infiltration and I don't. Three and likely most importantly, it's easier to constantly have eyes on what is going on in and around the facility. While I'm taking pictures, he's still scouting the surroundings and maintaining watchful eyes, or vice-versa.

Posted by wackypanda usually one extra. Not many people I know are a) interested and b) ballsy enough to come

Agreed, thats the issue that I'm facing right now. Havent done any exploring since I was younger, so the small crew I had before has fallen apart from a lack of interest, moving, and one particular guy being on probation and not wanting to do anything that could be even considered illegal(cant blame a guy for that).

Posted by tranqfx I've never explored alone. Always with one other person. This is for a few reasons. One, he's a good friend and it's something we like doing together. Two, he has training in areas of infiltration and I don't. Three and likely most importantly, it's easier to constantly have eyes on what is going on in and around the facility. While I'm taking pictures, he's still scouting the surroundings and maintaining watchful eyes, or vice-versa.

Definitely good to keep someone like that around!

I'd only take a few at a time; max 3. You need to know how they will react in any situation. If they squeal at the sight of a mouse, I wouldn't take them. You also need to know if anyone would rat you out. Some people think they can handle it but in the moment they may falter. When it comes to showing places though, don't give them the best. Keep those for the true explorers.

Posted by Ellephant As a really tiny female it was pretty dumb of me to have gone on solo explorations the first few times I went, but now I wouldn't have it any other way.

I am also female, I have only gone alone once! I am in awe of how brave you are!

I usually just go with one other person, the most I have ever explored with is 5 people.

The last time I went with a large group was... the last time I went with a large group.

One other person, sometimes two.

Generally just a friend and myself. Occasionally I go by myself, though not often. The smaller the group, the better.

I find it odd how many people like to explore with only a couple others..
I sometimes explore with 20+ people, but usually it's about several of us. More the better, in my opinion. It does suck for photography, though.

Posted by relik I find it odd how many people like to explore with only a couple others.. I sometimes explore with 20+ people

You see, most of my locations are near active road ways and you have to enter before the next car drives by. That is quite difficult to do with a large group.

It all depends on how big the trunk in my rental car is if you catch my drift...

If I'm not alone, then it's usually with my cousin. Maybe when I'm in OKC I don't mind bringing a few along in the bigger places. But around here, I don't really gotta watch for cops or anything, cuz I know the cops and area pretty well.

So usually when I bring someone with me it's because they are either with me when I decide to load up and go, or if it's a new location and I want an extra set of eyes to help me search the whole place out.

It's really nice to have friends along, just to hang, or to showboat. I've had a friend with me once, for shenanigans on a roof as the sun set.

Usually one other person, sometimes two others. I don't feel comfortable exploring in large groups, there is much more a chance of someone wandering off and getting collared, or people doing something stupid, plus turning up en masse to locations helps get them noticed more.

I've explored with two large groups before, one a group of eight at a massive asylum and one sort of amalgamated group of ten-ish at an old industrial facility, neither ended very well...

Posted by Ellephant As a really tiny female it was pretty dumb of me to have gone on solo explorations the first few times I went, but now I wouldn't have it any other way. As said tiny female walking around alone, I've found I can get away with an absolutely absurd amount of trespassing without anyone even raising an eyebrow. Like, to the point that I "conned" a police officer into helping me climb a fence out of an abandoned factory. I put the word conned in parentheses just there because I didn't actively do any convincing; just being female was enough to emanate a glowing aura of innocence around me. Apparently. Another fun thing to do is to ask security guards why they're guarding the building, and when they answer, go "oh wow, really? how do they get inside??" I swear the guards give me helpful, legit answers nine times out of ten. One day I'll probably get thrown in jail, and I'll know it's my own fault. But until then, I'll probably keep exploiting being tiny and female.

As a similarly small-proportioned woman, I agree with you 100%. The only thing less threatening that a small woman is a small child, so people are almost always willing to give you a pass (nine times out of ten - then that tenth time can go pretty bad).

I started exploring in small groups, with other teenage runaways led by an older punk-dude. He taught us how to set up squats and maintain them for safety & security, and sanitation. We'd stay in a place for three or four days then move on, and each of us would drift and out of squatting as we were able to find couchsurfs or even set up permanent housing for ourselves. Once I got comfortable I started exploring on my own and setting up my own places to stay. It was a bit safer than going with the others.

Skip forward years later when I'm in Asia, and I mostly explored alone. That said, once I had a few favourite locations I'd take guys along on dates. Some thought it was awesome, others thought it was madness. I got a few second dates out of it, though, so there's that. I also went crawling with a larger group of punk-rock heathens in Manila for a bit.

In Detroit I went it alone, and one time escorted a group of would-be explorers that I met at the hostel (NEVER AGAIN).

Now in Toronto, I'm mostly going with people I meet on this board, and sometimes my lover likes to tag along as well. Seems like smaller groups of 2 ~ 4 are best in this context. Now that I'm learning the lay of the land, I might like to go it alone a bit more often.

Posted by stickbeat Now in Toronto, I'm mostly going with people I meet on this board...Seems like smaller groups of 2 ~ 4 are best in this context.

Agreed.

Two or Three people seems to be the sweet spot for UrbEx

The largest group I've gone exploring with has been 4 people, however, I would love to find a location that could move more people safely and securely for...

Oh, I don't know, perhaps a dance party?...(A la Catacombs du Paris)

Just haven't found a site like that in this city. (Yet) XD

None! Just me. I'm 6'5" and female so I look suspicious enough. If it's me by myself, I can claim car trouble or some other likely excuse. Most folks I know are not interested enough to come with me. I do let someone know where I am and when I'll be back and I stick to those deadlines.

I usually explore with one other person. Most of my friends don't car about abandoned places, or are to nervous about police. Luckily my close friend is into exploring. I have never gone by myself, I just don't think it would be the same, plus having a friend is always much safer were something to go awry.

The one time I went with a group of four other people it was a disaster. My girlfriend at the time and three of her friends were hellbent on going to a hospital me and her had briefly explored a few weeks previous. I had gone back with a friend and explored the majority of the complex. They were going with or without me. So against my better judgement I went along since I had a pretty good map in my head of the complex. We went at night, which I normally do not do. Before we departed I asked her friends if they had anything illegal. The one guy was going to bring linesman cutters, I told him to leave them at home. He told me no one had drugs. We aren't in the place more then five minutes when I get a whiff of a skunky smell. I turn around and dude has a big joint lit up. I have no problem with weed, but I go by the rule that you're already trespassing, don't do anything illegal on top of that. Plus the guy lied right to my face saying he didn't have any drugs. After a few hits his girlfriend started bitching about wanting Burger King. 45 minute drive each way and we only were inside maybe 30-40 minutes. NEVER AGAIN.

I generally go with one or two other people. Unfortunately, I've never gotten to experience a building completely alone. Every time I've gone alone, I've run into groups of scrappers or other explorers in the buildings.

Usually solo. Whenever possible, I try to explore with my two boys. They are 14 and 10, so they can handle some stuff, but not the true scary crap that I sometimes stumble across. If I take them, its usually to spots that are visible and legit to access. Or, I'll scout an off limits location first before coming back with them. Some abandonments are better than the local museum, and I like showing them how life was before Internet and other electronics.

I have seen some crazy -ish though. My thing is remote, secluded ranch houses that are way off the beaten path. You find a lot of them in central California just by tooling around on Google Earth. I found a dilapidated ranch house that was abandoned so long ago, it never even had electricity or phone hooked up to it! In that area, it would put it abandoned around the late 30's or so.

Anyhoo, I drive my little car two miles into this place on sketchy dirt roads, and get out to take a look around. Not much is left of the place, and the building is falling in on itself. There are tons of cool things still. Just as I am setting up some good shots in the front yard, a scruffy, skinny man steps out from behind a water tank and starts waving his arms and screeching at me! He looked homeless, but the typical homeless don't usually camp out way in the middle of nowhere. I was two miles in on a dirt road that was thirty miles from the nearest town. I have no idea why he was there, or even what he was saying. I sprinted to my car like Carl Lewis and bailed out. I bounced down that country road so much, I had to stop at the main road to make sure I still had an oil pan. I have seen enough versions of "The Hills Have Eyes" to know that some freaky stuff must have been going down out there. Ever since that incident, I tend to trust city dwelling homeless and scrappers more than the people in remote abandonments. If someone is one hour from the nearest gas station, they don't wanna be messed with : )

Sorry, tl;dr.