It doesn't matter what, where, when or why; I just want to hear your favorite story from yourself or any other explorers you know. Unfortunately I don't have much to start with, but here's my contribution:
I explored some of the system of utility tunnels under the university I attended from 2005-2010. There were quite a few funny things to happen on my trips down there, but I think my favorite was when I took a group of people, at least one of whom drove all the way up from Portland, down into some of the system. We ate at some nasty pho restaurant on the ave because I was (and still am) too cheap to splurge on some quality food for the occasion. Even above all the exploring that we did afterward, the thing I remember most about that night is how unappealing that soup was. By this point I had gone into the tunnels enough to have made myself an easy way in, so after eating we walked onto campus and to my favorite access point- a hatch tucked way in the corner of a garden, within feet of a main road but totally hidden from sight. We popped the hatch and went down. I was having a great time showing everyone all the different levels and a few different connections, including the weird, disused and very old section of tunnel that I had found previously with one of the members of this group. This included a squeeze through a 2'x2' door onto an ancient (and probably full of histoplasma) dirt floor, lots of dead squirrels and birds, and unfortunately not much else. Suddenly, upon coming out of that section of tunnel, something happened. I don't even remember what triggered it initially, but suddenly everyone was in a panic because someone thinks they saw/heard/imagined something. I first started panicking too, imagining getting busted by campus police and expelled from school, and what my parents would say. Then I realized, I am the one who brought everyone down here, if I don't get us out I will be responsible for getting everyone arrested. I took a second to get my bearings, and then led the way down a short section of the lower level to another junction. I was pretty sure I knew where this hatch led, and it was a decently concealed area. We gathered up for a minute and made a plan in case there were police waiting for us outside (honestly I think nothing happened at all, and we just flipped our shit for no reason). I do not remember if I went out first, or if someone else did, but I do remember the sudden realization that I was not where I thought I was. I was right next to the main throughfare under the central campus library. There were people walking by. No time to waste, I just climbed out and then waited for the rest to come up, we closed the hatch and walked away as casually as possible. I don't think anyone cared, and we walked away unscathed to continue exploring other sections of the tunnels late into the night.
So that's my story of a (most likely) false alarm and a botched escape plan. I'm not a very good writer, but I love reading about a good explore, so lets hear your stories!
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