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UER Forum > Canada: Ontario > Exploring Gargantua (Viewed 2502 times)
Jarux 


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Exploring Gargantua
< on 8/22/2018 8:03 AM >
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Greeting UER, This is my first post on this site (and definitely not the last) so please go easy on me,lol.

Recently me and a good friend of mine have gotten really into the hobby of exploring and taking pictures. We have decided to visit a drain called Gargantua in Toronto since it is not too far from us. Before we go I thought it would be a good idea to get any and all recommendations anyone has.

I would like to hear from anyone who has actually visited the drain, to know if there is anything about the drain I should know, i.e. danger, specific equipment, clothing, is it still accessible or anything else.

Thanks for any and all feedback.




The Seeker 


Location: Greater Toronto Area
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Time's Person of the Year for 2006

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Re: Exploring Gargantua
< Reply # 1 on 8/22/2018 1:40 PM >
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Not many people are too open to just handing out details. Especially publicly. I, unfortunately, don't have any details on this particular location.

As a rule of thumb, always check the UE DB. The database has all kinds of information and galleries on thousands of locations around the world.
http://www.uer.ca/...a&province=Ontario

Unfortunately until you earn full member status, you will only be able to view "public" locations. If the location is not "public" and you cannot see it, it is likely because it is still active or people don't want it to be ruined or whored out.

Contribute around the forum more, post explores from other locations/abandonments, old houses,factories, etc... Contribute to location pages, comment, participate in other threads. Make your name known and you are more likely to be promoted to full member and given access to the full database.



Also, you should have posted this in the Ontario forum as the Rookie forum is for the whole page/world. Some explorers, such as myself, will usually sign in, check the Ontario forum since it's local and log out. Too late for that now, so a Mod will likely have to come in and change it, but just an FYI for future reference. Might get you some better results/responses.

Cheers, and welcome to the forum!




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blackhawk 

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Re: Exploring Gargantua
< Reply # 2 on 8/22/2018 1:43 PM >
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Rule #1- if it rains don't drain.
A flash rain storm can wipe you out. Take into account any connecting systems experiencing rain fall. If you have any doubt about possible tunnel flooding bug out asap.
This would include ice/snow winter meltoffs if applicable.

It could take minutes or hours for a storm surge to happen in a system depending on its lay out assuming it's not man made... which can also happen.




Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
The Seeker 


Location: Greater Toronto Area
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Time's Person of the Year for 2006

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Re: Exploring Gargantua
< Reply # 3 on 8/22/2018 1:55 PM >
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Posted by blackhawk
Rule #1- if it rains don't drain.
A flash rain storm can wipe you out. Take into account any connecting systems experiencing rain fall. If you have any doubt about possible tunnel flooding bug out asap.
This would include ice/snow winter meltoffs if applicable.

It could take minutes or hours for a storm surge to happen in a system depending on its lay out assuming it's not man made... which can also happen.


This is also very good advice. Be fully aware of the forecast/weather leading up to and during the time you plan to explore.




Sony a7II | Canon 5D mkII | Canon Rebel XSi | Sony 28mm f/2.0 | Yashica 50mm f/1.9 | Sigma 15mm f/2.8 fisheye | Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 | Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM | Sigma 70-200 f/2.8
Aran 


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Huh. I guess covid made me a trendsetter.

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Re: Exploring Gargantua
< Reply # 4 on 8/23/2018 2:51 AM >
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Posted by blackhawk
Rule #1- if it rains don't drain.
A flash rain storm can wipe you out. Take into account any connecting systems experiencing rain fall. If you have any doubt about possible tunnel flooding bug out asap.
This would include ice/snow winter meltoffs if applicable.

It could take minutes or hours for a storm surge to happen in a system depending on its lay out assuming it's not man made... which can also happen.


Quite so. I have to put my draining plans on hold for the next several weeks at least after yesterday's storm here in Madison- we received over a foot of rain in a single day, several highways are still impassable due to flooding, city officials declared a state of emergency, and evacuations were ordered on the outskirts of the city.

During the storm, manhole covers were dislodged by the water pressure and spilled raw sewage into the floodwaters, while several streets were underwater. Today I saw a storm drain flowing backwards- water was flowing up the outfall and being discharged out the grate into the street.

Fortunately my area is high and dry right now, since I live by the campus and most of the damage was in the suburbs. Still, draining in this city will be tantamount to suicide for the next week at least, probably longer. You can never be sure with large storms.



[last edit 8/23/2018 2:51 AM by Aran - edited 1 times]

"Sorry, I didn't know I'm not supposed to be here," he said, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be there.

Mr. Bitey 


Location: Milwaukee, WI
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Re: Exploring Gargantua
< Reply # 5 on 8/23/2018 11:28 AM >
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Posted by Aran


Quite so. I have to put my draining plans on hold for the next several weeks at least after yesterday's storm here in Madison- we received over a foot of rain in a single day



Crazy how that storm literally stopped on top of you out there. Meanwhile, 90min away in Milwaukee, we got about an inch. Mother Nature can be a bitch - why does she hate you?!





Give abandonment a reason for its sacrificial reclamation to nature. Love it. Remember it. Take a picture. Share it. Leave the decay to nature.

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Archer 


Location: Toronto, ON
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Imperator Sagittario

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Re: Exploring Gargantua
< Reply # 6 on 8/24/2018 11:38 PM >
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Moved to Ontario since it's more of a regional question.

Having done Gargantua, I can advise that it isn't too tough. Bring a good light since it's dark. Bring footwear that'll get wet (the outfall and interior have some deep pools in them) but will be comfortable for a distance since it's a long hike. I've never encountered bad air or the sort in there; not saying it can't happen, just I've never had it happen.

And as everyone said, stay away from it if rain is forecast in the near future, or it has been raining. It's a massive drain and it does carry a lot of water when it gets going.

Case in point: http://www.abandon...yimage&itemid=3419. That ladder didn't get that way on it's own.




Abandoned UE - http://www.abandonedue.com

"We live in a twilight world... and there are no friends at dusk."
Jarux 


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Re: Exploring Gargantua
< Reply # 7 on 8/25/2018 12:13 AM >
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Thanks for all the replies, it's really appreciated.




terapr0 


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Re: Exploring Gargantua
< Reply # 8 on 8/25/2018 4:54 PM >
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I've done gargantua several times on foot and on bike and agree with pretty much everything said here. Take a close look at the forecast beforehand and don't go inside if there's even a small chance of rain - Gargantua is a very large system with many branches that collect from a huge watershed. The 7-8ft+ tall high-water marks in some sections of the drain are a testament to the wild, dangerous shit that happens there during a storm event.

Other than the risk of flooding it's a fairly average system. Maybe watch out for sharp rusty pieces of metal on the floor, but other than that just be prepared and be safe. Bad air should not be a problem as there are a host of access / ventilation shafts along the way, which maintain a nice flow of clean air from above.




www.tohellandback.net
Freaktography 


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Freaktography

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Re: Exploring Gargantua
< Reply # 9 on 9/3/2018 2:36 AM >
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If interested, OP I was there last week...

Pics taken in order from just as we entered to the 1st major transition



















http://www.freaktography.com
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Mr. Bitey 


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Re: Exploring Gargantua
< Reply # 10 on 9/4/2018 1:08 PM >
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Great use of light Freak!




Give abandonment a reason for its sacrificial reclamation to nature. Love it. Remember it. Take a picture. Share it. Leave the decay to nature.

Lifetime member of The Anti-MyInstaTubeTweetFace consortium.
und3rlie 


Location: The Bay Area, California
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i explore things sometimes

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Re: Exploring Gargantua
< Reply # 11 on 10/18/2018 11:41 PM >
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Amazing photos Freaktography!
I love how you did the lighting!





A collection of my explores:
https://www.instagram.com/und3rlie/
theninjalobster 


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Re: Exploring Gargantua
< Reply # 12 on 10/19/2018 5:41 AM >
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Weed's legal now - make sure you bring some of that.




Into the Fray. https://www.ninjalobster.com/
Air 


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Re: Exploring Gargantua
< Reply # 13 on 10/21/2018 12:01 AM >
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Posted by Aran

During the storm, manhole covers were dislodged by the water pressure and spilled raw sewage into the floodwaters, while several streets were underwater. Today I saw a storm drain flowing backwards- water was flowing up the outfall and being discharged out the grate into the street.



I'd love to see that!





"The extraordinary beauty of things that fail." - Heinrich von Kleist
UER Forum > Canada: Ontario > Exploring Gargantua (Viewed 2502 times)


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