Some good names mentioned, and I would add the Brescia Underground people.

The D.E.A.

Dallas Explorers Association or as Barry Kooda called it the Dallas Elitist Assholes.

Nothing elite or snobbish about this group, mostly younger guys that inspired me to new heights (and depths) we got into some amazing places all over Texas.

I would not have had so much fun without them. Never took this stuff too seriously but I miss them all.

For me it was action squad.

For me it was the Bay Area trio "Freeside", "Tunnelbug", and Scott H. In my earlier days of UE, they were the first to show me what was possible given the right opportunity, a good team on a shared wavelength, and the willingness to bridge the extra mile to make things happen. A couple of them are/were regulars here. I had the distinct privilege of working some projects both in parallel and together with them a couple of years back.

Action Squad. I grew up on the East Coast, exploring solo and never knowing that there was a community built around it. I get to college in Minneapolis in the early 2000s, and one of my dorm mates introduces me to their site and invites me out to a well-known brewery (now my profile photo), not knowing that I adored exploring.

I learned exploring ethics from them, which carried me well when I discovered this forum. Action Squad's explores might not be the most world-renowned or impressive. But they have a special place for me because their location database and influence changed my course - going from solo explore the first half of my life to the awesome community aspect in the 2nd half.

Pic very much related.

While I agree with most of these answers, I feel like Ninjalicious really would be #1, he just really impacted so much of what we now do and created this community right when online communities like this were coming to the forefront.

Posted by Bygone Era While I agree with most of these answers, I feel like Ninjalicious really would be #1, he just really impacted so much of what we now do and created this community right when online communities like this were coming to the forefront.

Not sure if I wrote, this is in no particular order

Exploring with Josh

Posted by superphoenix Not sure if I wrote, this is in no particular order

Sorry, my eyes just completely jumped over that.

Posted by superphoenix 1 & 2. dsankt & the London Consolidation Crew Consistently explored some of the hardest stuff to crack, from the drains behind Niagara Falls to The London Shard to lots of transit tunnels in between. And Bradley G. wrote a pretty neat book expounding on the history and philosophy of urbex.

I would likely be in prison or dead if I hadn't found Sleepycity.net in late 2007. Dsankt's images and words were exactly what I needed at that point in my life.


These days theres a few grammer kids that impress me. Tremulant being the most personable among them.

Posted by ChaseMcDude I might get some flack for this one, but his contributions are undeniable and his attitude towards "new explorers" is no worse than the attitude of vets now. Greg Brick. The man has written many great articles about the MSP underground that explain the history very thoroughly. He's always respected locations and worked hard to keep them preserved. I wish he had more photos but what can ya do.

He's garbage and tried to sue somebody for truthfully accusing him of plagiarism.

Also, yeah, LTV squad is the elite. Control is probably the smartest person in this subculture. Ya'll need to check out the new book, it has a lot of good advice.

Posted by Speed Especially dsankt* and uLive. * Undisputed king of urbex IMO. My additions would be... Cave Clan

Before heading off to conquer the world Dsankt played a huge part in keeping the Cave Clan functioning in Brisbane.
He has been added to the Cave Clan Honour Board.

Cheers

Gunny, Jonathan Littell & Panic.
An amazing trio.

For me its shiey. His videos where what lead to discovering the urban exploring community and inevitably start urbexing.

Posted by Sebk For me its shiey. His videos where what lead to discovering the urban exploring community and inevitably start urbexing.

Same! watching his early videos made me look at buildings differently. Now I can't help but notice gas pipes on sides of buildings, small fences, etc.

For me, these are people who have survived a serious illness and still enjoy life.

Posted by jannw For me, these are people who have survived a serious illness and still enjoy life.

Thanks, but I'd rather be healthy and exploring every weekend.