Turns out I had been doing the UER thing for years and did not know it was a movement or a community. On and off I have always enjoyed exploring and taking chances.

I think what Doug said is on the right lines.

Exploration is a process, not an end result, exploration is the path, the journey. Although some might argue otherwise I would say the pictures you take, the post you make are not the essence of exploration. Everyone must find there own motivation to explore. Some people want to smash sh*t and start fires, tag. Some want to meet people, others enjoy the danger and adrenaline, photography is a motivation.

The issue I have is the premise of your question. "Was it better back in the earlier days of exploring or is it better now?" Its like how people strive to be happy rather than content.

Better how? Its such a subjective word and could mean very diff different things to different people.

Easier to network now and find like minded people, absolutely.

That phone in your pocket takes great pictures and can document amazing things.

Satellite imagery and other tech can help you find locations.

Modern construction techniques have left a huge number of cool structures to explore.

There are things that make UER more challenging in recent times and we all feel that frustration. Its valid.


One of the reasons I don't use much social media is the highlight real. I don't think UER is better or worse, its just changing. Its easy to cherry pick aspects of change to support one side or the other.

What does better mean to you?

B

I don't know if I missed the "golden age" or not (probably did), but I do know that I've met some wonderful people along the way that I now consider friends. I also know that I've accumulated experiences that are truly unforgettable.
My life is all the better for these people and these moments, and I owe a lot of it to UER.
So.., thank you.

Posted by Doug The times when YOU are exploring will be the BEST times.

Exactly.

Posted by FreeLee One of the reasons I don't use much social media is the highlight real. I don't think UER is better or worse, its just changing. Its easy to cherry pick aspects of change to support one side or the other.

I'm assuming you confused UE and UER. UER has defininledy declined due to less activity and decreased prominence.

Really depends on how you look at it. Back in the day, hitting up hospitals and asylums was a pretty big thing and most are gone nowadays. Glad to have seen a number of them before the wrecking ball but even 15yrs ago, they were coming down. I missed Danvers and am still sore about that subject haha.

There has been a lot of progress in places like Detroit that used to be a mecca. Doing skyscrapers in downtown Detroit is mostly a thing of the past from what I hear, its been a long time since the Dirty Dozen were doable and a number of them have been rehabed like the Broderick and Whitney. Still plenty to see but its not like it was once upon a time. We used to be able to drive around and hit stuff nonstop all day. Last time I was there, we had to stretch to get into anything decent...

There is plenty to see still however it appears to not be as concentrated as it used to be. property values have skyrocketed in a lot of places which lead to redevelopment so pickings are a bit slimmer nowadays.

One will have to be blind to say that exploring stayed "the same"
At least from Toronto-centric perspective the landscape is nowhere nearly as abundant as it used to be. Golden age existed, and now we are in some sort of new era, which is not necessarily bad, but certainly quite quite different.

Huge epic industrial locations are all gone, and this scale of industrial legacy will never repeat like this. Think of a dozen classic spots that stayed here for decades. Now, even if something pops up, it goes relatively quickly.
Public/media/authorities awareness is much higher, too many things have been done by too many people without regard to the nature of the hobby.
Security technology have gone crazy, explorers of older age did not have to deal with something like this. It doesnt take a lot of effort to see it - go to any explorable site and problems are hanging by the dozen everywhere.
I hope that all the wrong things will burn off at some point and some new equilibrium will be established. And as good as it may be, I will still miss the way everything's been long time ago.

Posted by strangePlaces One will have to be blind to say that exploring stayed "the same" At least from Toronto-centric perspective the landscape is nowhere nearly as abundant as it used to be. Golden age existed, and now we are in some sort of new era, which is not necessarily bad, but certainly quite quite different. Huge epic industrial locations are all gone, and this scale of industrial legacy will never repeat like this. Think of a dozen classic spots that stayed here for decades. Now, even if something pops up, it goes relatively quickly. Public/media/authorities awareness is much higher, too many things have been done by too many people without regard to the nature of the hobby. Security technology have gone crazy, explorers of older age did not have to deal with something like this. It doesnt take a lot of effort to see it - go to any explorable site and problems are hanging by the dozen everywhere. I hope that all the wrong things will burn off at some point and some new equilibrium will be established. And as good as it may be, I will still miss the way everything's been long time ago.

Agreed. UE has gotten harder in booming Canadian cities with the constant development/demolitions, improved security measures, and increased awareness of the hobby.

Even just a couple years ago, places weren't being as secured as tightly as they are now in my city, and instead of having lots of time (sometimes years) to scout and wait for an opening to make a run, now it's just months (sometimes a few weeks).

we had so many good times back in 90's and early/mid 2000's. kids started destroying everything and being assholes about it. obviously this lead to increased police presence at places that were otherwise left alone. Lately with this covid scamdemic, much less police presence, but cellular solar cameras are out there now.... so the risk is probably higher. stealth will always be envogue

Posted by mookster In the eleven years I've been exploring, the 'scene' or 'community' has evolved into something totally unrecognisable, in that the sense of community has all but vanished yet the 'scene' is filled with more people than ever before. Instagram and Youtube have done a real disservice to what used to be a fairly well kept secret, certainly nothing, or comparatively little, is kept secret in the same way it used to be thanks to the sheer quantity of morons and level of exposure places get on those channels nowadays. A lot of the great places of yesteryear have gone, but there is still plenty out there to see now, especially if you don't follow the herd of social media sheep to the latest 'flavour of the month' spot and do your own thing with your own people. Just don't set your sights on finding an untouched time capsule asylum as, at least in the UK, any such newly closed hospital or asylum is stripped bare within a matter of weeks by contractors. Those sort of places don't exist any more but times changes and people are still discovering new things to do and places to go. To all the people who have just recently gotten into it - were there some amazing places around in the 'old' days? Yes. Are there still incredible places to explore now? Also yes. Just go out and find them.

Pretty much sums it up. Your excellent post on the bomb proof records bunker is proof enough.

Now as far as the "sheer quantity of morons" and instagrunt and youtubz crap, I will only add that lack of imagination and sheer laziness has contributed as much if not more.

Newbs unwilling to search out locations and "explore" wanting location handouts, trying to be the next Internet video sensation, you're correct I wouldn't let most of these idiots pick up my dog's yard let alone give them information I worked for and they could find for themselves.

I have to get in my lick for the DB. You guys should really add some of these locations (like the bomb proof records bunker) to the DB, its not going to get it vandalized or graffitied up any more than posting it in a thread does. Then the new guys as well as the lazy explorers could use it as a resource, I know I know I am an old fart so sue me!

p.s. why doesn't anyone explore active/live locations anymore, just chicken or has DHS got you finger prints on file or something ???

Golden years of UE for me were when I was under 18 and able to get away with pretty much anything under the auspices of being a "dumb kid".

A 30 year old man trespassing doesn't go so well anymore - when I UE now I pretend to be a real estate broker looking at delinquent properties, but it's just not as fun as running from fat cops & security guards...

Posted by blitz Golden years of UE for me were when I was under 18 and able to get away with pretty much anything under the auspices of being a "dumb kid". A 30 year old man trespassing doesn't go so well anymore - when I UE now I pretend to be a real estate broker looking at delinquent properties, but it's just not as fun as running from fat cops & security guards...

q. f. t. brother and it gets worse when youre over 50

Posted by Radio2600 Times change. Adapt and overcome. BE THE BORG

Yoke Smokes Poles. #BORG

I did most of my exploring in the 80s / early 90s. Doesn't compare to what it's like these days. The landscape has changed so much. Security was non-existent. Demolition happens quicker. Word spreads quicker than COVID. I never bothered to bring a camera until the last decade or so. haha My friends & I never had a name for this. We just went and checked shit out, cuz it was neat. And there was SO MUCH to check out. Fave find was what we thought was a forgotten barn in the woods outside of town - turned out it was a forgotten military storage outbuilding from WW2 (a local training airfield that only existed during the war), and there was a halftrack in there, and crates of ammo & mortars. This was, oh, probably in '78. Needless to say our parents freaked out.

You don't just stumble upon stuff like that in southern Ontario any more!