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Posted by Dee Ashley
This one doesn’t look too terribly bad...
Until you realize what’s on the other side of that wall.
This is a good example of how wise it is to never make assumptions about something you can’t see with your own eyes. I would have totally assumed the ground on the other side of that 10-12’ wall was the same level on both sides, but it was actually 60’ farther down on the other side (my friend in the first photo is on the rim of the very top (center) of the second photo).
Incidentally, this also happened to be my first experience rappelling down a hellhole. :P
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^Glad you didn't come down long...
Albert Einstein said:"Assumptions are made and most assumptions are wrong."
blackhawk says: The most dangerous assumptions are the ones you don't realize you were making...
Always verify before you do... and never try.
Do or do not!!!
Trying means you are setting yourself up to fail*!
*stone cold truth when doing heavy lifts.
Just don't assume your confidence can overcome reality...
[last edit 3/7/2020 9:35 PM by blackhawk - edited 1 times]
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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When you open a door and the entire room has collapsed... that scares me the most. I'm always overly careful. If something looks suspicious, I don't even try it. There are times people have fallen through thinking it was safe, but that's the risk we take, I guess 
www.instagram.com/officialglamourghoul
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I've stuck my foot through rotten wood flooring a few times.
I also do a lot of free climbing up radio towers, and abandoned buildings with stories unreachable easily. my methodology for free climbing radio towers is to "hug" the tower with one arm while using the other to work my way up. always checking my footing before progressing. same method taught in the military according to someone I know. however I didn't learn it there I just figured it out because it makes logical sense if you don't feel like plummeting to your death.
on buildings the methodology varies. I've climbed up shoots before that had nothing but rail spikes stuck in cement to climb. in a few spots I had to do a bit of contortionist moves just to keep proceeding since the spikes were unevenly spaced and some out of reach.... Twas very dangerous. but will do it again!
If your uncle Jack were stuck on a roof. And he asked for your help. Would you help your uncle Jack off? |
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I have to admit I've been kind of a pussy recently. A friend and I were visiting that old incinerator. When we arrived at the top, I've noticed thos two little cockpits suspended in the air above the 'giant' pit. The depth was something like 25 meters.
I really wanted to take that stupid photo inside the cockpit because that would have been really awesome (the other cockpit still have the seat and some commands). It seemed like the structure was fine and wouldn't have collapsed. But I couldn't be sure of that. I fought not to go. I've probably missed a really good shot, but for what ? Fame ? Likes ? Totally useless.
Thanks blackhawk for your reminding.
360 panoramic photography : roundme.com/@urbx_360 |
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Posted by iamglamourghoul
When you open a door and the entire room has collapsed... that scares me the most. I'm always overly careful. If something looks suspicious, I don't even try it. There are times people have fallen through thinking it was safe, but that's the risk we take, I guess
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You mean like this?
 Hell Holes
This was a school in Louisiana and I've never seen anything quite like it. Every single room on the second floor looked like this - all of them collapsed, yet the hallway remained sturdy because it was the only section that was reinforced throughout the building. Considering it was late at night, it definitely kept us on our toes...
Incidentally, my friend barely touched a row of lockers in the hallway and they collapsed through the wall and into one of these rooms!
I wandered till the stars went dim. |
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One of my hell hole experiences: Old mansion on the eastern shore of Virginia. From the front it looked in really good condition. But apparently the backside had a fire. Stepped inside and opened a door at the top of the stairs to find this...
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  I found these in a location I visited today. There wasn’t any metal flaking off, so I started up. Then my fear of heights kicked in, and I went back down. I was about at where it turns, with about another twenty feet to go to the first layer of catwalks. The highest layer was probably about 60 to 100 feet in the air. Truth be told, I’m disappointed in myself for letting my fear get ahold of me. But then again, it’s hard to tell wether it’s a phobia, or just a gut feeling that something’s wrong.
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Posted by Asbestos E-Liquid
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I found these in a location I visited today. There wasn’t any metal flaking off, so I started up. Then my fear of heights kicked in, and I went back down. I was about at where it turns, with about another twenty feet to go to the first layer of catwalks. The highest layer was probably about 60 to 100 feet in the air. Truth be told, I’m disappointed in myself for letting my fear get ahold of me. But then again, it’s hard to tell wether it’s a phobia, or just a gut feeling that something’s wrong.
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Simple walk on the C channels on the sides if the steps are rusted out.
If so you will probably need to walk backward going back down.
They look sound with surface rust however you were there...
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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Posted by blackhawk
Simple walk on the C channels on the sides if the steps are rusted out.
If so you will probably need to walk backward going back down.
They look sound with surface rust however you were there...
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C channels? What are those?
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Posted by Asbestos E-Liquid
C channels? What are those?
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C channels are a type of structural beam, apparently.
https://en.wikiped...Structural_channel
Apparently, because I had no idea what they were, either. The more you know!
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I've stuck my leg through rotten wood floors on a few occasions but nothing has collapsed under me yet luckily.
If your uncle Jack were stuck on a roof. And he asked for your help. Would you help your uncle Jack off? |
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How long has that place been decommissioned? That place is all sorts of fucked. Did it burn at some point? Termites maybe?
If your uncle Jack were stuck on a roof. And he asked for your help. Would you help your uncle Jack off? |
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Yeap. Stronger and more rigid than a piece of flat steel.
Learning about building structure and techniques allows you to make safer judgments and be safer when sploring.
Just because one section is secure and intact, that can change in the next foot. Sections, stair steps, catwalk floor plates, deck plates, ha d rails etc maybe missing.
Never assume anything; assumption is the mother of disaster.
Eyes where your hands and feet are going at all times when moving.
Never move blindly, not even an inch.
If you can't see, feel.
Keep at least one hand on the handrail preferably both; keep both hands free if possible; bag the bloody cam when moving.
This may save your life. It did mine.
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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Posted by MercuryVapor
How long has that place been decommissioned? That place is all sorts of fucked. Did it burn at some point? Termites maybe?
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I think the hot, humid, rainy weather just does murder to anything wood out there. The wooden foundation was like that on both floors, but the hallways were concrete and in good condition.
I wandered till the stars went dim. |
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blackhawk, what do you think of this mini bridge?
I almost walked through that until I took one step on there and then thought better of it.
That was a giant "Hell no" moment for me.
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Posted by MysteriousExpedition
blackhawk, what do you think of this mini bridge?
I almost walked through that until I took one step on there and then thought better of it.
That was a giant "Hell no" moment for me.
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If it's solid I see no issues.
Gravity would keep it in place even if the anchor bolts failed, right?
As long as the handrails and the side beams are sound, it's doable.
Make sure the side beam(s)/hand rail(s) can't rotate due to the cross support (steps) being rusted out.
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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Posted by blackhawk
If it's solid I see no issues.
Gravity would keep it in place even if the anchor bolts failed, right?
As long as the handrails and the side beams are sound, it's doable.
Make sure the side beam(s)/hand rail(s) can't rotate due to the cross support (steps) being rusted out.
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Oh yeah, true.
It was a bit rusted so I was worried about the strength of it.
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Posted by MysteriousExpedition
Oh yeah, true.
It was a bit rusted so I was worried about the strength of it.
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You need to eye ball it and make a judgement call.
Most time the side beams are heavier gauge than the steps and take longer to corrode to the point of failure.
Better to error on the side of caution if a failure means serious pain or death.
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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Better watch your step on this bridge.
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Posted by Thinklikefreak
Better watch your step on this bridge.
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That's the kind of shit that can really get you at night if you're using light discipline (don't!).
Even in daylight never assume you'll spot a hellhole in time if you're not looking... it's so easy to fuck up walking railways.
You need to be extra cautious on old RR RR bridges.
They were strong as hell new, but many even active ones have had little maintenance over the last half century.
On active ones priority is giving to the rails not the walkways and side railings.
Be wary of ties as well giving way: walking near a rail can be safer. Be ready to react fast.
You never want to fall or trip on a rail; expect broken bones if you do.
If you run on rails or across them you need to be spot on with -every- step. It's takes only a slight miscalculation and/or misstep to land in a world of writhing agony.
There can be washouts and holes in the bedrock that can break ankles or trip you into a rail.
Every step when walking the rails count... even when bored and dirt tired.
Never play on them... or with trains. Shit happens.
Walk them long enough you probably will take a hit.
Most people I know have, including myself.
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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