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722 online
Server Time:
2024-05-11 22:05:15
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 Random
  
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Gender: Male
Partially Retired
 |  |  | Re: Manholes
<Reply # 20 on 9/11/2005 2:09 AM >
|  | | | Posted by Horus92
How does the draining system handle hills in your areas? Have you ever run into someone whilst popping a manhole?
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Most of the ones I've seen either go deep, or have small steps down.
I had a funny encounter popping a manhole. I was doing some solo scouting of an area drain and headed out through a gutterbox. When I started shifting the lid, I heard someone gasp. I pushed it the rest of the way open and turned to behold a group obviously headed out to a high school dance. All of the girls screamed and stepped behind their dates. Even the older couples waiting to get into the restauraunt had the same reaction. There were many gasps and everyone stepped back. I hopped out, grabbed my bag, shut off my headlamp, and stowed it. I sat on the curb and brushed the drain debris off. I turned, smiled at the astounded crowd and walked away calmly.
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Soggy
Gender: Male
| | Re: Manholes
<Reply # 21 on 9/11/2005 2:46 AM >
| | | | The listening and smelling are good ideas. I usually just shine a mini maglite down one hole and look in through the other to get an idea of whats down there.
As for the manhole cover poppers, there was a thread with various contraptions people use: http://www.uer.ca/...d=1&threadid=20180
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Factor VIII
 
Location: tu5t1n
Gender: Male
The Legacy
| | | Re: Manholes
<Reply # 22 on 9/11/2005 5:37 AM >
| | | | Posted by Horus92
How does the draining system handle hills in your areas? Have you ever run into someone whilst popping a manhole?
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From what I've experienced, when the land changes elevation quickly, the drain just goes deeper. Although there are some very steep hills where I live, so I'm not sure how that works, I guess the drain just goes slowly upward, and gets closer to the surface.
use the boost to get through |
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HillbillyHorus
Location: Charlottesville Virginia
Gender: Male
Im in ur government, killin ur d00dz
| | | Re: Manholes
<Reply # 23 on 9/12/2005 12:01 AM >
| | | | I also found a new drain system, albeit rather small, whilst hiking today. They were developing, so it was new. It was just a maze-ish connections of new RCPs with plastic stepirons (wtf happened to good ol' rusty steel bars?!).
My city is very hilly, and walking in the valleys is one of the best ways to find drains. I've developed a new term today to describe a common feature in my area: Dipper. A dipper is a creek which uses a tunnel to go under a road a little ways. Dipper creeks can sometimes lead to something cool if they go underground. Is there already a word for this?
I've also found a new draining technique. I can't take credit for it (I'm pretty sure I read about it somewhere here). Ya know those neck/backbreaker RCPs? Well, they often lead to something cool but are just a bi%^h to crawl through. All you have to do is grab a skateboard, lie down flat, and glide on through. It works like magic. It's a bit uncomfortable, but certainly not as bad as crawling.
BTW, Random seems pretty hardcore! I don't know if I would feel comfortable walking around in full camo BDUs, popping manhole right next to a street like he does. My group actually follows drains from above ground to see which manholes are safe to pop out of. Then we go under, and tag those manholes with red Xs.
You can't fall off a mountain. |
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Random
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Gender: Male
Partially Retired
| | | Re: Manholes
<Reply # 24 on 9/12/2005 12:48 AM >
| | | | Posted by Horus92
BTW, Random seems pretty hardcore! I don't know if I would feel comfortable walking around in full camo BDUs, popping manhole right next to a street like he does. |
I don't know about all that! But I'm complemented nonetheless. With experience, you can tell which manholes are safe from underneath.
Never wear full camo, I only go half-camo'd if at all. Hahaha, people think anyone in a headlamp, respirator, tool belt, backpack and camo is a terrorist. I have no clue why.... hahahaha. So, try to restrict your camo to fashion-looking pieces. Military gear is very practical, but no one likes a commando popping out of a hole in their front yard.
That is unless you can pull it off, like Jester. Then it's cool.
EDIT: closing statement.
[last edit 9/12/2005 12:50 AM by Random - edited 1 times]
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Finn
Location: Plano, TX
Gender: Male
| | Re: Manholes
<Reply # 25 on 9/12/2005 4:40 PM >
| | | | For what it's worth, I bought my manhole popper at Home Depot. I'm not really sure what opening a manhole has to do with home improvement, but I'm not complaining. They come in two sizes, tiny and long as hell. The tiny one is more concealable, but the long one lets you be lazy and stand up while you open it.
Rest in Peace, Ninjalicious. I know that wherever you are, you're finding the best sites for us already. |
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wackodood
Location: Twin Cities
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Manholes
<Reply # 26 on 9/12/2005 7:57 PM >
| | | | This might sound unconventional, but does anyone ever use props or jacks to hold a manhole/grate in place so that everyone can get through? There's always that tail that has to hoist the heavy slab of metal up and then worry about getting themselves in and the cover back in place. Easier way, anyone?
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HillbillyHorus
Location: Charlottesville Virginia
Gender: Male
Im in ur government, killin ur d00dz
| | | Re: Manholes
<Reply # 27 on 9/12/2005 9:14 PM >
| | | | Posted by wackodood
This might sound unconventional, but does anyone ever use props or jacks to hold a manhole/grate in place so that everyone can get through? There's always that tail that has to hoist the heavy slab of metal up and then worry about getting themselves in and the cover back in place. Easier way, anyone?
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I've never used a car jack. I always go with at least one other person. We just look for a manhole that looks easy to open, then I push it while he holds it up. Then once I'm topside I'll move it for him. It's very difficult/impossible to open a manhole from above ground without at least a crowbar. Just today I explored that hilly one, and found a rusty manhole opener, but the hook-part was snapped off, and it looked too rusted to support anything anyway. I actually did a bit of homework down there in a manhole chamber.
In the hilly drain I found some interesting old stuff. I saw alot of brick side drains which were walled in. Perhaps old ones which fell into disrepair? Then it keeps alternating between stone and concrete. I didn't follow it to the end, as it shrunk to an uncomfortable size (before of course growing again). I could've kept splorin since it probably grew again, but I was way to tired and had pretty sore knees by that point. I was yelling up at people in a park through a gutter:
"Shut up! Satan commands ye!" They started yelling "what was dat", but we moved on.
How to people lug a sledge hammer underground to pop a manhole with? That could get pretty heavy, specially with other gear.
You can't fall off a mountain. |
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Random
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Gender: Male
Partially Retired
| | | Re: Manholes
<Reply # 28 on 9/12/2005 9:43 PM >
| | | | A three pound sledge isn't too bad to carry. I don't carry mine anymore, for no special reason. You could probably get by with a large claw hammer.
About props, no, I've never used them. I climb in, and then slide the cover back on. Slide the cover open so that just the lip is overhanging the hole.
[last edit 9/12/2005 9:46 PM by Random - edited 1 times]
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HillbillyHorus
Location: Charlottesville Virginia
Gender: Male
Im in ur government, killin ur d00dz
| | | Re: Manholes
<Reply # 29 on 9/13/2005 8:54 PM >
| | | | I was just caught in a drain when my flashlight went out. On the one day I forgot to bring extra batteries. D'Oh! It was easy at some parts because of manhole shafts, but other times it would be pitch black for long stretches. It was terrifying, but at the same time kind of cool.
My mom also says I smell like crud. What's up with that? My city doesn't use CSOs, so I doubt it's poop, but there was a dead-animal smell at one part (not too strong though, so I don't think it would've rubbed off on me). Then there was suds from someone washing their car. What could be causing this weird smell? I need help on this one, as it took much arguing to convince my mom (my dad was OK with it) that draining was relatively safe, and now I risk being banned again.
You can't fall off a mountain. |
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Random
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Gender: Male
Partially Retired
| | | Re: Manholes
<Reply # 30 on 9/13/2005 9:22 PM >
| | | | It's probably just the usual drain smell. My boots, pack and car trunk smell like it. Hasn't caused any problems so far. It's just a combination of dirty water, mud, drain debris and sweat. Nothing I'd worry about.
Oh, about the batteries thing, try to establish a regular draining bag containing all of your draining supplies. Extra lights, batteries, canteens and tools should be on the list of things to keep in here. If you haven't already, read Predator's Approah.doc which canbe found at the address below.
http://www.urbex.org/misc/approach/approach.html
[last edit 9/13/2005 9:26 PM by Random - edited 1 times]
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HillbillyHorus
Location: Charlottesville Virginia
Gender: Male
Im in ur government, killin ur d00dz
| | | Re: Manholes
<Reply # 31 on 9/13/2005 11:51 PM >
| | | | The stench turned out to be a bone our dog had been chewing on  .
My mother is also concerned over gases in drains. I went through her entire list of potential dangers (rat bites, infected scratches, getting lost, popping a manhole in a road, etc.) and convinced her that each was unfounded, except the risk of gases. Where are gases found? I would assume it would have to be a very large drain to have natural gas deposits. I think most of the gases on the list are found in sewers, not drains. Your thoughts?
You can't fall off a mountain. |
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rz350
 
This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.
Location: toronto
Gender: Male
The looniest, zaniest, spontaneous, sporadic Impulsive thinker, compulsive drinker, addict
| | Re: Manholes
<Reply # 32 on 9/14/2005 12:42 AM >
| | | | Gas is found where there are large amounts of decaying organic material, so primarily sanitary sewer, however, if you see piles of leaves/plant matter ect down a storm drain that some how got down there, consider the area suspect and take precautions (notably getting out of there) as it could also make gas in the contained enviroment of a drain.
ducky 999 |
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Random
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Gender: Male
Partially Retired
| | | Re: Manholes
<Reply # 33 on 9/14/2005 1:05 AM >
| | | | Stand at the entrance of the drain, oftentimes you'll feel a good breeze coming out of it. There isn't a big chance of gas buildup with a steady breeze running through the system constantly.
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Allva
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Gender: Male
I have my moments.
| |  | Re: Manholes
<Reply # 34 on 9/14/2005 2:28 AM >
|  | | | Manhole cover in the middle of the New Orleans cemetery this July.
Life is hard, but it's harder when you're stupid. |
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The Warden
Location: Seattle
Gender: Male
| | Re: Manholes
<Reply # 35 on 9/14/2005 3:07 AM >
| | | | http://www.urbex.o...oach/approach.html
This has excellent tips on drain hazards, especially gases. It's difficult to acquire a portable gas detector unless you contact a supplier for heaters/plumbers. Usually I just pay attention to my vitals and those of the others in the group, as well as smells and air currents.
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HillbillyHorus
Location: Charlottesville Virginia
Gender: Male
Im in ur government, killin ur d00dz
| | | Re: Manholes
<Reply # 36 on 9/14/2005 8:18 PM >
| | | | These are all great suggestions guys. Thanks! How much organic matter would be required for bad air? At one gutter box in a drain I frequent there's a pile of dead leaves, and there's a dead rat or something somewhere in there, but this drain has many gutter boxes and good air circulation. How does carbon monoxide (i.e. exhaust fumes) get caught in drains? I would assume it wouldn't get in there too much since exhaust is hot and thus rises.
On a different note, I brought that manhole popper above ground. It is rusted, but is actually quite sturdy. It might not be a manhole popper though, now that I look at it topside. It's maybe 5'7" tall, and looks like it used to be cased in rubber or something, as there is still some of this clinging on. I tested it out on some manholes in my neighborhood, and it slips 'em out of their collars like magic.
[last edit 9/14/2005 8:26 PM by HillbillyHorus - edited 1 times]
You can't fall off a mountain. |
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Random
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Gender: Male
Partially Retired
| | | Re: Manholes
<Reply # 37 on 9/15/2005 1:22 AM >
| | | | What does this suspected popper look like, Horus? If you can get it a picture would be cool, but I'd probably be satisfied with a detailed description.
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HillbillyHorus
Location: Charlottesville Virginia
Gender: Male
Im in ur government, killin ur d00dz
| | | Re: Manholes
<Reply # 38 on 9/15/2005 10:44 PM >
| | | | It's a long, pretty skinny, metal rod with a rubber (or something) covering, though this is mostly worn off. When I found it there was also a black nylon band big enough to fit around the wrist lying next to it. Even if it isn't a manhole key, it still works excellently.
You can't fall off a mountain. |
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Krenta
Location: Saint Paul, MN
Nope, wasn't me.
| | Re: Manholes
<Reply # 39 on 9/16/2005 12:49 AM >
| | | | Around these parts, the majority of our manhole covers have little "eyes", for lack of a better term, in them, though they're often filled with dirt or asphalt. I carry a carabiner and three little baby prusiks of 6mm accessory cord. Unplug the eye with your finger, if necessary, loop one prusik thru the eye, attack carabiner through both ends, stand up, and pull on the other two prusiks. Voila, unless it's bolted, welded, or weighted with a hundred pounds of concrete, up pops the lid. Just one of many uses for a couple short loope of rope and a 'biner.
Have Speed Graphic, Will Travel. |
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