forums
new posts
donate
UER Store
events
location db
db map
search
members
faq
terms of service
privacy policy
register
login




1 2 3 4 5 6 7  
UER Forum > Archived Rookie Forum > Winter Exploring? (Viewed 9936 times)
makman 


Location: Rochester, NY
Gender: Male


I live alone with a criminal

Send Private Message | Send Email
Winter Exploring?
< on 10/20/2009 7:09 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I've been exploring with some degree of seriousness for only a few months. As the Rochester winter approaches, I'm wonder what to expect for exploring during the winter. Are there any unexpected 'gotcha's that I might want to be aware of? Any extra equipment? Any general advice on dealing with the cold and the snow from you, ye veterans of UE?

Be careful, not safe.

"Urbex- so much fun that it should be illegal."
snap228 


Location: New Paltz, NY
Gender: Female


"A man who holds the cat by the tail learns something he can learn no other way."

Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 1 on 10/20/2009 7:11 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I am also interested in the answer to this.


(I'm a Texan-turned-New-Yorker, so I'm seriously considering giving up exploring once there's any hint of snow.)

yokes 


Location: Toronto
Gender: Male


I aim to misbehave

Send Private Message | Send Email | AIM Message | 
Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 2 on 10/20/2009 7:15 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
- Dress warm and water proof.
- Watch footprints in the snow
- Batteries don't last as long when they are cold
- Be careful of condensation on your camera when you go into a warm environment again

"Great architecture has only two natural enemies: water and stupid men." - Richard Nickel
trent 

I'm Trent! Get Bent!


Location: Drainwhale hunting
Gender: Male


Not on UER anymore.

Send Private Message | Send Email | infinitedecay
Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 3 on 10/20/2009 7:16 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I'm quite paranoid about footprints. They can at times give your position away and have seen it happen.

Sometimes walking around a building in a foot of snow looks more sketchy to others than in the summer.

And just because it's a nice sealed up building, it's still just as cold as outside or often colder. Sometimes the building traps in the cold while outside is warming up with the sun.

Drains seems nice a toasty in the winter and (usually) nice and cool in the summer.

Don't eat the brown snow. Yellow still tastes okay.


All general stuff. No major shockers besides being cold as hell.

He who rules the underground, rules the city above.
AnAppleSnail 


Location: Charlotte, NC
Gender: Male


ALL the flashlights!

Send Private Message | Send Email | AIM Message | My Flickr Page
Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 4 on 10/20/2009 7:17 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Treat it largely like a hike in the cold - layers, pack water and food. Don't be in a hurry, getting wet becomes an emergency - yeah, you'll need a way to stay dry; or stay warm while wet and waiting for pickup. Waterproof boots in snow, wear a warm hat, an outer layer that blocks wind and water.

Mind your tracks in snow - but snowprints give you information too. Mind the temperature drop after dark, especially on clear days. Stay warm.

Achievement Unlocked
hydrotherapy 

Clever Girl


Location: Circle of Least Confusion


RPS is inside all of us

Send Private Message | Send Email | Ward9
Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 5 on 10/20/2009 7:19 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
If you have a shitty point and shoot, and the weather drops below freezing, your batteries might stop working. Entirely. At which point you get to keep your extra ones in your pockets or down your pants or up your ass or wherever you'd like, just so you can keep shooting.

You'll need generally less water, so your pack will lighten up. You'll make up for it by the squillion layers of clothing you'll have to wear. Buildings will be ever so slightly warmer at night as they retain the heat from the day before, and absolutely fucking freezing during the day, as the temperature swaps from the night air.

Bring extra socks. Snow/freezing rain is a bitch. Bring heat treat/whatever brand you'd like. Throw some in your gloves, if you wear them, and shoes to keep from being miserable while exploring.

Expect floors that were sorta crap during the summer/spring/fall to start getting worse, especially around the Northeast. Freeze-thaws happen all winter and are murder on buildings. Particularly buildings with broken steam pipes. Though these can make for epic photos in cold weather.

Bonus- pigeon poop smells less and becomes more traversable during cold weather.
Other bonus(?)- rotting wood becomes... less squishy. More likely to just snap under you than simply suck you down.

Cold also typically causes guards to kick it in their cars/shacks/favorite spot more often, and they will be less motivated to chase you or even notice you. Same with cops. Though expect them to be REALLY PISSED OFF if they do catch you. No one likes running after someone else in 13 degree weather.

And it makes overnight stays in buildings decidedly less comfortable.

Get down, girl, go 'head, get down.
bonnie&clyde 


Location: 510 & 415


Cleverly disguised as responsible adults

Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 6 on 10/20/2009 8:08 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by hydrotherapy

Cold also typically causes guards to kick it in their cars/shacks/favorite spot more often, and they will be less motivated to chase you or even notice you. Same with cops. Though expect them to be REALLY PISSED OFF if they do catch you. No one likes running after someone else in 13 degree weather.

And it makes overnight stays in buildings decidedly less comfortable.


I like the winter. I usually explore more. The cold & rain make great covers for my covert activities. & it keeps the guards in their shacks /vehicles. Also less nosey people out to look into something suspicious.

What is this snow & freezing conditions you speak of. Here in Ca it is decent most of the time.

Me exploring in January






any resemblance to Borat is just a coincidence

The question is not when are we gonna stop, It's who's gonna stop us?

yokes 


Location: Toronto
Gender: Male


I aim to misbehave

Send Private Message | Send Email | AIM Message | 
Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 7 on 10/20/2009 8:21 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
- With leaves off trees, you lose a lot of cover they afford in the summer.

"Great architecture has only two natural enemies: water and stupid men." - Richard Nickel
hydrotherapy 

Clever Girl


Location: Circle of Least Confusion


RPS is inside all of us

Send Private Message | Send Email | Ward9
Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 8 on 10/20/2009 8:25 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by yokes
- With leaves off trees, you lose a lot of cover they afford in the summer.


Don't be a negative nancy, if you were a real explorer, you wouldn't think twice about that.



Get down, girl, go 'head, get down.
micro 


Gender: Male


Slowly I turned

Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 9 on 10/20/2009 9:03 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Yeah, footprints can be a bit of an issue, but they can also be an asset you want to know how often a place is getting visited by people, especially those who might be keeping an eye on things.

They let you see how often security might be doing checks, what areas of a property they're paying attention to or of they even bothered leaving their vehicle to begin with. Like hydrotherapy said, most of the time they'll do as little as they need to during colder weather and you can sometimes use that to your advantage.

It's the sort of stuff that comes in handy when you're visiting active or semi-active locations that you're a little unsure about.

The colder temperature also allows you to see heat coming out of vents. Good if you want to know what sections of a building might still be frequented by people. Sometimes the lights are on, but if the heat is off, there's a decent chance that nobody is home.

Mysterea 


Gender: Male




Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 10 on 10/20/2009 9:15 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Quite honestly I prefer exploring in the winter, as does my normal UE buddy.

People are generally more holed up, being warm generally isnt an issue until you stop moving (if you dress right) and you can sometimes gain access to waterlogged areas due to the freeze.

Not to call you out Hydrotherapy, but you mentioned not needing as much water in the winter (assuming due to less sweat). I'm disputing this claim, as you lose more water in your breath due to dry air, and you're burning more calories staying warm. Not only that, the margin of error (for survival purposes) is much slimmer. Not only that, your body needs to be hydrated to regulate temperature well, the more water the better off you are.

In short i'd recommend bringing extra water and food, along with a magnesium striker and some dryer lint (and know how to use them!) just in case you need to hunker down until dawn.



everyone's gotta believe in something... I believe I'll have another drink!
makman 


Location: Rochester, NY
Gender: Male


I live alone with a criminal

Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 11 on 10/20/2009 10:18 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by hydrotherapyor up your ass
Oh, I've been doing that all summer just for fun. Always nice when such things turn out to be useful.

Re Footprints: Hadn't thought of that one. I can think of a few places that might be an issue. Then again, as mentioned, I could see that providing info to me too- unplowed areas, for example, are unlikely to be watched.

Anyone ever tried using heavy falling snow as visibility cover?

Drains seems nice a toasty in the winter and (usually) nice and cool in the summer.

Or potentially frozen. >.< Plus, getting wet in the cold sucks.

Be careful, not safe.

"Urbex- so much fun that it should be illegal."
Jonsered 


Location: Back in New Mexico where I belong
Gender: Male


Dressed for a scarecrow ball.........

Send Private Message | Send Email | Yahoo! IM | AIM Message
Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 12 on 10/20/2009 10:27 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Keep in mind that under very cold conditions, a minor emergency can become a major problem. A simple broken leg in the summer means a delay of x many hours while someone goes for help, plus the possibility of having legal problems when the ambulance comes to get you. In the Winter, x many hours may result in further injury from the cold.

I prefer Winter exploring. It has its drawbacks, but I believe they are outweighed by the sheer joy of tromping about in the snow.

I have changed my personal exploring ethics code. From now on it will be: "Take only aimed shots, leave only hobo corpses." Copper scrappers, meth heads and homeless beware. The Jonsered cometh among you, bringing fear and dread.

WarBird69 


Location: Eastern TN
Gender: Male


Atomic Bird of War

Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 13 on 10/20/2009 10:59 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Don't forget to wear a hat of some sort... most of your body heat excapes from your head.

Absolutely bring plenty of water! Don't think just because its cold as balls or you don't feel sweaty that you aren't on the way to becomming dehydrated!

When twilight draws near, when you are pushed to the very limits of your soul, when it seems that all you have left are the dead remnants of the fabric of your life:
-- BELIEVE
urbexkeith 


Gender: Male


S & W B

Send Private Message | Send Email | Industrial relics photography
Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 14 on 10/20/2009 11:00 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
colorado is narsty

With the bashy bashy
http://www.flickr....elics_photography/
Archer 


Location: Toronto, ON
Gender: Male


Imperator Sagittario

Send Private Message | Send Email | Abandoned UE
Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 15 on 10/20/2009 11:07 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by urbexkeith
colorado is narsty


Thank you for your amazing insight.

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

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

This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.


Location: Fredrock, Farrieland
Gender: Male


F/Rox loves yummy burritos

Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 16 on 10/20/2009 11:54 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Make under armor your friend. A lot of the time I will just wear their cold gear pants and shirt under a hoodie with jeans and some gloves and im good to go. It is nice because it keeps you warm with out screwing with your mobility.

Loki 


Location: Melbourne, Australia
Gender: Male




Send Private Message | Send Email
Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 17 on 10/21/2009 12:20 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Last winter it got down to about 2C in Melbourne, it was so bad I had to put on an extra layer of clothing.

I guess my point is, when it gets to be winter, come to Australia!

Wank | Wank | Wank | Wank | Wank | Wank
dsankt 


Location: live and in the fresh




Send Private Message | Send Email | AIM Message | sleepycity
Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 18 on 10/21/2009 1:19 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by yokes
- Watch footprints in the snow


Walk backwards.



sleepycity.net: watch out for the third rail baby, that shit is high voltage. urbex and urban exploration photography
hydrotherapy 

Clever Girl


Location: Circle of Least Confusion


RPS is inside all of us

Send Private Message | Send Email | Ward9
Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 19 on 10/21/2009 2:00 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Mysterea

Not to call you out Hydrotherapy, but you mentioned not needing as much water in the winter (assuming due to less sweat). I'm disputing this claim, as you lose more water in your breath due to dry air, and you're burning more calories staying warm.



Don't call out the person with "water" as part of their name.

Your body may NEED more water (and the may is all dependent on physical exertion, honestly with less cops about there is less need for full on sprints and superfastmaddebauclefenceclimbs) but you don't crave it, and you can go for far longer without feeling the need for water in winter than you can summer. Plus in my experience, winter explores tend to last less time. You don't need to pack provisions for 12+ hours when you know you probably won't last past 5 without getting cold and bored. As for burning calories staying warm- true that. That is what compact, high-protein food is for. I'm not sure what sort of water you drink, but mine doesn't have calories.

Not to suggest anyone border dehydration while exploring but I've never had a problem losing more water through sweat while exploring in the winter. And if you're finding this a significant problem- dress in layers.

Also- bring whiskey.



Get down, girl, go 'head, get down.
UER Forum > Archived Rookie Forum > Winter Exploring? (Viewed 9936 times)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7  



All content and images copyright © 2002-2024 UER.CA and respective creators. Graphical Design by Crossfire.
To contact webmaster, or click to email with problems or other questions about this site: UER CONTACT
View Terms of Service | View Privacy Policy | Server colocation provided by Beanfield
This page was generated for you in 140 milliseconds. Since June 23, 2002, a total of 737033161 pages have been generated.