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UER Forum > Archived Rookie Forum > Winter Exploring? (Viewed 9936 times)
edsel 


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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 40 on 10/27/2009 8:14 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Im up here in Minot, North Dakota....oh ya its going to be getting cold! I think just driving to the places is going to suck.

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rz350 

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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 41 on 10/28/2009 1:43 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
oh noes, condensation on your lense? and here I was thinking you explored for its own sake, not to douchy pro photog wannabe.

ducky 999
Ogre Battle 


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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 42 on 10/28/2009 4:42 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by heinrick
One positive aspect of Winter photography is that while the days are shorter, the white snow bounces the light around more and naturally-lit interiors are often brighter.


I agree 100%. I like the colors and quality of light in the winter as opposed to any other time of year.



Ogre Battle 


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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 43 on 10/28/2009 4:44 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I dress like a construction worker in the winter. Big, heavy Carhartt coveralls are warm and rugged and if they get dirty or ripped, it just adds to the look of authenticity.

velcrozeppelin 


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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 44 on 10/28/2009 5:12 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I love exploring in the winter. In this past year, I think I explored more with snow on the ground than not.

Hit me up. I'll be glad to head out with you when it's -10F.

Me goin' legit would be like JarJar on speech therapy.

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gr8fzy1 


Location: Waterbury, CT
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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 45 on 10/28/2009 6:27 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Keeping yourself and your gear warm are a must for winter Urbexing. But make sure that your warmth doesn't decrease how well you can move. Instead of a heavy winter coat, you can do what I did last winter: Fleece hoody with a hooded windbreaker over it (Double lined, and water resistant). The Fleece will retain your body heat, and the windbreaker will keep the wind from wisking away that heat away. PLUS you will keep your mobility, which is just as important in a crumbling building. Throw a hat under the hoods and a decent pair of gloves and your all set. With this combination of hoody and wind breaker, a thermometer in my chest pocket read 73F, even though the thermometer on my bike was at 12F.

158231.jpg (32 kb, 450x600)
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Heavy, water resistant boots are a must as well. Wet feet will leach your heat as fast as a wet hat or gloves. Pants are up to you, but layer them if you can.

Also, bring along a good supply of iced water. Many times during winter, the air will be exceedingly dry, and will dehydrate you fast. It may seem odd to bring ICED water with you when you are trying to stay WARM, but this will actually help because if the water is cold or at least cool, you're more likely to drink it than if it were warm.

For your camera, I guess it all depends on what kind of camera you have. I only have experience with point and shoots, so my suggestions on that me not apply. But I suggest that you don't keep your camera out for extended periods. Go to a spot, snap a picture or two, then store it in a pocket inside your coat and head to the next spot.. This will keep the camera's temperature relatively stable. It
may seem like a hassle, especially if you shoot with a tripod. But condensation can really hurt a camera, and I had an SD card crack once. Also, I believe that point and shoot camera's are constructed more shoddily, and are thus more susceptible to the cold leaking in than SLRs. So if you have an SLR, you may be able to keep your camera out for slightly longer periods, but I wouldn't chance it. If you have spare batteries (And you always should), keep them in an inner pocket until they are ready to be used. I've extended the life of my rechargables up to an hour by doing this in winter.

All these suggestions are the results of personal experience. I hope they help.
[last edit 10/28/2009 6:30 PM by gr8fzy1 - edited 1 times]

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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 46 on 10/28/2009 6:50 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by gr8fzy1
Pants are up to you.


This is true regardless of season when exploring.

The rest is sound advice, though.

Get down, girl, go 'head, get down.
gr8fzy1 


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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 47 on 10/28/2009 9:45 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by hydrotherapy
This is true regardless of season when exploring.

The rest is sound advice, though.


*Laughs* Oh god....I never noticed that. It's to good to change, thank you Hydro!

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Furious D 


Location: Northern Ontario
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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 48 on 11/4/2009 2:46 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Mmmm... winter.



I didn't read all the responses, so I imagine some of this was already said.

I've explored in -40C (-40f) a few times. Alberta winters are just lovely..
Here's my advise:

~ Overdress. Seriously, dress in way more layers than you need to. It's always better than under-dressing, and you'll go home less pissed off and cold.

~ Bring more batteries! All your equipment WILL eat up batteries like crazy.

~ Your camera 'should' be ok (I have used my old Rebel XT in -40 before). There's a likelihood that it will operate slower though, including the shutter actuation, because of the lubricants in the camera's moving parts stiffening in the cold.

~ Chemical reactions occur slower with lower temperatures... so film doesn't always expose long enough.

~ Carry your batteries close to your body to keep them warm. You get more use out of warm batteries than cold ones.

~ Control your breathing. Your camera body will be below freezing and you are producing steam-fog with your breath. It WILL freeze instantly to any surface of your camera that you breathe on, including the lens, LCD screen... anywhere. That ice will also get into cracks as you try to rub it off the camera, and could run into places you don't want it to as it melts back home.

~ After shooting, keep your camera stored in a well-insulated bag until it warms up to room-temperature, that way you allow it to slowly, slowly warm up. Just bringing it exposed into a warm environment will result in condensation appearing on the camera body, and the possibility of moisture damage.

~ Take some cheap pipe-insulation from your local hardware store and wrap it around the legs of your tripod if it's of metal construction. You will insulate it greatly, and it will be easier for you to keep your hands warm whenever you are handling your tripod.

~ Wear mini-gloves inside a pair of mittens. You will be able to keep your hands warm when you're carrying your equipment... and at least slightly warm when doing more nimble tasks when the mittens are off.

~ Warm boots are extremely important. Feet are usually the first to get cold. You aren't doing much walking once you start photographing, so the friction-warmth and blood flow aren't there anymore.

~ Eat. Bring snacks too. You lose energy walking with all that heavy clothing, and you also lose energy just trying to keep your body warm. Hunger can have a direct relation to hypothermia... more than you might think.

Hope this helps!




Oh yeah, and don't lick any metal shit!

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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 49 on 11/4/2009 3:10 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I've been ice fishing in -30 below with the wind chill. I had 8-9 layers on, and we made a bonfire out on the ice. (We stayed inside a cove on the pond) Using a hand auger we drilled only four holes (Normally we set up 10 or 12 tilts) through 36 inches of ice. We had to Rebreak the holes every 30 minutes. Didn't catch a damn thing. But we did it just to say that we did.

Disposable Batteries are absolute shit in cold weather. Use rechargeable or lithiums.

Protect your extremities. Hands, Feet, Ears.

Another fun thing about cold weather is that it keeps people inside. There are multiple rooftops and one extremely high risk cell tower I want to do but can't because there are people wandering around at all hours of the night. I think once it gets really cold, it'll be quieter and less people walking around. I might have to wait until we get a good middle of the night + white out conditions snow storm to do the cell tower though.

"No risk, no reward, no fun."
"Go all the way or walk away"
escensi omnis...
Neptune 


Location: Maine
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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 50 on 11/4/2009 5:42 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
You guys are all a bunch of wussies. I urbex in Maine winters wearing little more than sneakers and a sweatshirt. I love winter exploring, especially since around here cops are less likely to get out of their toasty cars and search for you in an abandonment.

Also, watch out for ice and icicles.

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Trap 


Location: Dayton, Ohio
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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 51 on 11/4/2009 5:18 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I definitely agree with the people who say it's draining season! Be aware though, that it can be CONSIDERABLY warmer inside the drains than outside especially if you are Gollem-walking through a back breaker, so dress in layers that can be easily removed and bring some carabiners to hook onto stepirons and such so you have a place to hang your coat for later retrieval, you will need the water in here! Went through one one time and ended up comming out in a t-shirt soaked in sweat, coat, hat , hoodie,had all be abandoned and then recollected along the way back out, and man did that cold air feel good! As far as footprints in the snow are concerned I second what everyone else said about the scouting advantage, and the walking backwards, However we shouldn't forget that we can walk in the old footprints too! So if security does a patrol, or if some kids have come poking around and left tracks step where they did so that the fuzz wont notice anything different than the last time they walked around.


[last edit 11/4/2009 5:21 PM by Trap - edited 1 times]

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splumer 


Location: Cleveland, Ohio
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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 52 on 11/8/2009 7:38 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Neptune
You guys are all a bunch of wussies. I urbex in Maine winters wearing little more than sneakers and a sweatshirt. I love winter exploring, especially since around here cops are less likely to get out of their toasty cars and search for you in an abandonment.

Also, watch out for ice and icicles.


You wear a sweatshirt? WIMP! I explore Cleveland in the winter in naught but a wifebeater, nylon short-shorts and flip-flops! If it's windy I'll put on a hat.

“We are not going to have the kind of cooperation we need if everyone insists on their own narrow version of reality. … the great divide in the world today … is between people who have the courage to listen and those who are convinced that they already know it all.”

-Madeline Albright
YourMainParadox 


Location: Jacksonville, FL
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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 53 on 11/12/2009 10:16 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
hahaha what winter are you talking about? I am in florida The only thing I really worry about is more homeless/ bums inside these locations during cooler/ cold times... any experience?

polykan 


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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 54 on 11/13/2009 4:59 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
You'll find certain things in the winter that just arent present in the summer. For example we have a tunnel under a canal here that in the summer just continuously drips from the roof and 2/3 of the tunnel is flooded so you can't really access it. In the winter you can traverse the whole tunnel, plus you end up with crazy icicles hanging from the ceiling. Its amazing in the winter but somewhat boring in the summer.

I've also found the lack of foliage helps me locate things that were very hidden in the winter.

jacunda 


Location: Toledo area
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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 55 on 11/13/2009 6:47 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Watch out for falling ice and packed snow. I've seen ice/snow come sliding off pitched roofs and such without notice.

jacunda 


Location: Toledo area
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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 56 on 11/13/2009 6:49 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by splumer


You wear a sweatshirt? WIMP! I explore Cleveland in the winter in naught but a wifebeater, nylon short-shorts and flip-flops! If it's windy I'll put on a hat.


lol

splumer 


Location: Cleveland, Ohio
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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 57 on 11/13/2009 10:13 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
But seriously, folks, I actually was able to gain entry to a location because of the cold. A fence went around the area and into a lake. The lake was frozen (sort of) and I was able to walk around the end of the fence on the ice. So there are definite advantages to cold-weather UE.


“We are not going to have the kind of cooperation we need if everyone insists on their own narrow version of reality. … the great divide in the world today … is between people who have the courage to listen and those who are convinced that they already know it all.”

-Madeline Albright
1vertical1 






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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 58 on 11/17/2009 1:03 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Crampons and an ice axe if the location calls for it. Being an ice climber and mountainer, I got the warm clothing thing dialed in. Even a pair of yaktrax can do wonders if encountering slippy conditions.

ahhntzville 


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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 59 on 11/18/2009 12:51 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 






and layers

UER Forum > Archived Rookie Forum > Winter Exploring? (Viewed 9936 times)
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