I found a drain that I want to explore as according to some maps it continues on for miles and miles. Regardless, our original plan was to use skateboards and lay on them to navigate the ~4 foot wide tunnel. But, the water seems to be around 2-3 inches deep and there are endless pebbles, logs, and even damn plants somehow growing down there. It was just like a creek but underground, so a skateboard wouldn't work unless we just pushed past all of it but I have no clue how long it stays like that for.

So, judging off that conclusion, what would some ideas be to get around these tunnels quickly that don't give my quads and glutes the worst cramp I've ever experienced?

Wear rain boots and crouch.

Well, I agree with crouching. I'm a bit over 6 foot (Near 2 meters) and can crouch to the local tunnel sizes in a near calibrated way.

Or get something with bigger wheels, or get wet. The skateboard bearings don't last long running immersed, but you aren't using a nice board in there anyway.

In college I had severe back pain until after I got into storm drains. Great excercise for those stabilizing back muscles!

Yeah I suppose I went in there after leg day at the gym. 30 feet into the damn thing and my legs started cramping. If I bring the boots and don't straddle the middle it would probably help a lot. Thanks.

Posted by Thecurious I found a drain that I want to explore as according to some maps it continues on for miles and miles. Regardless, our original plan was to use skateboards and lay on them to navigate the ~4 foot wide tunnel. But, the water seems to be around 2-3 inches deep and there are endless pebbles, logs, and even damn plants somehow growing down there. It was just like a creek but underground, so a skateboard wouldn't work unless we just pushed past all of it but I have no clue how long it stays like that for. So, judging off that conclusion, what would some ideas be to get around these tunnels quickly that don't give my quads and glutes the worst cramp I've ever experienced?

How tall is the tunnel? I know you said that the tunnel is 4 feet wide. If the tunnel is a walkable height, then you should be able to walk in the tunnel until the tunnel gets too small to walk in. That's usually what I do when I explore drains (LOL).

It hasn't been said yet and is usually mentioned on posts like this so--take care to know the signs of gas poisoning (hydrogen sulfide). Decaying organic matter in tunnels with bad air flow or otherwise stagnant movement can be dangerous, especially in confined conditions that can take a long time to extricate yourself from. If the tunnel goes on for miles at just 4 feet, be sure that you can be safe while exploring it.

Good luck! If you do go, take some photos and update us.

Posted by hoover 2 How tall is the tunnel? I know you said that the tunnel is 4 feet wide. If the tunnel is a walkable height, then you should be able to walk in the tunnel until the tunnel gets too small to walk in. That's usually what I do when I explore drains (LOL).

It's circular concrete piping, so it's probably less than four feet now that I think about it.


This is a picture of me fully squatted down in the drain. I'm about 5'10ish so it's not very tall of a drain at all. And with all the water, it is quite a bitch to get through but all I need is a buddy who isn't willing to give up and push on to see what we can find. It leads underneath a busy road a few hundred feet down, so we hope it gets wider once we reach that point.

Great job going for it! Unfortunately I doubt it'll widen up much if you're going upstream from the outfall, but maybe you'll find some junction rooms. Only one way to find out though!

Posted by Aran Great job going for it! Unfortunately I doubt it'll widen up much if you're going upstream from the outfall, but maybe you'll find some junction rooms. Only one way to find out though!

Actually, we got in near the infall instead of an outfall. There is a manhole we enter through (kind of a manhole, its the drain type with all the holes in it) and that manhole is probably 20 feet from the inlet point. I knew this prior to even scouting it, because on my storm water map it shows the direction of water flow, so we are actually heading downstream towards one of the busiest roads in town. But I've been super busy the last few weeks, but hopefully when school eases up a little I'll grab a friend and give it another shot.

Posted by Thecurious It's circular concrete piping, so it's probably less than four feet now that I think about it. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53685351854_f52c7b11c5_c.jpg This is a picture of me fully squatted down in the drain. I'm about 5'10ish so it's not very tall of a drain at all. And with all the water, it is quite a bitch to get through but all I need is a buddy who isn't willing to give up and push on to see what we can find. It leads underneath a busy road a few hundred feet down, so we hope it gets wider once we reach that point.

Oh yeah, I've been in quite of few small tunnels like this and some of them I had to crawl in, but I will that I prefer walkable tunnels 6 feet tall and taller. I'm 5.7 feet tall and that's small for me too (LOL). Keep me updated on what you find and if it gets any bigger than what you are in.

Posted by sunlight It hasn't been said yet and is usually mentioned on posts like this so--take care to know the signs of gas poisoning (hydrogen sulfide). Decaying organic matter in tunnels with bad air flow or otherwise stagnant movement can be dangerous, especially in confined conditions that can take a long time to extricate yourself from. If the tunnel goes on for miles at just 4 feet, be sure that you can be safe while exploring it. Good luck! If you do go, take some photos and update us.

I don't think I've ever had to deal with too much bad gases in storm drains in the 10+ years that I've explored drains, but I have smelled a lot of different stuff in the tunnels but so far nothing has affected me yet. Good to know. Do you think that I'm immune to the bad gases/fumes in the drains? Thanks for help.

Posted by hoover 2 I don't think I've ever had to deal with too much bad gases in storm drains in the 10+ years that I've explored drains, but I have smelled a lot of different stuff in the tunnels but so far nothing has affected me yet. Good to know. Do you think that I'm immune to the bad gases/fumes in the drains? Thanks for help.

Honestly, I believe this recommendation is more of a edge case that doesn't happen that often, but from my more safety-first perspective it's just important to know for confined spaces. My friends and I've spent extended time in active sewers and even then, we didn't run into the issue. Infrastructure is technically designed to be safe and well-ventilated, and in general I think this is the case.

It's just like how there are mine explorers who have been doing their thing for years and years, and yourself, who's been exploring for like 5 times as long as I have. At the same time, there are also people who die every year going into sewers and drains. It's not likely, and in general you don't have to expect it, but I just think it's good to know. I don't usually post stuff like this, there were just a few risk factors that stood out to me, namely: decaying organic matter + confined space. Also, later posts show proximity to heavy car traffic.

I do tend towards overpreparation, so of course take this with a grain of salt. There's many ways to explore, I suppose.

Posted by sunlight Honestly, I believe this recommendation is more of a edge case that doesn't happen that often, but from my more safety-first perspective it's just important to know for confined spaces. My friends and I've spent extended time in active sewers and even then, we didn't run into the issue. Infrastructure is technically designed to be safe and well-ventilated, and in general I think this is the case. It's just like how there are mine explorers who have been doing their thing for years and years, and yourself, who's been exploring for like 5 times as long as I have. At the same time, there are also people who die every year going into sewers and drains. It's not likely, and in general you don't have to expect it, but I just think it's good to know. I don't usually post stuff like this, there were just a few risk factors that stood out to me, namely: decaying organic matter + confined space. Also, later posts show proximity to heavy car traffic. I do tend towards overpreparation, so of course take this with a grain of salt. There's many ways to explore, I suppose.

I over prepared too. I'm extremely paranoid when it comes to stuff like this and always want to make sure it goes to plan and not get caught and hurt in that such. I mean drains are hard to get caught, but when it comes to everything else I'm always paranoid of people watching, cameras, etc. I always end up being way more observant than my friends but I guess it doesn't hurt. I guess I just end up thinking too much and doing too little lol.

Posted by sunlight Honestly, I believe this recommendation is more of a edge case that doesn't happen that often, but from my more safety-first perspective it's just important to know for confined spaces. My friends and I've spent extended time in active sewers and even then, we didn't run into the issue. Infrastructure is technically designed to be safe and well-ventilated, and in general I think this is the case. It's just like how there are mine explorers who have been doing their thing for years and years, and yourself, who's been exploring for like 5 times as long as I have. At the same time, there are also people who die every year going into sewers and drains. It's not likely, and in general you don't have to expect it, but I just think it's good to know. I don't usually post stuff like this, there were just a few risk factors that stood out to me, namely: decaying organic matter + confined space. Also, later posts show proximity to heavy car traffic. I do tend towards overpreparation, so of course take this with a grain of salt. There's many ways to explore, I suppose.

I always like to hear everyone's input on this stuff, so it does help a lot. Thanks again for your input. Yeah, I did know that sewers have gases in them, that's why I only go in sewers with people who love to tackle the poop like I do, and I never do that alone except for exploring drains (LOL). Also, I just wanted to let you know that I was just being silly when I said I was immune to the gases and I wasn't trying to be rude or anything, so I just wanted to let you know. I do totally understand what you are saying.

Posted by Thecurious I over prepared too. I'm extremely paranoid when it comes to stuff like this and always want to make sure it goes to plan and not get caught and hurt in that such. I mean drains are hard to get caught, but when it comes to everything else I'm always paranoid of people watching, cameras, etc. I always end up being way more observant than my friends but I guess it doesn't hurt. I guess I just end up thinking too much and doing too little lol.

Yeah, I know what you mean. I know a lot of people who are like that but I'm not like that because where I usually explore drains and pop manhole cover, I feel that other people that are around don't seem to care that I'm doing that, and they are just as curious as I am (LOL).