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


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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 20 on 10/21/2009 2:08 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
This coming from a rookie explorer,and I'm not a big winter fan either, but I would think snow/winter would make a nicer background for some shots, like maybe out of a window,or at night with snow falling..just a thought..
[last edit 10/21/2009 2:09 AM by mwrmedic - edited 1 times]

Archer 


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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 21 on 10/21/2009 2:35 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by mwrmedic
This coming from a rookie explorer,and I'm not a big winter fan either, but I would think snow/winter would make a nicer background for some shots, like maybe out of a window,or at night with snow falling..just a thought..


It does... it also poses unique glare problems on a bright sunny day that you wouldn't normally encounter.

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944kid 


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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 22 on 10/21/2009 3:19 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I look at winter exploring as an adventure on top of an adventure already. The added hassle is one more exciting thing to overcome. It's hard to explain, but I feel very emasculated after going out in the cold. I always never want to go, but the added sense of accomplishment I get when I arrive back at home (where I can thaw out) is always something I look forward to in order to amp myself up.

The aforementioned added dangers of floors are... hilarious. So true.

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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 23 on 10/21/2009 3:24 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by dsankt
Walk backwards.


Even better if a two explorer team can wear the same size/model boot. One walks normally, the other backwards. So when one trail leads up to a window, another leads away.

Unless you've had 1-2 weeks of weather where it doesn't get above freezing consider all standing water to be thin ice. Ice atop running water is never considered safe to cross (I know some rare cases/places it is, not risk-worthy).

More good things about winter ...
No: poison ivy leaves (still vines though), ticks, mosquitoes, bees.
[last edit 10/21/2009 3:25 AM by \/adder - edited 1 times]

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snap228 


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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 24 on 10/21/2009 3:27 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I'm still not convinced.

bfinan0 


Location: Rochester, NY
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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 25 on 10/21/2009 3:44 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by macman5151
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?


I started in the winter, and found that it's the same as exploring in any other season, except a bit colder. The approach to drains might freeze solid, allowing for drier/slipperier entry under floodgates; there is the issue of footprints in the snow--if the snow is fresh and exists in quantity, which still isn't a constant. In fact, I would say winter can be an advantage, for the 15 hours of darkness every day, and the fact that there's far fewer people out on the streets in January than July.

bfinan0 


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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 26 on 10/21/2009 3:46 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by 944kid
It's hard to explain, but I feel very emasculated after going out in the cold. ... but the added sense of accomplishment I get when I arrive back at home


Might I suggest a dictionary? Unless you're referring to literally freezing your balls off
[last edit 10/21/2009 3:46 AM by bfinan0 - edited 1 times]

DJ Craig 

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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 27 on 10/21/2009 4:19 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Get thermal underwear. It helps a LOT. Also hand warmers can do amazing things, especially the new large adhesive ones. Most people's mistakes with hand warmers is to only use one or two at a time. Don't do that. Use at least 10. I'm serious. Try it. It's amazing. You can stick those adhesive one all over the inside of your clothes. And then put the insoles in your shoes and have one of the normal little ones in each pocket, including your back pockets and even your jacket pockets and breast pockets. If you do that, you'll be toasty warm for many hours of exploring.

Sometimes abandonments are actually colder inside than it is outside, especially buildings that are made of steel, like big warehouses or very modern industrial buildings. There are some places that can only be explored when it gets really cold and flooded basements become frozen ice blocks. I've always wanted to go ice skating in an abandonment, or better yet, a drain (although drains almost never actually get cold enough to freeze since they're underground). In fact, drains are a good thing to explore in the winter since they tend to be warmer than above ground. Just watch out for the sun suddenly coming out and melting a lot of snow and causing runoff when you're in the drain. But that's probably a somewhat unlikely scenario.

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go..." -Dr. Suess
djdannyray 






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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 28 on 10/21/2009 12:46 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
There are tons of places that have flooded basements etc. and when winter comes around it's usually the only chance to get around.

AnAppleSnail 


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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 29 on 10/21/2009 1:33 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Mysterea
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.




If you want fire bring fire. A lighter in a ziploc is smaller than most usable strikers, and more reliable than tinder in your pocket - after all, you need fire after you've been under water once already. I've tried using strikers while shivering, it sucks.


Alternatively, carry a brazing torch...but those are much more effective for arson, too. I nearly burned a drain down once.

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NotBatman 


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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 30 on 10/21/2009 2:09 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by DJ Craig
Get thermal underwear. It helps a LOT.


Not just any thermal underwear, though. Spring for the good shit. I got a set of UnderArmor Cold Gear last winter and as near as I can figure, it's made out of win, pixie wings, and Tyler Durden's abs.

For realz.

One day I was out for three hours in -10F and basically didn't feel it (in my legs and torso). I was testing the stuff, so I was just wearing jeans over the Cold Gear. I had a big coat, but I unzipped it for a while.

Another night, closer to 5F, I fell through some ice in a marsh and soaked myself up to my waist. Bet your ass I hot-footed it back to the car, but once I got there I realized that my legs weren't really wet and that if my boots weren't FULL of standing water, I could probably have kept going.

It's expensive, but if you're serious about being outside in the cold, I can't recommend it enough.

(The Heat Gear shirts are great for summer too, as long as I'm providing free advertising anyway.)



I'm a "Leave only footprints, take only pornography" kind of guy, myself.
trent 

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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 31 on 10/21/2009 2:10 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Poop freezes. Use it to your advantage.

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makman 


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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 32 on 10/21/2009 3:28 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by trent
Poop freezes. Use it to your advantage.


True that. Who needs a crowbar when I've got two burritos and five hours?

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rz350 

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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 33 on 10/25/2009 2:32 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
oh noes! its cold/rainy/hot/theres a bit of barbed wire/ect.

so what? dress for it. Base layer of microfiber, second layer of that dimply thermal stuff, 3rd layer pants and sweater, 4th layer warm, wind proof jacket. You'll live. Hell, you might not even notice the cold, or end up feeling hot.

*boots, gloves, headwear should be obvious enough.

ducky 999
DrainMunkey 


Location: South St Paul
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i'd rather be exploring...

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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 34 on 10/26/2009 6:40 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Winter is draining season...just make sure your dressed warmly and have waterproof boots with a spare change of shoes and socks in the car for when your done...you rarely have to worry about flooding and most of the larger drains are still accessible to the point where is always a dry area to work with...plus it is a nice break from the coldness outside...and as a bonus if there is any leaky drains then you get the cool icicles inside


boomerang38697 


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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 35 on 10/27/2009 3:00 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
As mentioned at the beginning of the thread, condensation on photography/video equipment when you get back into warmer temperatures could be detrimental to the internal parts and pieces. But other than that winter can be a blast!

"Never Stop Exploring"
pNINJAz 


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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 36 on 10/27/2009 4:45 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by DJ Craig
use one or two at a time. Don't do that. Use at least 10. I'm serious. Try it. It's amazing.



wouldnt that get pretty pricey if you went exploring often?

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heinrick 


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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 37 on 10/27/2009 2:05 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
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.

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yokes 


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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 38 on 10/27/2009 2:57 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
The shorter days have the benefit of less time until night fall should one have to wait until dark to make an escape (as I've had to do in the past)

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

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Re: Winter Exploring?
<Reply # 39 on 10/27/2009 8:00 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Mobile
 
Posted by pNINJAz


wouldnt that get pretty pricey if you went exploring often?


Handwarmers are ridiculously cheap at Walmart. You get better value if you get the big ones. Also, use the adhesive ones that stick inside your clothes and the insoles for your shoes. Most people think I'm crazy when they see how many I use but once they try it, they love it. Most big handwarmers last about 10 hours and come in packs of 3 for about a dollar. ish. Keep in mind though that if you don't use a handwarmer within about 6 months, it will go bad because of small amounts of oxygen getting through the plastic. So don't get a huge stock of them for the winter and expect to be able to use the remaining ones next winter.



"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go..." -Dr. Suess
UER Forum > Archived Rookie Forum > Winter Exploring? (Viewed 9936 times)
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