"oh psh those sirens that just turned off at the entrance while we're on the roof of an active building totally aren't for us" **ignores** **gets b&e charges** **is juvenile and therefore gets probation** "Only sheep need a shepherd." -- Voltaire
Hearing someone say "hey, what's this button do?"...and not RUNNING to see that the person who said it didn't actually push the $@#&ing button! Suffice it to say thank heavens for strict lockout/tagout procedures. (Any industrial employers who happen to be reading this, take note.)
Technically, the biggest mistake might have actually been allowing Curious George to come along in the first place. I did not make that particular mistake ever again.
Biggest mistake seen-but-not-made-myself was someone tossing the lit stub of a cancer stick down a random chute in a grain elevator; I thought we were all dead on the lamest, tamest UE trip I'd ever been on. [last edit 11/10/2010 6:23 PM by Dark-Star - edited 1 times]
Becoming complacent in a newly entered locale. 3 rooms in and we tripped a laser sensor. Alarms going off on the outside of the building for 45 seconds before our lead noticed a glowing red LED at the far end of the room. We exited back out our entry and then everyone bolted. Our camera guy "Dante" bolts up the floodwall like something out of a ninja movie and disappears into the woods along the riverbank. We lurked around the area for 10 minutes but no cops or security ever came around, which I found sorta odd considering it's a abandoned power plant that used to hold a haunted house for it's employees. Dunno if they still do or not.
Anyway we all definitely got a good run out of that. "I set the bar high, it makes it easier to sneak under." -J.D. Jenkins
Re: Biggest mistake? <Reply # 123 on 1/18/2011 4:19 AM >
Not properly scouting out a POE. While climbing a tall fence into this gas plant, I somehow fall from the top into some thorny bushes and a rusty pipe sticking out of the ground. I laid there in the bushes thinking I had a broken rib and wondering how the hell I was going to get back over the fence before I got my breath back and realized I was alright (well as alright as you can be after cutting yourself up and falling onto a rusty pipe). After beginning to explore the site, I spotted an area on the other end of the property where there was a gaping hole in the fence that I could have walked right through.
I made this as a cautionary tale for everyone who ever plans to get on rope. This is how easy it is to make a mistake when you're exhausted, even with 8 years experience in climbing instruction.
Re: Biggest mistake? <Reply # 126 on 1/20/2011 2:36 AM >
Posted by Dav Here's a short film about Therrin's post on page 5.
I made this as a cautionary tale for everyone who ever plans to get on rope. This is how easy it is to make a mistake when you're exhausted, even with 8 years experience in climbing instruction.
I'll save my biggest mistake for another time.
Nice video, especially for in a mine. What did you record it with? Achievement Unlocked
Noticed what appeared to be an old abandoned mall in a crappy part of town. We noticed a POE at the front and were going to sneak in without even really checking out the building because we were so certain that it had to be abandoned but one of our group suggested we circle the building to see if we could find an easier way. When we got to the back side there were a ton of cop cars parked apparently the old police station in the mall was very active. We were amazed because it looked so abandoned on all other sides. Definitely learned our lesson about not being eager and just jumping through the first hole in a building before actually checking it out. Stupid Stupid mistake.
Do your research and make sure that the house is ACTUALLY abandoned before you enter! Remember that ghetto ≠ abandoned. Nothing like climbing through a back window, turning a corner and finding a very surprised family having dinner and watching NASCAR.
Posted by Captain_Slow Do your research and make sure that the house is ACTUALLY abandoned before you enter! Remember that ghetto ≠ abandoned. Nothing like climbing through a back window, turning a corner and finding a very surprised family having dinner and watching NASCAR.
If that was my house you'd be leaving on a stretcher, sounds like you got away lucky. Wank | Wank | Wank | Wank | Wank | Wank
Re: Biggest mistake? <Reply # 133 on 2/28/2011 4:58 AM >
Posted by Captain_Slow
No kidding. Lucky I was 16 and in good shape, ran like hell and got back to my truck. Learned a LOT since then, haha.
I did the same thing. I thought a house was abandoned. Busted windows, no running car in an overgrown driveway, knee high grass, falling down out buildings. Hell, I drove right up, got out and went in. Door wasn't locked. 10 feet down the hall an elderly woman stepped out from a room with an old revolver, and asked me if I was lost. I shat. I told her I was sorry, I thought her home was abandoned. We actually had a long talk, she was a nice lady. Me and a friend came over the next weekend, fixed a few of her windows, cut her grass and fixed the front porch. She was a sweetheart. Sadly she passed on a couple months later. Never did explore the house after it was truely abandoned. Didn't seem right. Ezekiel 25:17
The infamous Buttram Manfist location: Dallas, Tx Gender: Male
Obviously capable of mediocre things.
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Re: Biggest mistake? <Reply # 134 on 2/28/2011 5:05 AM >
Posted by jeepdave
I did the same thing. I thought a house was abandoned. Busted windows, no running car in an overgrown driveway, knee high grass, falling down out buildings. Hell, I drove right up, got out and went in. Door wasn't locked. 10 feet down the hall an elderly woman stepped out from a room with an old revolver, and asked me if I was lost. I shat. I told her I was sorry, I thought her home was abandoned. We actually had a long talk, she was a nice lady. Me and a friend came over the next weekend, fixed a few of her windows, cut her grass and fixed the front porch. She was a sweetheart. Sadly she passed on a couple months later. Never did explore the house after it was truely abandoned. Didn't seem right.
Wow, that's got to suck to hear... "Sorry, I thought your shitpile house was abandoned!" hahahah. Probably the best thing you could have said though, I would have done the same (especially with a gun on me!)
Re: Biggest mistake? <Reply # 136 on 3/1/2011 4:08 AM >
Posted by Sand Sounds like you also need AAA or cell phones?
Concrete City - AAA won’t help if you’re stuck in a manmade coal dust mud trench designed to keep people out of an animal refuge (didn’t know what it was till we got stock and locals told us… honest!) 5 locals fought over who'd pull us out - i didn't care as there were tornado warnings & we just wanted to go home!
PA turnpike - Broke a fog lamp and bent a fender climbing fallen trees.
Centralia – Broke a CB antenna. Burnt knuckles posing for a shot holding an IR temp gun in a hole spewing 170deg gas.
St. Nick – got lost and ended up on the inside of a reservoir (was harder to get out than in).
Buddy left his $1000 wedding ring in the bathroom at the gas station (yes, we did go back & he paid for gas).
90% of every trip has gunfire in the background, we come across an improve target range, or there’s at least shells lying around – worst one… we drove thru the target range.
Re: Biggest mistake? <Reply # 139 on 3/2/2011 7:29 AM >
My biggest mistake was maybe a few days back going into a house a few kilometres from my home without an respirator, and believe or not, I tripped on a floor plank and slammed hard on the wall, my shoulder hurt and I got a lungful of mold/asbestos/dust to cough up, definitely a learning experience!
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