World Trip 2004 - Twin Cities
The twin cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul are a center of urban exploring activity. The area also has a bit of a reputation for Urban Exploration infighting and turmoil. Over the past year three teenagers were killed while caving in the area. Some urban explorers were almost asphyxiated while exploring a tunnel a couple of years ago. One regular Urban Explorer gathered a considerable amount of gunpowder from the storage caves under the city which he then stored in his garage. Recently some of the Urban Explorers caused over $400 in damage to doorways in the Saint Paul Labyrinth tunnels. Then in September some of the Explorers in the city began to ostracize on of their members, going as far as to create a petition to encourage other explorers not to associate with him because of differences in opinion. I have to admit I found that ironic, as that particular explorer had been very critical of me due to the differences of opinion between me and some other explorers. If it were not for the politics and poor ethics of some (but not all) of the explorers in the Twin Cities, the place would be an explorers haven.
I was very happy to meet up with Greg Brick, one of the older and more experienced explorers in Minneapolis St-Paul. He has been exploring the underside of the Twin Cities for longer than most people. Although Twin Cities explorer Max Action is credited with finding the Labyrinth, Greg was aware of it long before Max was told about it. Greg and a companion showed me the stunning Triple Helix drain.
The entrance to the Triple Helix drain is pretty unassuming.
It's located right by the Mississippi river.
View from the entrance of Triple Helix drain.
A short way into the tunnel water pours from the ceiling in an unavoidable shower.
More obstacles to avoid. The vent on the right poured put foul smelling air.
This small unassuming side tunnel leads to the first of the helix stairways which give Triple Helix it's name.
Low sky - Triple Helix drain.
The bottom of the stairway of the first helix.
Top of the stairway.
Heading back down.
Pausing to take video at the bottom of the first helix stairway.
Walking back to the main tunnel of Triple Helix drain.
The second helix is much closer to the main tunnel. I bashed my head on the ceiling here so never walked up it.
There were many pipes letting water into this tunnel.
Greg examines two of the pipes letting water into the Triple Helix drain.
We reach the base of the largest of all three helixes of Triple Helix drain.
Yours truly standing at the base of the largest helix in the Triple Helix system.
It's big, really big.
This does not really give you an idea of the scale of this place.
The water runs down the outer area there near the wall, keeping this central stair clear of water.
View to the ceiling.
Approaching the top.
Near the top of the final helix the water changes sides so you have to hop over this concrete divider.
The tunnel leads on from the top of the final helix of Triple Helix drain.
Inspecting a small side tunnel to check if there is an exit.
On the way back we note that directly below this formation is a 3 foot deep hole in the floor of Triple Helix drain.
The side passage to the second helix.
Preparing gear as we scout past the rain shower near the entrance of Triple Helix drain.
View from the bridge above of the entrance. It reminds me of Anzac drain in UA City.
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