abandoned buildings are dangerous places.

there's the hazards posed by lead paint, toxic mold, rogue bacteria, and asbestos. there's
the possibility of falling through a floor or causing a building to collapse on you. you could
get arrested, or murdered by a derelict.

the primary reason most people don't go in these places is, they can be very deadly. so
my first word of advice is, don't go in. i will not give you information on where my sites
are, nor do i encourage you in any way to emulate the things i do. if you do feel
compelled, despite the warnings, i take no responsibility for your health or welfare in any
way.

that being said, for those who will ignore the above paragraph, i do have a few 'tips' if you
will.

first of all, get permission if you can. the urban exploration community tends to revel in
sneaking into places, and i would be a liar if i said i haven't done this a few times myself.
however, for the most part the concerns that property owners and county officials have
are valid. they don't want their sites vandalized, and i'm sure they don't want to remove
your corpse from their property. they don't want you and your friends treating their site as
though it is a party pad.

you'd be surprised how many people who control these sites understand the history
behind them, however. some of them may even wish that respectable people would
document their site's history before they are paved over. if you call county offices it is
quite possible that you may get in touch with someone who will allow you on the premises.
this may open up previously locked doors for you, and certainly presents an advantage in
that you won't have to worry about being arrested.

then again, they may say no, or you may decide to go without asking. either way,
permission or no, my next piece of advice is to be respectful. don't litter on or vandalize
the sites. these areas are not playgrounds, and it never fails to sadden me how
destructive people are in old buildings. whether you are in legally or not, your behavior
will help shape how explorers on the property in the future will be treated. furthermore, if
you are caught by security and are angry and disrespectful, you will have a lot less luck
getting away with it than you will if you are polite and friendly. please don't ruin the site, or
exploration in general, for other people by being ignorant.

next item: respirators are your friend. i'm constantly stunned how cavalier people are
about the air quality in these sites, but often there are all sorts of extremely harmful
chemicals floating around the air, and just because you can't see them doesn't mean they
won't have a profound effect on your health. while i'd recommend getting something more
professional (and expensive) if you're going to make a habit out of exploring these sites,
you can still get a half-way decent respirator for around $20 at your local hardware store.
an interesting side note is that these sites - particularly hospitals and industrial sites - are
biological playgrounds. there may be all sorts of interesting bacteria that have had very
unique conditions and plenty of time to mutate. if i were a scientist i'd collect slides of the
mold and sludge i find, and who knows - i might even discover something never found
before. for all one knows, the next bubonic plague could be hanging out in the next room.

next: never trust wooden floors. you can't tell if they're safe and you can get hurt very,
very badly falling through one. if you can't tell if one is good, you should assume that it
isn't. i've taken some very foolish risks for my pictures, but i try to ALWAYS be conscious
of where i'm walking. because that moment you're not looking where you're going... that
could be the moment that paralyzes you for the rest of your life. even steel isn't always as
stable as you might think. i've stepped on seemingly solid pieces of metal only to have
them disintegrate as though i were stepping on a dried leaf. along these lines, also be
aware of seasonal/weather concerns. wood is much less stable when soaked with rain.
the roof is much more likely to fall on you if there's an extra two hundred pounds of snow
on top of it.

another tip: if you can't SEE in a place, you shouldn't BE in it. flashlights are very
important in darker areas. do not go in any place you can't see clearly in. ever. for any
reason. carry extra batteries. the last thing in the world you want is to have to navigate a
lethal obstacle course in the dark.

be careful with your smoking. if you're going to smoke, don't do it around things like
dried wood or paper. always make sure your cigarette is completely out; if you start a fire
and burn a building by accident, it'll be a terrible thing to go through, and if you do it on
purpose... i hope you get caught.

another word to the wise: tell someone where you're going. your parents, friends, or
significant other may not approve of what you do, but i can guarantee if you if you DO fall
through a floor, you'll be happy knowing that when you don't show up for dinner,
someone will know why, and where to look for you.

oh yeah, be careful of snakes, spiders, and other wildlife that might be poisonous.
you're in their home.

if there's a wire in a puddle, think twice about stepping in it. you never know.

finally, consider why you are doing what you're doing. if you just want a place to go
break windows and throw beer cans or spray graffiti, don't pick old buildings. these places
have a lot of incredible history to them (which is why i've dedicated my time to this site
and my photography) - even if you can't appreciate that, someone else does. leave these
sites to those who actually care about them.
"There have been joys too great to
be described in words, and there
have been griefs upon which I have
not dared to dwell; and with these in
mind I say: Climb if you will, but
remember that courage and strength
are nought without prudence, and
that a momentary negligence may
destroy the happiness of a lifetime.
Do nothing in haste; look well to
each step; and from the beginning
think what may be the end."

Edward Whymper
Scrambles Amongst the Alps
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