Jeepers, Creepers!

Have you ever heard of "urban exploration" or "infiltration?"

It's sometimes called "urban spelunking," also.

Well, I hadn't. That is, until very recently. I came across a book entitled "Creepers" by David Morrell. (A "creeper" is the name given to an urban explorer.)

Anyway, here is the deal:

These "creepers" make an adventure out of sneaking into abandoned buildings and other sites in urban areas and exploring the man made landscape that has been left behind. Apparently there are clubs for this. There are groups of people all over the world who meet and go on these outings. They find hospitals, military bases, bowling alleys, you name it (any structures that are no longer in use) and they go into them and explore. There is excitement and adventure involved because you never know what you might find. Often they take pictures to chronicle the adventure. There are some urban exploration web sites out there with really cool looking photos.

Obviously there are risks. The buildings may not be safe for any number of reasons from dilapidation to gang use. Some of the web sites that I've seen have safety tips posted such as "...never go alone, always take a cell phone, and tell someone where you'll be." Sounds like good advice to me.

Here are a few links if you're interested in seeing some of the photos and/or reading a little more about it:

Infiltration
Opacity (**great photography)
Jinx
Zone Tour
Urban Exploration Resource
Urban Explorers Network
designedbreakdown (**great photography)

And here is a cool video that some creepers shot at an abandoned hotel. (But they took a baby with them! Somehow I don't think that's on the standard list of safety tips.)



Boo!

How'd ya like their sound effects? :o)

(All that heavy breathing kind of reminded me of The Blair Witch Project.)