From the crumbling cannery to the overgrown winery to the decommissioned military base, Sonoma County offers a veritable smorgasbord of decaying delights for both the novice and seasoned urban explorer.
For those not in the know, urban exploration (sometimes referred to as “urban spelunking”, “building hacking” or the abbreviated “urbex”) is the term for any exploration or examination of areas that are usually unseen or off limits. While some destinations include in-use sites like catacombs, storm drains and utility tunnels, favorites among explorers are abandoned sites like schools, hospitals, power plants and even amusement parks.
Though not a hobby for the faint of heart, urban exploration has been gaining popularity in recent years, fueled in part by TV shows like “Urban Explorers” and “Cities of the Underworld” and the webzine, Infiltration.
Safety and legality are of utmost importance when exploring. Abandoned sites will often contain such hazardous materials as asbestos, mercury and methane gas. Naturally one does not want to be encumbered with a lot of heavy gear, especially when navigating narrow tunnels or a floor on the verge of collapse, but at the very least a long sleeve skirt and a facemask are advised. Make sure your tetanus shots are up to date, bring a cell phone, bring a flashlight and bring a camera if you’re so inclined.
If you’re merely planning on sneaking into the tunnels under a still functional hospital or university, the chances of emerging unscathed are relatively good. But exploring an abandoned site comes with a whole different set of concerns. First and foremost, do not go alone. Allow me to repeat that: DO NOT GO ALONE. Investigating the remains of a crumbling coal breaker or blast furnace may not be your average kindergarten field trip, but it’s one situation where the buddy system is tantamount to safety. Having a friend along to give you a leg up through that open window is a blessing, but having a friend along who can call for help if you fall thorough a rotten floor is essential.
Always of paramount importance is to remember that this pastime isn’t entirely legal. Some explorers won’t even enter a building if a “keep out” or “no trespassing “ sign is posted. For others, it only adds to the thrill. If you are among the latter group, then congratulations, you are now trespassing… and possibly breaking and entering too. If caught, it is always in the explorer’s best interest to cooperate with authorities, whether it be with local law enforcement, private security or the property’s owner. Simple honestly can get you a long way and could mean the difference between getting arrested and getting a private tour (I was lucky enough to learn this one from personal experience).
Also bear in mind that you may not be the only one skulking around. Abandoned sites can attract a much more unseemly crowd because of the privacy and isolation that many offer. While the drunken high school students and squatters can pose only a minor threat, a site inhabited with gangs, strung out junkies or potentially rabid wild animals should be treated with more caution or even avoided all together.
Beyond personal safety and obeying the law, there is also another set of standards that urban explorers adhere to (sometimes even more stringently). For such a seemingly anarchic and irreverent activity, urban exploration has a very strong code of ethics. Most explores live by the phrase “Take only pictures, leave only footprints” and are dedicated to leaving sites in whatever pristine (albeit decaying) states they were found in. Vandalism such as graffiti or breaking windows is not to be tolerated. Nor is leaving behind any evidence of your visit, be it beer cans, cigarette butts or a used condom. If every person who tiptoed through a crumbling mansion on a hill took a souvenir and left behind but a single discarded water bottle, in the end all that would remain would be a giant pile of trash. Many urban explorers are preservationists at heart and believe that current states of abandoned and ruined sites should be left unchanged for others to enjoy.
For some plumbing the depths of unseen or neglected places offers a taste of forbidden delights, the thrill of being in restricted areas and the threat of being caught. For aspiring and even professional photographers, abandoned and derelict sites offer an abundance of colors and textures to please even the most discerning lens. Still others (and I count myself among this group) find solace in the peaceful quiet of decay. In the vast expanse of a long-forgotten warehouse, time seems to stand still and just outside of a small, ivy covered shack there is a sense of peace.
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