So last night Snorkel, Snorkel's girlfriend, her roomate, and I went draining. Snorkel and his lady were being slowfucks on the way out and so the other girl and I ended up like 1/4th of a mile ahead of them. While we were waiting I decided to check out what was up this really stinky and steamy trapdoor.
What a terrible decision! I emerged onto a little concrete platform in the middle of a tunnel stretching off in each direction, every surface covered in a thick, dripping, white slime. Other than the concrete ledge I was on, the tunnel had a plastic grating for a floor, below which a massive current of black water was rushing. It was extremely windy, and really loud. Needless to say, I wasn't about to take the gloves off for a photo.
I haven't seen any detailed drawings of West Kittsondale, but according to what I can find from the Met Council, the Minneapolis Joint Interceptor runs just east of the river through the area, meaning it would have to cross the drain at some point on its way down to Pigs Eye. Pretty sure that's what this was.
My gloves and jacket got all covered in the white slime, and it froze once we got outside, only to thaw again in the car. Such a terrible experience.
Oh, also, we found this on the way out:
(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs053.snc6/168367_10150118036535365_723375364_7979981_5107388_n.jpg)
(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1373.snc4/164574_10150118032115365_723375364_7979881_6146528_n.jpg)
I love you.
i'm really goddamn envious :(
I would have bugged out in there...
I absolutely hate enclosed places/underground places.
Are you going to die?
why would you do any of that
You and Snorkel make Minneapolis seem really fucking awesome.
it looks like a vagina
Quote from: Panty on January 02, 2011, 11:14:45 PM
why would you do any of that
because its whats cool with the hip kids these days
Quote from: Panty on January 02, 2011, 11:14:45 PM
why would you do any of that
Cause exploring is fun
I would LOVE to go with them.
i can honestly admire the drainage expeditions, as that is not something i have experience with. it does seem mildly interesting, much like that sewer with the brown stuff, which is not unlike the replies in this thread. i truly wonder, if something as earthly as this seems fascinating, as the conscience of another, than what poor powers of perspective most must hold!
I wanna do this
Quote from: Socks on January 03, 2011, 09:35:36 AMI truly wonder, if something as earthly as this seems fascinating, as the conscience of another, than what poor powers of perspective most must hold!
I think the entire appeal is the feeling and spirit of exploration, which is something that we naturally strive for, but which is very difficult to obtain in our time, especially for those in more urban environments.
I wouldn't think it's any (ok some) different than cutting a trail through a forest that few people go. Sure, it's probably mapped somewhere, but you're seeing something firsthand that few others do.
Quote from: Admin on January 02, 2011, 11:14:50 PM
You and Snorkel make Minneapolis seem really fucking awesome.
it is actually a pretty entertaining place
man i want to go draining
bucketlist
Quote from: You86 on January 04, 2011, 04:46:54 PM
it is actually a pretty entertaining place
yeah, it's better than norfolk
Now that I've got this up to date, check it out: http://www.urbex12.blogspot.com
how do you get into this? any good resources for open drains? i'd love to give this a try
I first started reading about it locally at www.actionsquad.org.
The largest forum on the subject is www.uer.ca, but don't expect to find locations there, at least not without proving yourself.
Google Earth, Bing Maps, and Google Search are your best friends. Look along bodies of water in big cities, search for watershed district maps, public works capital funding requests, and the like. My two best maps of Minneapolis and Saint Paul came from a newspaper article on the cities not having enough money to repair aging drains.
go to the catacombs & take pix