Concrete

This Is Ground Control

And, when Nate finally showed up, it was time to make a run for it! There were some rumors of security on site, but a quick jog to the back of the building got us in, and immediately the pungent air inside slapped us in the face, and we scurried right back to the car for our masks. On the second try, it was clear this place was special. Designed in the typical overbuilt, ostentatious style of early 20th century American industry, the architecture (no expense spared) survived the advancing decay. This building, now over 100 years old, was the…

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Elevator Action

So I managed to get out exploring one more time before summer. Nate thought he could get us into some grain elevators in Buffalo that actually had stairs to the top so I could climb too. I guess he was sort of right; apparently the permission we got was only to walk around the outside, not to go in, so the trip ended early with us getting chased out by the owners. At least it was something... maybe enough to last me until September. I only ever knew of Pinkertons as something from history class, the union busting scabs. I…

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Ghost of the Blues

After a few pretty hopeless busts in a row, and still on edge from the end of the Tamarack, we gave up before dark and started looking for a campsite. Sure enough, right off exit 98 was a little resort we MISSED entirely! Of course we'd give it a chance when it's just sitting here. As is typical in these parts, the front door was wide open, inviting us in. The perfection of this place was astounding. It looked like it could have just closed last week, in places! After seeing a few rooms like these, we decided not to…

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Cold Borscht

I'm near the point where this becomes an addiction. It's finals of my senior year, and the only thing on my mind is getting back to the Catskills. Nate doesn't even want to wait the week (the misery of entrepreneurship and self employment has some silver lining, it seems), but I finally convince him to wait until after my last exam to go back. So we spent the week planning and plotting, and finding every abandoned resort that might be worth a visit. The first one we explored, the Tamarack, has a typical story of intrigue and shady dealings for…

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Within A Mile Of Home

This is an absolutely rotten spot on the southwest side. I'd had my eyes on it for close to two years now as it sat near-abandoned, occupied by some clever squatters with Rube Goldberg booby-traps on the entrance. I never did get to figure out their story, but judging by the signs of life I'd seen, and the possessions left behind, it must have been a fascinating one. Last summer's occupant, who we came to call "Mr. October," made his presence very well known by keeping a boom box on the roof blasting baseball games seemingly every day. After a…

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Government Mold

I must say after the raves this winter, I still didn't know what this place looked like during the day. Having Nate and his friends around too made it different, none of them really knew the place so for them Iola really was all about discovery and exploration still. For me today was more about trying out the new 50mm lens, and learning just how far back-back-BACK i have to go to see a damn thing with it. No wonder Nate told me it's the most inspiring mistake I'd ever make as an explorer. This was my first time even…

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