THE URBAN EXPLORER

Welcome to The Urban Explorer blog! We have stories about urban exploration from around the world, from interesting public places to hidden, exploded bunkers with rebar pointing all the wrong ways.

More urban exploration-related articles:

Midnight Sun at Riksgransen
Many of my friends are regulars at Riksgränsen. But I had never been to this place that calls itself "Sweden's most legendary ski area". The legends are true. It is an amazing place. For starters, we were there in midsummer, skiing at midnight. In bright sunshine! The ski area is far above the arctic circle, and for about two months in the summer the sun does not set.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

June 2012, Riksgränsen, Sweden
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Afterski; Sauna (Normal); Urban-Exploration (Buildings)

Ice Climbing in Espoo. In June.
It is Sunday, +10 degrees, raining heavily, and it is the middle of summer in southern Finland. What should I do? Go ice climbing in Espoo, obviously.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

June 2012, Mankkaan lumenkaatopaikka, Mankkaa, Espoo, Finland
Climbing (Ice); Urban-Exploration (Landfills)

Venice. Fail.
It is the first time this has happened to me, honestly. I am embarrassed. I failed to find skiing on a trip.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

June 2012, Venice, Italy
Travel; Urban-Exploration (Bridges, Skating-Rinks)

Two Feet High
We went to Matinkylä, southern Espoo today. One of the largest shopping malls in Finland, Iso Omena ("Big Apple") is located in Matinkylä. But they are also known as the site of M2, a mountain with icy slopes even in the middle of the summer. The steep slopes of M2 rise a whopping two feet above the surrounding landscape, scaring skiers and mountaineers alike. Indeed, very few climbers have climbed it.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

June 2012, Matinkyla, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Imported-Snow); Urban-Exploration (Skating-Rinks)

Moominworld Cliffs
If I have to spend eight days per year in Moominland, it is clear that I need to come up with something interesting to do there. How about skiing down the President's Cliff? Fifteen meters of near vertical rock. Too bad I forgot my ice axes, because the return was even tricker.
Full story

February 2012, Moominworld, Naantali, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Urban-Exploration (Amusement-Parks)

Fortress Islands
Saturday evening's exercise.
Full story

January 2012, Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Urban-Exploration (Castles)

Africa. Snow. AK-47s.
I'm glad to be back home in Finland. It was so damn cold in Africa!
Full story

August 2011, Afriski, Lesotho
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Urban-Exploration (Ruins)

Underground biking in Maastricht
Biking underground, in a cave/mine? Why not when that's available! And in Maastricht it was!
Full story

July 2010, Sibbergroeve, Valkenburg, Netherlands
Biking (Bike-Mountain, Underground); Urban-Exploration (Mines); Caving (Man-Made, Biking, Rock, Rock-Marble)

This is the 11th set of articles. The previous sets were set 1, set 2, set 3, set 4, set 5, set 6, set 7, set 8, set 9, and set 10. This is the last set.

The Urban Explorer articles appeared originally in the Blogspot Planetskier series, at TGR posts, or at the Relaa website. See also the articles about skiing, climbing, cycling, caving, flying, swimming, and saunas.