Hervé Jodoin

Abandoned buildings, underground tunnels and rusted train bridges. All are places our parents told us were dangerous and to stay away from. And, naturally as kids, all are places we couldn't resist. Curiosity and exploration helps define us as human beings, and yet as we grow older, we often become too busy for adventures. Well, let's slow down for a moment. Let's take a breath, have a look around, and absorb our surroundings. Montreal is a fascinating place, and if you take the time, you'll notice what an entire sub-culture of urban explorers have already discovered: the city is one gigantic playground.

Urban exploration spans the globe, and Montreal just happens to be a hotbed for explorers. But what exactly do urban explorers do? Well, they infiltrate, explore and document obsolete or abandoned manmade structures. Structures can be anything from hotels and hospitals to tunnels and storm drains. Of course by this point you might be thinking to yourself, "Sounds swell. And of course by swell, I mean illegal." Trespassing is a crime, and many abandoned sites come complete with barbed wire, warning signs and around-the-clock security. To the urban explorer, however, these are merely direct translations for "C'mon in, we're open."

Urban explorers infiltrate, investigate and document obsolete or abandoned manmade structures.

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After the exploration is finished, any significant architectural or historical discoveries are then shared with fellow explorers on various websites. Sites such as Urban Exploration Resource (www.uer.ca) are available to the public and provide fascinating glimpses into different cities' structural pasts. You'll find maps, blueprints, old photos of the structure before abandonment, and several forums discussing and commenting on each location. Locations in Montreal include the Dow Brewery on Notre-Dame and Peel, the now demolished Canadian Steel Foundries, the Turcot Yards and the Royal Victoria Hospital on des Pins.

Now, before you put down your model-airplane glue and rush into the nearest drainage pipe, you should be aware of the many risks involved. Make no mistake: urban exploration is a dangerous undertaking. Many of these abandoned buildings and tunnels have been suffering decay for several years. Some may contain dangerous materials, and others may even be in the process of being demolished. Hazards like asbestos, unsafe flooring, lead contamination and poor air quality mean that respiration masks, cell phones, flashlights and safety equipment are prerequisites.

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In the eyes of the authorities, urban explorers are nothing more than vandals up to no good. But they see themselves as passionate people who seek to discover and preserve what others neglect and forget. They adore these sites and they disapprove of those who would deface or damage them. Urban exploration documents a city's history. Urban explorers are storytellers; they couple compelling descriptions of their adventures with breathtaking photographs. They elevate their adventures to an art form as they expose and present the beauty of their favourite abandoned locations - places once cared for, once alive.