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Alcatraz

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I love doing remote exploring of anything abandoned like old mines and  buildings.
 Ran into 2 meth lab's, one abandoned  and a pot growing operation. The other was in use, but I spotted them, through my binoculars and they never knew I was there.
I was tempted to sample the 420, but it was getting dark and I was afraid off booby traps. I hear the makeshift meth labs are a problem everywhere.
Be careful stay safe.
 
Walter White? All I could gather from googling is that he was a fictional character, "the main protagonist of Breaking Bad".

I have heard that one can come across such things on public lands. It always pays to be cautious anymore, and a pair of binoculars could be an asset in that situation.
 
Grows and labs have been around for quite awhile and generally things to stay away from if discovered. Sampling is not recommended as you may never be heard from again.
 
If these activities are happening on public lands thanks for the heads up. I'll take my high mag binoculars with me. 

I lived in a tiny conservative mtn village in WY for several years. Before I left, I was surprised to learn there were 3 meth labs there. The guy who got busted was a minister at one of the local churches. That was his cover.

Good to be alert. Not all of us conceal and carry and besides, who wants to participate in a shootout.
 
Clandestine meth labs are always both toxic and explosive.  A lab can be as little as a couple of jars and buckets, depending on the type of cook, or it can be a full-on lab-looking setup.  There will likely be the remnants of pseudo-ephedrine packages, lithium batteries that have been taken apart, white gas and/or starter fluid cans, and in some cases a propane tank.  What you find as a "lab" depends on the sophistication of the cooks.  Trailers, motel rooms, motorhomes, vans, and abandoned buildings are all favored places to set up a cook; anywhere that likely won't be discovered for a while. If you find one, don't examine the remnants; leave the area as soon as possible and notify law enforcement who will have a hazmat team clean it up.  If you smell acetone, or other odd chemical smell coming from a trailer or building, leave immediately as the atmosphere is likely explosive, and call law enforcement.

Marijuana grows have always been a problem on public lands.  Generally if there are booby traps, they're set up to scare off critters, but they are often potent enough to do you significant harm.  If the grower is in the garden, that can be problematic as well.

When you're out in the back country, be alert for anything out of place; trash, black pipe water lines, fertilizer bags, or other unusual waste.  If you begin to see odd things that you wouldn't normally see in the area you're in, pay heed, back out and call law enforcement.  The life you save may be your own.

ON EDIT: I found an article you may find interesting:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/u-s-grapples-rise-rolling-meth-labs-article-1.1320625
 
although rare these things do happen. I have never run across a meth lab but have seen the pot fields. I even got to watch a bust one time. I will not repeat what the Leo's said because it is not politically correct especially at this time in our history. I was told this by Leo's in 2 different parts of the country. highdesertranger
PS, I have nothing against pot and feel it should be legal, but I have zero tolerance for illegal cultivation on public land.
 
I was in a small camp ground in Iowa and some guy starts yelling, "Its an emergency, I need a flashlight!"(approx 11:30pm) When I came out of the tent I see what looks like a guy stirring furiously in a one gallon milk container. I'm an idiot and naive as hell sometimes. Anyways, it smelled like super ammonia or something. Over the next 15 minutes my brain pieced together what was going on. He was making "hill billy" meth(sorry hill billies, that's what its called). Did I mention I'm an idiot? So we spent a few hours talking to this guy and his girlfriend(because how often does this experience happen?) Me and my partner love the cartoon "Archer" and I sing songed "dannggeerrr zooooone" to her after about 20 minutes. The night was a trip and ended soon after he pulled out his "rig" and shot up. We were both just sitting in our chairs wondering if this was reality or if we had drank too much. The funniest thing that night was seeing this guy shove his hand down his jogging pants a few minutes after shooting up. He was in his own little world. Both our minds were blown on that and we both still giggle thinking about that night.

No lectures please, addiction is horrible and drugs are bad, m'kay? However, humor is a great coping method.
 
I do urbex all the time. I am blanchblanchard on instagram and you can find some of my photography there. It is nice to know there are fellow nomads doing the same! I am very careful due to health issues and the big scary world we live in. But I refuse to spend my life being scared.... I have one life and I am going to do what I enjoy.

I home base out of Humboldt California so illegal grows and meth labs are commonplace here. I always make noise, yell "hello" and get a full 360 view of an area before I start taking pictures.


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Love your Instagram account, Blanch! Great stuff!

Ain't Humboldt County an amazing place? ;)
 
hepcat said:
Love your Instagram account, Blanch! Great stuff!

Ain't Humboldt County an amazing place? ;)


Yes it is! I was happy to skip most of the rainy season here and spend it at the RTR and in Ehrenberg. I love my NorCal but the rains can really get to be too much.


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Alcatraz said:
I love doing remote exploring of anything abandoned like old mines and  buildings.

Me, too.  Check out the pics on this site.


Alcatraz said:
Ran into 2 meth lab's, one abandoned  and a pot growing operation. The other was in use, but I spotted them, through my binoculars and they never knew I was there.

Lots of meth in the rural area I live in out here in NE Texas.

I don't have an issue with drugs per se but I condemn those who destroy property and the environment with dangerous methods.  Grow a pot plant on your back porch?  Have at it.  Destroy a rental or steal an RV to cook in?  I will drop a dime on that guy.
 
DLTooley said:

Sorry it took so long to answer. 
Outside Concho,  Arizona in the White mountain area.
 I here this is a problem around Williams, Az. too.
A friend of mine has 20 acres up there with an old trailer on it .
He told me someone broke in and set up a lab in it.
 
frater secessus said:
Me, too.  Check out the pics on this site.



Lots of meth in the rural area I live in out here in NE Texas.

I don't have an issue with drugs per se but I condemn those who destroy property and the environment with dangerous methods.  Grow a pot plant on your back porch?  Have at it.  Destroy a rental or steal an RV to cook in?  I will drop a dime on that guy.

Wow great site, Thanks!
 
Alcatraz said:
Sorry it took so long to answer. 
Outside Concho,  Arizona in the White mountain area.
 I here this is a problem around Williams, Az. too.
A friend of mine has 20 acres up there with an old trailer on it .
He told me someone broke in and set up a lab in it.
Thats how you know you found an addict. Scumbags.
 
Blanch said:
I do urbex all the time. I am blanchblanchard on instagram and you can find some of my photography there. It is nice to know there are fellow nomads doing the same! I am very careful due to health issues and the big scary world we live in. But I refuse to spend my life being scared.... I have one life and I am going to do what I enjoy.

I home base out of Humboldt California so illegal grows and meth labs are commonplace here. I always make noise, yell "hello" and get a full 360 view of an area before I start taking pictures.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Do you have a link? I have no idea on how to use Instagram and have no facebook account.

 TIA.
 
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