So, we've finally come to the part of the graphic that has examples! As the "tamest" (notice the quotes) of urban explorers, I elicited to place our own group, UEM. Although we have done crazy shit and taken quite a few risks in our missions, we usually stick to exploring abandoned or semi-abandoned locations. We have also eschewed disguises and camouflage so far, wearing resilient clothing and carrying only standard exploring gear: flashlights, gloves, digital cameras, etc... You can think of us as a bunch of Indiana Jones, but without the whip. We're curious, we're daring, but we're in it for the thrill of discovery. And to get cool pictures!

Right after UEM is Ninjalicious of Infiltration.org. Ninj, as he is known among urban explorers, does the same kind of exploration we do, but as the name of his website indicates, he also has a liking for infiltrating inhabited locations such as hospitals or hotels. As I said above, this increases his risk because a) the locations are populated, thus increasing his chances of getting caught, and b) he has to come better prepared than us. Ninj often carries credibility props and/or wears light disguises, which grants him access to areas where a plains-clothes adventurer would be stopped. If you decide to don a nurse's uniform in order to explore a hospital, you'll have a whole lot of 'splaining to do if it's revealed that you're a fake, though. But hey: more risks, more extreme.

Finally we get to the extreme a.k.a. the hardcore. I chose to put the Wraiths as an example of how advanced and complex urban exploration can get. The Wraiths do like to tour the standard locations, but what truly distinguishes them is their occasional equipment and choice of targets. Usually at night, the Wraiths will put on their special black ninja outfits (referred to as "camo" for "camouflage"), spit in their palms, and try to infiltrate a building or location with high security: we're talking security guards and patrols, cameras, motion detectors, the works. Obviously this takes skill and dedication. Not everyone has the shape or nerves for lying motionless on the ground while a guard walks by right in front of you with his flashlight.

Whew. There you have it! A trip from mere curiosity to stealthy infiltration. After it's all done, though, you might ask: sure, but do I have to eventually cough up the dough for black fatigues and a ninja mask? And the answer is: no. Urban exploration takes the form of a spectrum for a very good reason. Different people are comfortable in different activities. Don't feel "chicken" because you don't routinely have to duck to avoid guards. Moreover, the different urban explorers that make up the community have desires that naturally place them at one spot on the spectrum. If you want to see cool places but no more, you'll do fine as mere urban explorer. Want to take pictures of what few have seen? You'll end up like us. And if you're in it for the adrenaline, I can bet you'll be the proud owner of a pair of tabi boots soon...

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