Unchained Preppers

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Erick on May 20, 2016, 06:06:45 PM

Title: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Erick on May 20, 2016, 06:06:45 PM
Sorry been gone so long. been on travels..

About the "Zone":
There are 2 zones.

the 30 km control zone which rarely has significant radiation levels and IMO could/should be opened back up to human habitation.


I had my dose rate meter with me and it read above 0.30 micro Sieverts only once in the 30km zone  (that's the Ukr Gov't limit for public access settlement, that is rated safe for lifetime human habitation and IMO conservatively so)

Background in Kiev (capital of Ukraine) is 0.10 micro Sieverts.

This zone still has some very interesting post apocalyptic views .

And the center is the the 10km zone....:

This zone does have some noticeable hot spots and my dose rate meter ("Geiger counter") saw several hot spots..

Most of all the former "red Forest" (so named due to discoloration from the release).

There you cna find as much as 120 micro Sieverts or about 1200 times natural background for the region.

While not safe for lifetime habitation or even long term occupancy it is still safe to walk through and in a tactical situation I would not hesitate to use an area like this as a cache location, or even for a patrol lay up position especially since most would figure no one would be there.

Luckily my physical shape has just been exploding in the last 4 weeks after going downhill ever since I left the Army..
Been getting back into shape and it showed.

Needed upper body to pull myself up ladders and core/legs/agility for running up 16 and more floors of rain soaked steps w/o railings..

And I do mean running .....everyone else in our small group was a 20 or 30 something and we were in a hurry to get thru everything before darkness .. I am happy to say I was able to keep up and that my Russian was (barely) good enough for very basic communication..

2 months ago I might not have kept up...

...there is a lesson learned there somewhere...  ;)

And now to the pics!

PS: I own all the copyrights to these pics.. :dance:
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Erick on May 20, 2016, 06:07:44 PM
 :dance:
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Erick on May 20, 2016, 06:08:45 PM
 :dance:
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Erick on May 20, 2016, 06:09:56 PM
 :dance:
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Erick on May 20, 2016, 06:11:19 PM
 :dance:
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Erick on May 20, 2016, 06:12:31 PM
 :dance:
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Erick on May 20, 2016, 06:13:26 PM
 :dance:
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Erick on May 20, 2016, 06:14:13 PM
 :dance:
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Erick on May 20, 2016, 06:15:47 PM
 :dance:

This also shows reactor no 5 was well which was never finished.. cranes been standing still since 1986

And of course no 4 is in here
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Erick on May 20, 2016, 06:16:56 PM
 :dance:
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Erick on May 20, 2016, 06:21:03 PM
 :dance:
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Erick on May 20, 2016, 06:21:53 PM
 :dance:
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Erick on May 20, 2016, 06:22:48 PM
 :dance:
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Erick on May 20, 2016, 06:24:27 PM
 :dance:
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Erick on May 20, 2016, 06:25:39 PM
Also:

http://s29.photobucket.com/user/palmerwmd/media/100_1759.mp4.html (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/palmerwmd/media/100_1759.mp4.html)
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Nemo on May 20, 2016, 07:20:51 PM
You do realize that on night 3 of patrol lay up you will be easy to find due to the glow?

Nemo
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: gadget99 on May 21, 2016, 04:50:49 AM
Wow...  Thank you for sharing this.

Always wanted to visit there.

Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: JohnyMac on May 21, 2016, 08:00:13 AM
WOW! Great stuff Erick  :thumbsUp:

I have a bunch of questions twirling in my brain pan. Once I get them organized I will ask BUT the one question that keeps coming to the surface is:

What is the mindset of the people who live close to Chernobyl when compared to Ukrainians who live away from the drama?
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Erick on May 21, 2016, 09:25:32 AM
WOW! Great stuff Erick  :thumbsUp:

I have a bunch of questions twirling in my brain pan. Once I get them organized I will ask BUT the one question that keeps coming to the surface is:

What is the mindset of the people who live close to Chernobyl when compared to Ukrainians who live away from the drama?

Folks who live in the exclusion zone and who were evacuated by Soviet authorities were assigned apt elsewhere.
In many cases were bumped to the head of line of those waiting for apts.

In the old  Soviet Union you didnt go out and rent an apt..... it was assigned to you by your place of employment and based on your priority ( seniority children etc)

Most Ukrainians fear the place and dont understand its safe to visit.
The displaced do on occasion come back.
In the 30km control zone 90 old people surreptiously moved back into their old farms
No one however lives in the 10km zone
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Kbop on May 21, 2016, 12:20:43 PM
wow!  Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Well-Prepared Witch on May 21, 2016, 04:37:20 PM
This is very cool!  Thanks so much for sharing the pictures and the trip report. 
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: voyaginator on May 21, 2016, 05:11:26 PM
Very interesting !  Thanks for posting the photos!
Do you have more info regarding the huge sarcophagus being built ?
Is the project still going on ? and on schedule?
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Erick on May 21, 2016, 05:30:45 PM
Very interesting !  Thanks for posting the photos!
Do you have more info regarding the huge sarcophagus being built ?
Is the project still going on ? and on schedule?

yes still going on and still on schedule.
in 2017 the new "cap" will cover reactor no4
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Nemo on May 22, 2016, 10:09:32 AM
Did you notice any effects on plants and animals in the area.  Did you see any feral dogs, cats, rats, squirrels and such. 

How about the trees?  Appear normal growth?  Stunted or ?

Nemo
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Erick on May 22, 2016, 10:21:04 AM
Did you notice any effects on plants and animals in the area.  Did you see any feral dogs, cats, rats, squirrels and such. 

How about the trees?  Appear normal growth?  Stunted or ?

Nemo

All the vegetation and wildlife appears normal and engaged in healthy growth due to the absence of human intervention.
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: thedigininja on May 22, 2016, 12:47:02 PM
Very cool, Erick.

When I was 19 I was offered a job in a kitchen somewhere nearby (exactly where I can't remember, it's been many years) cooking for a group who were studying the area and I still regret that I was unable to go.
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: APX808 on May 22, 2016, 04:45:35 PM
Wow, awesome pictures, thanks for sharing Erick!
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: rah45 on May 25, 2016, 10:39:57 AM
Hands down one of the coolest threads on this site. Thanks for sharing, Erick!
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Erick on May 25, 2016, 05:39:09 PM
Thanks for the kind words fellas!
I am glad to see that this thread has had some energy and has attracted much comment   :dance:
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Erick on September 13, 2016, 07:50:16 PM
I hope this doesnt seem self-promoting but .......I am bumping the thread when I saw most attached pics were only opened 2-4 times.

There have to be more than 2-4 folks into it.
Also please dont forget the video on photobucket I linked where you can hear the detector clicking while I hang halfway off the roof as I record... :dance:
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: special-k on September 14, 2016, 07:06:17 AM
Cool...I opened all the pics.  Thanks for the reminder.  I never got around to opening each pic back in the Spring due to my heavy work load.
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Nemo on September 14, 2016, 03:19:01 PM
Erick, notice and effects on you now thats its been about 4 months?  Still glowing or grow a tail or antlers?

Nemo
Title: Re: My trip to the Chernobyl Radiation Exclusion Zone w/ PICS
Post by: Erick on September 14, 2016, 03:40:07 PM
Erick, notice and effects on you now thats its been about 4 months?  Still glowing or grow a tail or antlers?

Nemo

No appreciable dose. I did get a certificate saying the amount of dose I did receive which was very minor