I think there's a certain 'point' with most things, where it can be judged to have gone too far. Like the imfamous Happy Days TV show, where The Fonz jumps a shark. Coining a phrase for all TV shows where they've gone too far/lost the plot/run out of ideas. For those with pharmaceutical interests, it's the moment when the idea of doing crack or meth seems like a good idea. In the exploring world, it's usually the point where you stop exploring for your own curiosity and seek to satisfy your youtube or instagram followers by pushing the envelope...of death! Hanging off the highest of things for no reason other than to seek more likes from your growing fandom. Most of whom are merely watching and egging you on to your untimely death. While I've never sort that sort of thing, I can admit to getting away with so much, including that untimely death-thing, that there's a feeling of invicibility. "I can do anything, i'm freakin' invincible." This is what lead me to the activity below, please don't do this at home!

The Channel Tunnel is one of the ultimate tunnels on earth where public access is prohibitied. And therefore a huge beacon lighting up to the hardcore exploring community. While only the most desperate of refugees would attempt to infiltrate the Channel Tunnel, there are other parts of the Eurostar network that raised curiosity enough to have a look. This site is quite a way out of town near the Dartford Tunnel, so getting hear was a ballache. I came with a couple of different people three times, before finally embarking on entry. The first time to scope the site out and look for access. The second time we found a vent we thought would be useful, but turned out to be a concrete box. The third time we waded through swamp to no avail. The fourth time we scoped out timings and the access and then went for it.

The site was high risk, as the double fences from the road implied, and on the first fence every 25m or so, was a sign warning trespassers of high security. These were mainly aimed at metal thieves. There were a lot of unknowns. Also unknown was the likelihood of encountering a 100mph+ train coming through without notice. We would have literally a second or less to get out the way on seeing the train. Eagle eyes will also spot a set of cctv cameras in the middle of the tracks, were they being watched? We set ourselves a strict time limit in case the law was called as soon as we came into view of the cameras.

We went for a direct route, and clipped a rope onto a handy palisade fence, and dropped it down the middle of the tracks. Here again there were unknowns. Would we be close enough to the overhead power cables for the electricity to jump? if a train came through, would the draft be enough to push us into the overhead power cables? If the various gruesome ways of dying weren't enough, I was also about to descend using a figure of 8 descender. Something I'd never used for descending before. I usually used a Petzl stop. Much easier and safer. So my life was in the hands of a few youtube videos on using the figure of 8 descender.

When it comes to doing the craziest of crazy stuff, there are literally only a handful of explorers in the UK willing to do it. One of the craziest is GrittyCity, a person with very little concern for his own safety, and willing to do pretty much anything put to him. We're talking about someone who broke their ankle, and still continued with an explore. Then later on joined me to go stumbling up some Metro tracks while said ankle was only a month or so into recovery! I get a bit scared exploring with these types of people, as i always try to rationalise some of my more extreme explores as being entirely sensible adventures. I hope I never encounter a psychiatrist. 

And so it was, that I picked up GrittyCity in Canada Water, and headed East. After sorting kit and getting around the various fences, keeping low to avoid the endless lorries. We started to get into harnesses and check equipment. GrittyCity set up the line and dropped it over the wall. GrittyCity went first, as it was his rope. Unlike our last roping encounter, this wasn't dynamic rope. Being next to an oil refinery, there were lorries constantly coming by from both directions. Any one of them could easily have seen us. We waited and waited for a gap, and then finally GrittyCity popped over the wall. The rope pulled tight as he descended. After a couple of minutes it was slack, now my turn. I clipped on, checked all was good, and sat in the shadows, waiting for a gap in the traffic. I pulled up and lay on the wall above the drop. My heart was pumping so hard I thought the vibrations might cause the wall to crumble. I lay still as another lorry went past. Then grabbed the rope as hard as i could and pushed over to the drop. I then let the rope slowly through my hands. Everything seemed ok until i was near the bottom, and I realised that friction was burning away my cheap bicycle gloves and now my flesh. I tried to stop, but still had a few metres to go. I couldn't release the rope either. A pipe stuck above the ground, and I stood on that trying to fruitlessly blow on my poor palms. I thought sod it, and tried as best i could to descend the last few metres. Finally off the rope i tried to dig my hands under my armpits to somehow cool them. I was also aware of the time limit we'd agreed. So just had to get on with it.

Our descent view, complete with cameras 'watching' in the middle. Under UK law, you're allowed to request cctv footage. I thought in this instance, maybe not.

We both jogged down the path next to the tracks into the tunnel that passes under the River Thames. After a short distance I opted to put a light on, and realised there was a thick wire running next to us. I panicked thinking it was live. However on reflection realised it was for workers to clip onto in case or if, a train were to come by. We opted to not do this. This shot is under the Thames. The last tunnel before the Thames flows into the Thames Estuary. We didn't walk far down the tunnel, just enough to say we'd been actually under the Thames. My heart was beating super fast, and the adrenalin was making my teeth chatter. I don't think i'd ever been so scared. At least if a train did come thundering through, it would be over bloody quick!

Returning back to the tunnel portal, there was a large box section. This was part of the evacuation route, where passengers and staff could get to the surface if there were problems. I only had time to take one picture, so it's a bit messy. Equally I didn't want to stand on the tracks more than a few seconds.

Turning around 180 degrees. There looked like some sort of gate raised up in the ceiling. Not quite sure of it's purpose, as it doesn't seal the tunnel, there is still the footpath on the left.

A glimmer of colour in the grey tunnels, emergency escape doors, handily the right hand door has 'Push bar to Open' in French. We were unable to work out why there is a plastic bottle stuck to the ceiling!

Feeling somewhat emboldened, we went a bit further down the tunnel. Stupid, I grant you. As we wouldn't have time to get off the tracks should a train come. This leads under the Thames.

Walking uphill back to the exit portal.

Job done, it was time to face exiting the site. And there was only one way out, the way we'd gotten in. GrittyCity went first, as I wanted to get this shot. The trip up the rope was just as bad as the descent for me. The rope meant hanging about in the portal, and I kept swinging around. By the time I got to the wall above the tracks, where GrittyCity is in these pics, I was knackered. I kept going, as visions of my wife and new born son flickered through my conscious. It was this moment of epiphany, that I realised I had jumped the shark. This was nuts. I got to the top, but the rope was in a bad position, so I was finding it hard to pop over the wall. GrittyCity pulled me as I gave it a large push/heave, and I got over the wall. Fearing we must have been seen by one of the trucks constantly passing by, we quickly packed up and got the hell out of there. Back in the car, the sense of relief didn't register until we were a few miles away. Now, what about the main eurotunnel, hmmm...