The U of M steam tunnel system is somewhat unique in the extent of its range, and quite unique in another way: it has two distinct yet connected systems.

The first, the "shallow" tunnels, are at a depth of about six feet below the surface. This was the original tunnel system for the old campus, which is now the area centered on Pleasant and Pillsbury and running back to the river road. It is known by Facilities Management as Zone 5 and is noted in the National Register of Historic Buildings as the "Old Campus District." The original heating plant supplied steam to these buildings through shallow tunnels, which are often cramped and not suitable for walking. These tunnels have only one known access point which does not require unlawful building entry; it does however require crawling through asbestos. Drop into the grate on the south side of censored (there's only one grate amidst the solid manhole covers). You can go in two directions...one leads into a junk-strewn tangle of crawlspaces. That's the wrong way. The right way leads you very shortly to a T; the tunnel crossing in front of you is the real tunnel. You'll notice that you have to climb between two large pipes to get out into the tunnel proper...have your breathing apparatus on and just roll yourself out in between those asbestos caked puppies. Then, it's up to you.

When you're walking around down there, you'll notice at some point a bright light in one of the tunnels...this is where it passes under the Williamson-Northrop pedestrian tunnel. Have fun crawling around the ladder at that intersection! If you go the other direction, away from the light, you go past the Armory and hit a locked door at the Field House. Yes, it would be entertaining to go play with the army supplies, but something tells this explorer that it would be a bad thing to try. While you're going past the Armory have fun yelling through the grate at passers-by, it's a good spot for it.

Wander around or follow the map...figure out for yourself where the one shaft from the deep to the shallow tunnels is. It's extremely unmaintained and dangerous and I'm not going to be reponsible for any old yahoo taking unreasonable risks. If you find it yourself, you're probably dedicated enough to be trusted.

Be sure not to miss the junction room. There are four tunnels coming together here: one towards Pillsbury Hall, one leading towards Jones Hall, one leading towards Old Campus (Burton, Shevlin, etc...Burton is a good place to let in people who don't want to join you in the asbestosy goodness of the censored entrance), and one leading through Scott to Wulling, with a side branch to Wesbrook. This last is interesting only for the fact that the Wesbrook branch is marked by the only real signage in the shallow system, a bright yellow placard with "Wesbrook Hall" and an arrow. The Jones tunnel, likewise, is highly uninteresting, as well as low and uncomfortable. It once continued to Follwell, but this appears to no longer be the case. The Pillsbury tunnel is rather pointless, unless you harbor delusions of infiltrating the Field House. The tunnel leading towards Burton is an interesting one. Burton itself can be reached (and should be, it's a useful spot to know for exits if nothing else) by a side passage to the left just before the main section of tunnel becomes a crawl tunnel nestled beneath pipes and then comes up against a brick wall where the far stretch of the old system, which runs under two abandoned buildings, is blocked.

That fourplex of tunnels is the only known shallow section worth exploring on its own merits. Other sections, such as that around the new ME/CSci complex, just connect two or three buildings and don't connect to anything interesting like shafts. Also, entry usually requires "subverting" a locked door which isn't worth it for a plain brick hallway going to the next building. However the line cutting across the south Mall between Smith and Ford/Vincent is unexplored. Check it out and see what you find.

Now, the deep tunnels. There are, possibly, quite a few viable entry points. The only one I have personal experience with is the shaft mentioned above. Also spotted from the topside is an open shaft inside the MRRC (not noted on the official Facilities Management map...further exploration will give an exact correction of this). This however looked much too tight to be passable. Another recently usable entrance is reportedly outside near the Heating Plant itself. Attempt this at your own risk! There's a good safe exit from the Civil Engineering building, but due to having to pass through at least three locked doors it's not a very useful entrance.

A complete walk-through isn't necessary...look around for yourself. Keep an eye out for The Professor's Cave. This is a man-made cavern under Stadium Village which can be reached through a side tunnel as noted on the map. Interesting little space.

Outside of that, just keep your eyes open. All sorts of nifty things to be seen, and it changes every time. Be creative in finding exits and entrances...just don't do anything stupid.

Watch for a website soon with trip logs, photos, and more, including stuff aside from tunnels...rooftops etc.