Indiana state sanitorium

 The Reality of Ghost Hunting Things you wish you knew about Ghost Hunting & Equipment “before” you started. Dress for the weather & type of atmosphere you'll be in.  

 If you want to be as comfortable (as possible) then find out ahead of time what the weather is going to be as well as what type of interior/exterior conditions you’ll be ghost hunting in.  

 Flip flops for example make too much noise but also aren’t good for places that are deteriorating or have lots of rubble so wear appropriate shoes.   Depending on where the ghost is and what season it is the main clothing/ shoe items you should consider might be insulated, waterproof, windproof, quiet, comfortable, dark in color, non-reflective, dries quickly, wicks perspiration away from your skin, and offers UV protection.

· Clothing- what to wear and what “NOT” to wear. 

Clothing selection has come a long way in the last 20 years but “what” you wear can make a difference between being comfortable or miserable. As a general rule I stay away from cotton, especially in hot, humid weather. Many synthetic materials on the market can help wick perspiration away from the skin and allow it to evaporate more efficiently which means you’ll feel cooler. Synthetic materials also dry faster if they get wet and many synthetics are extremely wrinkle resistant as well. Traditional cotton shirts, socks, and jeans absorb sweat and stay wet for longer periods of time which is not only uncomfortable and irritating but also dangerous if the temperature drops to freezing temperatures. 

For instance the desert; or let’s say an extremely “arid” environment can be very hot during the day and then drop more than 40 to 50 degrees after the sun goes down which catches people off guard. 

If you’re not prepared for the drop in temperature you’ll not only be miserable but also risk getting hypothermia. When the body is wet either from water, rain, or sweat, your body temperature can drop 25 times faster than when your skin is dry. You must stay dry to stay warm. 

This is just one of the reasons it’s nice to have some type of pack or bag to either add or shed layers as needed. Fleece is awesome for warmth to weight ratio and dries quickly if it does get wet. More importantly fleece still retains body heat even when wet just like wool does but certain types of wool can be heavy or itchy. 

Merino wool is the most comfortable but it also costs more but it’s worth the money. 

Neck buff (aka neck gaiter) – I love these and wear them year round. If it’s hot and you run them under cold water it keeps you cool for quite a while when worn around the neck. For cold weather I have a fleece gaiter which keeps my neck warm and I can pull it up over my face and nose if it’s cold and windy. 

Bug repellent- If you’re doing ghost hunting in hot and especially humid weather, chances are there’s going to be mosquitoes, and possibly ticks depending on what part of the world you’re in. 

A few tips that should help you minimize your “bug zone” are to either use some type of bug repellent that has DEET in it or use a more natural repellent that presumably doesn’t irritate the skin or cause long term effects. 

However there are other solutions worth looking into as I personally use the bug repellent clothing option for a couple of reasons. You’ll find that if you spray bug repellent either on your electronic equipment, (or on your hands and then touch your electronic equipment) that it can actually erase some types of lettering on your camera. 

 I had a friend do this accidently to my new video camera as he came up behind me he started spraying the bug repellent over my shoulder and it got on my new camcorder.  

When I went to wipe it off the lettering disappeared and needless to say I wasn’t too happy. 

If you don’t want to mess with smelly, toxic, or sticky repellents then check out https://www.insectshield.com/  

I go into great detail about this in my Situational Awareness 101 book Chapter 49 “Tips on Clothing and Footwear” page 330; 

because whether you ghost hunt or not if you’re an outdoor enthusiast you’ll appreciate this type of clothing. 

Basically, clothing treated with Insect Shield has permethrin infused throughout the garment and will last for about 70 washings. 

Permethrin is extremely effective at repelling not only mosquitoes but also, ticks, chiggers, and other types of flying insects. Some of your more popular outdoor clothing stores carry certain lines of clothing already treated with permethrin and it will have a label on it stating so. 

But a more cost effective way is you can actually send your own clothing to Insect Shield and they will treat them for you. (Some restrictions do apply) and it’s about a 10 day turn around time.You can buy permethrin and treat your own clothes but it will only last about 6 washings as this method doesn’t “INFUSE” the permethrin into the material. 

Also you only put permethrin on clothing; never your skin. I have many types of clothing treated with Insect Shield such as socks, pants, shirts, neck gaiters, blankets, bandanas, and hats. They even make a tent treated with Insect Shield and they also treat much of the uniforms for the military.

Flashlight dos and don’ts. Nothing is worse than being stuck in complete darkness without at least one light source; especially in unfamiliar territory. With that being said it takes about 10 minutes for the human eye to adjust to the dark. However after your eyes are exposed to any color light (except red), your eyes have to start the adjustment period all over again so try to use red lights whenever you can. Using a red light will provide a better overall experience for you as well as others around you. 

Other useful tips on flashlights are listed below. LED flashlights are much brighter and last longer than the older flashlights that have the halogen or krypton bulbs. LED lights also don’t get as hot. 

Rechargeable flashlights via USB are convenient and save you money on batteries.  

Flashlights that use batteries (things to consider).

Depending on what type(s) of flashlights you have you may need to carry a wide variety of batteries such as AAA, AA, D, 9 volt; but remember multiple batteries also add additional weight in your pack.

 Also “lithium” batteries last longer than alkaline batteries and don’t drain as fast in cold temperatures. 

Brightness settings- look for LED flashlights that have multiple brightness settings as this function will help your flashlight last longer before you’d need to either replace the batteries or recharge your light source. You don’t need a super bright light setting all of the time if you’re just moving around from room to room.

If you don’t have a red light source (but only have white), keep your flashlight pointed towards the ground and not in people’s eyes. I recommend having at least 2 sources of light on you when ghost hunting for many reasons.  

1. If the battery goes dead on one you have a backup. 

2. If it breaks you have a backup. 

3. If you drop it in a place where you can’t retrieve it you have a backup. 

4. You may find the need to really brighten up a large area or point both lights opposite directions in which case 2 lights can also come in handy. 

That’s why I always carry a lighter and a glow stick on me (in addition to) a red light source that hang around my neck, and 2 different size LED flashlights. Yet only one of my flashlights is slightly bigger than a cigar, where-as my other lights are very small but very powerful. 

Common Courtesy · This should go without saying but if you plan on showing up to a ghost hunt either drunk, high, or on drugs then you’re an idiot. 

There’s a time and a place for that crap (if that’s what you’re into), and I can tell you right now Ghost Hunting isn’t the place. 

Pay attention to what’s going on around you (especially) if you’re in a large group. If there’s a person in charge such as a psychic medium or a tour guide and they’re trying to do an EVP session then shut up and DON’T be talking in the background. 

If the person in charge want’s it dark in the room then keep your flashlights off. A huge pet peeve of mine is being in dark room ghost hunting and there’s 6 people standing around with their flashlights on; (especially if it’s a white light) and not red. 

Unless you’re moving about and need to see where you’re going keep your flashlight off until you need to start walking again so you don’t trip over something (but keep your light pointed towards the floor). 

STAY OFF YOUR PHONE; if you must talk then take it outside or away from the group. Also be sure to put your phone on “airplane mode” to avoid contamination when doing EVP’s. 

If you’re using your phone for videos or pictures that’s fine; however if you have it on auto or flash setting let others around you know the flash is about to go off. 

A couple of  reasons for this are some people can have a seizure under certain lighting conditions (especially strobe lights), but also when you say the word (FLASH) it allows anyone who wants to maintain their night vision a chance to close their eyes and avoid the bright white light. 

Doing this will be appreciated amongst your peers as well as show that you’re respectful and not a complete novice.  

Be Respectful of Other Peoples Private Space; especially if there’s a psychic medium in the group. 

Nobody likes having someone “constantly” in their face or in their space so back off and give the medium(s) room to work and focus. Yes we’re all there for an experience but purposely trying to “HOG” the mediums attention is not only rude and distracting, it’s also downright disrespectful to the medium as well as others in the group. 

If you don’t want to be labeled as a “stalker” or a “groupie” by your peers then back off and give others a chance to be near the medium as well. Mediums play an important role in an investigation but they work better with a clear head and room to breathe. They shouldn’t have to worry about a person in the group that latches on like a tick on a hound dog. 

Things I Wish I knew About Ghost Hunting Equipment “BEFORE” I Started. 

Instead of going into detail on exactly what each piece of equipment does like many books on the market do for Ghost Hunting, I wanted to keep it simple and point out certain nuances “NOT” usually thought of when buying equipment for Ghost Hunting.  

A mistake often made by beginners in ghost hunting is to buy too much at once or buying a piece of equipment based on the “How Cool” it is factor.  

Listed below are questions you should ask yourself if you’re looking to buy your own equipment for Ghost Hunting to obtain your own evidence.  

1. Are you trying to capture something on video, audio, EMF, a spirits presence, temperature fluctuations, or any combination of these methods? · 

2. How much are you willing to spend? In other words how much time will you be investing in actual ghost hunting may play a part in how much money you’re willing to spend on equipment. 

3. Is there a learning curve on how to use the equipment? Some equipment is more technical that others so buying a piece of equipment that’s too difficult to use is frustrating and usually left at home. · 

4. If it’s electronic equipment does it charge via USB or does it take batteries you have to keep replacing? · Batteries; are all the batteries the same size or do you need multiple types such as AA, AAA, D, 9 volt? The more batteries you need the more weight you’ll be lugging around. · 

5. How easy is it to change the batteries? Some equipment have a pop off panel where-as others may require a screwdriver to get the panel off to access the batteries. This can be somewhat of a challenge with cold fingers, or with gloves on, or in the dark regardless of the weather.

6.  If your equipment requires additional tools “know before you go”. 

7.  Equipment Protective Gear; now that you have some gear (some delicate) how are you going to transport it? Do you need a hard case or soft case, waterproof or just water resistant? Broken equipment is worthless on an investigation but doesn’t even compare with the frustration of being on a ghost hunt with gear you can’t even use. 

8. Do you have the proper cords, chargers, adaptors? My equipment alone requires 3 different types of connectors, so if I forget one that’s one less piece of equipment I’ll be using and that’s frustrating. 

9.Power Banks (portable chargers); should be carried with you when you’re ghost hunting but make sure they're fully charged before you head out. You also need to have some idea how long will they last?

 When I’m using my IR/full spectrum camera and the battery starts to die, I plug it into my power bank and can film the rest of the night no problem. If I didn’t have a power bank my filming would be over rather quickly. I carry 2 power banks on me (not just one). 

10. Does your camera or camcorder require a specific SD or micro SD card to save pictures or video footage? (And) do you have to format the SD card when you first initially use your device? · 

11. Do you have an external light source for your IR or full spectrum camera and do you need one? Some cameras and/or video cameras come with a built in IR light for filming in complete darkness (but many don’t).  If your camera or video camera doesn’t have one you’ll have to purchase an additional IR (infra-red light source to be able to take pictures or video in complete darkness. The more IR lights you have, the better the footage and the clearer the image will be. 

12. How much does your equipment weigh? Some of the equipment you see on ghost shows like an SLS camera can feel quite heavy after lugging it around for 30 minutes to an hour, especially since your arm is stretched out away from your body. So ask yourself “how long will I be using it” and how often will I be using it? This goes for any type of ghost hunting equipment. 

13. Weather; if you’re ghost hunting in the cold will you be wearing gloves; and if so are they touch screen friendly and can you push buttons without having to take them off? I wear fingerless gloves most of the time but when it gets below 30 degrees “F” you really start to feel it. 

14. Communication; if you’re hunting in pairs or in groups you’ll want a way to stay connected. However electronic equipment has a way of often failing during a ghost hunt either because of some type of interference whether it’s spiritual, concrete, metal, below ground, distance, or the battery just going dead. These things can greatly affect range and clarity. 2 way radios are nice to have but what’s your backup plan when they don’t work? 

Simple solutions would be for your group to agree on a time and place to regroup whether you’ve been I contact or not. Another solution is to carry a whistle or an air horn in case of emergency as the sound of either carry’s much further than a human scream and requires much less effort.  

15. Staying or Sleeping on Location of the Ghost Hunt Sleeping on site can be exciting but it can also have it downsides depending on your expectations and needs. Listed below are things to consider “before” booking an “On Location” sleep over or getting a hotel/motel elsewhere. Besides the possibility having a spirit that won’t let you sleep, here are some other things to make note of.  

If the place is really old it may not have AC, TV, WIFI, ceiling fans, or coffee in the morning. These alone are deal breakers for many people.

 · The location may be at a higher elevation than you’re used to but you may not have an alternative even if you stay in a local motel.

What I’m referring to is “Altitude Sickness” which effects many people that aren’t use to higher elevations. This usually starts around 8,000 feet above sea level but some people can be affected at as little as 5000 feet above sea level.

There are 3 different kinds of “Altitude Sickness” which I discuss in detail in my Situational Awareness 101 book; chapter47 on Road Trips/ Day Trips/ Basic Environmental Gear List. 

2 out of the 3 types of altitude sickness can be fatal if not treated quickly. 

Drinking water helps alleviate symptoms to a degree but smoking and drinking alcohol will only make it worse. 

Acute Mountain Sickness is the mildest form.

High Altitude Pulmonary Edema is potentially fatal. 

High Altitude Cerebral Edema is life threatening and immediate action needs to be taken. · 

Tip- bring your own sleep mask. Some places don’t have curtains or blinds so when day break hits you’ll be the first to know about it. ·

Depending on the building structure many places 2 stories or more don’t have concrete floors. Therefore anyone walking around usually causes a lot of creaking sounds which may keep you awake or just keep freaking you out. · In older buildings sometimes the doors don’t lock. 

Tip- I play white noise on my phone to drown out other noises when I’m trying to sleep as I’m a light sleeper. · 

You may be sharing a community bathroom so if you need to your own bathroom for (whatever) you’re just going to have to take one for the team. · You may be miles away from the nearest restaurant or gas station.  · 

The location may be in a high crime area where your car is parked. ·

Sometimes you have to bring your own bedding, sheets, and pillows. 

Don’t wait until dark to get there if you want daytime pictures, you don’t always have time in the morning. 

If you’re crossing into a different time zone (don’t be late) if you’re heading east. 

FOOD and WATER I find that ghost hunting on an empty stomach is a lot like Shaggy and Scooby always thinking of a Scooby snack during an investigation.  So I usually have some sort of snacks on me and possibly water depending on what type of hunt I’m on, the layout of the building or terrain, as well as the weather. 

Healthy protein bars, nuts, and raisins are some of my favorites. 

To Bring Gear or Not Bring Gear? That’s the Question If you don’t have your own ghost hunting equipment that’s fine, but I would highly recommend still bringing some type of small backpack, waist pack, or sling pack. These are a major convenience for carrying extra clothing, or to shed a layer of clothing, carrying a water bottle, electrolyte tablets, snacks, flashlight(s), glow stick, a couple of band aids, eye glasses, medications, inhaler, gloves, umbrella, packable rain coat, hat, face mask for nasty conditions, or even a small roll up pad to sit on so you’re off of a really nasty floor surface like at many prisons or sanitariums. 

Going on a ghost hunt completely empty handed is not only foolish, but also not as fun.  

Portable Chair All ghost hunts are different, so if you have the luxury of having a place all to yourself you'll probably be moving about often. 

However when hunting in large groups it's common to find yourself dividing into groups and then going off to a specific location for an hour or more and staying put. 

So my question is do you want to sit or stand? 

I've been in some pretty nasty places where you really won't want to sit on the floor so I research the place first before I go. If it's a clean place then sitting on the floor or chairs provided by the people hosting the ghost tour is appreciated and convenient. However when that's NOT the case I bring a compact light weight collapsible chair to sit on instead of standing on concrete for an hour or more. Nobody ever said ghost hunting has to be uncomfortable. 

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