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Taking a trip to Chernobyl this summer.

Abstract said:
A Geiger counter can only tell you if you're being irradiated at the current time, not how much radiation dose you have accumulated. It also doesn't tell you what type of radiation you're absorbing, or what energy.

If this is actually possible in the US, find your state/country's Radiation Protection agency, one that will issue you with a thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) or something. Actually, they should issue you with two of them. Both should be carried with you on the flight to and from Kiev, but only one TLD should come with you on your tour of Chernobyl. They can use one as a means of measuring background radiation from the flight and your surroundings, and one to measure the dose you got on your tour.
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this is very likely the best spot recommendation of the thread (my old Nucular ed from my conscript service is simply too rusty)
also:taking iodine pills just in case to prevent radioactive iodine getting stored by your body is also a usual safety measurement you might take

Abstract said:
Oh, and post the results. I want to see numbers. ;)
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i second that ;)
 
It would be interesting to go there, but anywhere in Russia would be pretty cool to visit. Chernobyl still seems a little risky, you may just want to see red square.
 
TheAppleGeek said:
This is why I want to visit. I can't explain it, but the town is just so intriguing to me. It's empty and completely deserted and we never see this. Yes, it gives me chills and an unbearable silence, but I can't help but wanting to visit there.
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I too like abandoned places but I would not go where you are wanting to go. Radiation is not something to mess with.

Go to Centralia PA, its much .... safer .... kind of. Its an abandoned town due to underground coal fires but at least you don't have radiation to worry about.
 
I went to Kiev and that area but it was just before the Chernobyl disaster. I wouldn't go now.
 
I clicked though that website and the pictures are haunting and dramatic. I am glad that the story is being told about what happened there. You can see nature taking back the land. Those are some powerful images that really show what humans can do and the power we can create to do so much destruction.
 
Maybe you should go in a few years when some of the radiation will have decayed.
 
I've been there in 2008. My advice:

Stay on the ROAD. The soil can still contain high levels of radiation. Roads are better.

Don't stir up ****.

Get a guide. Really, get a guide. Pay for a GOOD guide. Not because of safety (well also a bit), but they know all the really cool hidden ****.

Don't worry about radiation, we were nearly a stonethrow away of the sarcophagus and I had a healthy kid earlier this year. No additional tentacles besides the one obvious ;).
 
Chernobyl only proves that human intervention time and time again proves fatal.

Though a graphite moderated reactor is definitely not nearly as safe as a LWR, (or those nice fancy Westinghouse AP 1000's :D), had they not gotten impatient to run the test, they would have been fine.

Also, as per radiation exposure; it depends upon whose model you choose. The linear no threshold model provides a doom and gloom approach, however I personally believe more in a natural logarithmic approach with a nice little dip at the start, but then again people have been debating this for years. Your trip should be fine. Get a good tour guide, don't be an idiot, and you'll be golden.
 
Xeperu said:
I've been there in 2008. My advice:

Stay on the ROAD. The soil can still contain high levels of radiation. Roads are better.

Don't stir up ****.

Get a guide. Really, get a guide. Pay for a GOOD guide. Not because of safety (well also a bit), but they know all the really cool hidden ****.

Don't worry about radiation, we were nearly a stonethrow away of the sarcophagus and I had a healthy kid earlier this year. No additional tentacles besides the one obvious ;).
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Thanks for the advice! May I ask who you went through and the total price?

TheSVD said:
I totally support your trip there, It's absolutely amazing there man, I'd love to go!

Seriously, really, read this: http://www.angelfire.com/extreme4/kiddofspeed/

Thats someone who travelled around the area, most interesting thing I've read in a long time.

The pictures are amazing!

You should definately go!
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Oh, it's been a dream of mine for quite some time. My family flips everytime I mention it, because of the radiation. Last I heard, Chernobyl had the same amount of radiation as Kiev.
 
obeygiant said:
It would be interesting to go there, but anywhere in Russia would be pretty cool to visit. Chernobyl still seems a little risky, you may just want to see red square.
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You're about 20 years late.

OP; have fun! A friend of mine wanted to tour it some years ago, but instead settled for STALKER.
 
takao said:
this is very likely the best spot recommendation of the thread (my old Nucular ed from my conscript service is simply too rusty)
also:taking iodine pills just in case to prevent radioactive iodine getting stored by your body is also a usual safety measurement you might take
Click to expand...

I work at a Radiation Oncology Centre, in a hospital. ;) I don't know/remember everything there is to know about Nuclear Reactors/reactions, but I do know a bit about radiation detection and safety. The university I completed my Bachelors degree had its own nuclear reactor to perform experiments.

I can't believe they let me have responsibility.....the fools. :p
 
obeygiant said:
It would be interesting to go there, but anywhere in Russia would be pretty cool to visit. Chernobyl still seems a little risky, you may just want to see red square.
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You do realize that Chernobyl hasn't been in Russia for about 20 years right? That said, if you're going to Ukraine, hang out in Kiev, and maybe go to the Crimea. At least up until recently all of the tours to Chernobyl were technically illegal I heard that they were going to be starting legal ones sometime this year though so it's probably safe for a short trip. I wouldn't do it though.
 
TheAppleGeek said:
Thanks for the advice! May I ask who you went through and the total price?
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I can't remember the exact price, it was part of a 6 month trip around the world, we did a lot on the cheap. Maybe 1000$ per head or something. Ukraine is not very expensive. I believe we paid the guide like 500$, more than he made a month. We also had some cash to bribe guards to take us closer.
 
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