What to Bring on a Ghost Hunt – 10 Things to Take

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Planning to ghost hunt this weekend?  Here are 10 things to take with you…

10 Things to Take With You on a Ghost Hunt

1.  Patience.  Ghost hunting is a lot like fishing – you need patience because you won't always see results immediately.  On some investigations, you'll find paranormal activity. On others, you won't. Sometimes what you thought was paranormal can be explained by natural causes. Be patient and understand that you may need to visit a haunted location several times before you experience anything unusual. 

2.  Plenty of flashlights.  Always bring plenty of flashlights, along with extra batteries.  You do not want your light source dying on you, in the middle of an investigation!

3.  Audio Recorder (Digital, preferably).  This is a tool that I always take with me.  If you plan to capture EVP's or record sounds, a digital audio recorder is a must-have tool.

4.  Your ID. Always carry ID in case you are stopped by the police or local law enforcement.    

5.  A Log book.  Always log every event that seems out of the ordinary, (doors that lock, electrical problems, swaying
chandeliers, strange lights). Videotape everything for proof. Assign someone in your group to be the "secretary" to record all the details of the investigation. Details to record include who is participating, changes in temperature, weather, location, and date and time of any happenings that may take place – including who witnessed them. Be sure to walk through the site beforehand to record your thoughts and feelings that you (or any of your team members) may be getting from that particular site.  I find it is often easier to keep an audio "logbook" instead of a written log.  Although, the two can be used together.     

6.  EMF Meter (Electromagnetic Field Meter).  An EMF meter measures electromagnetic radiation, and can be a very useful tool.  Usually, areas of paranormal activity produce strong electromagnetic fields, and have high EMF readings. Be careful, though. EMF meters can produce false positives. Man-made electrical sources such as power lines, appliances, cell phones, and fuseboxes, can give off strong EMF readings. Before assuming paranormal activity, check to see if the cause could be a man-made electrical source.

One strong indication of paranormal activity is EMF's that move.  (The background EMF needs to remain constant in order to locate such fields.) Usually, these EMF's will either move away from you, or follow you. In one case, I was able to follow a moving EMF through three floors of a building.  

7.  A camera - Bring either a digital camera or a 35 mm camera. If you use a 35 mm camera, bring several fresh rolls of high-speed film. For best results, use 400 speed film or higher. If you use a digital camera, use the highest resolution and make sure the memory stick is empty (or has enough storage capacity).  

8.  Video camera.  Always use clean, new discs for your camcorder. If you are filming a designated room/area, place the video camera on a tripod for stability and ease of use. 

9. Food, snacks, and drinks.  Make sure you pack plenty of food and drinks. This may seem trivial, but many a ghost hunt has ended because of lack of food. Sometimes it's difficult to predict how long an investigation will take. So, come prepared! 

10. An open mind.  Investigate each location with a positive attitude, an open mind and a healthy dose of skepticism. Try to recreate all reported paranormal events and eliminate any natural explanations before reaching a final conclusion.

A couple of other tips…

• Arrive early to your location with your necessary ghost hunting equipment and give yourself plenty of time to set everything up.
   
• Wear sneakers and warm, comfortable clothing with extra pockets.
   
• If you need extra pockets, you can buy a fisherman's vest (available at WalMart for about $15.00). These vests are lightweight, fit over a bulky sweatshirt and provide lots of pockets to store batteries, discs, audio recorders, cameras, etc. There's even a clip to attach a flashlight to.

Have fun!