Best Life Experience?

[Jamie]

Thought I would kick a little relaxation in to gear. What do you class to be your best life experience? A vacation, an epic adventure where you were attacked by a mighty python, or the day you finally left home, tell us all about it. :D

[Jamie]

I'll get started then...

Swiss 2000 - My 2 week adventure in Switzerland

Some may know I am very much an outdoors guy. Can't beat spending the night under the stars with a good fire by your side.

Having been involved in Scouting for 11 years I have sure had some great experiences.

A two week trip to Switzerland in July/August 2000 by far beats them all.

All 200 of us travelled via coach through Southern England, in to France, Belgium, Germany and then Switzerland. Sleeping the night in Germany in a local school on the way there and then in a fire station on the way back was brilliant.

Overall, spent 10 days in Switzerland, 4 days travelling to and from Switzerland.

Some of the best activities... a days hike up a mountain then staying in the mountain hut at the top. Viewing an avalanche once there and then walking along the glacier.

Sledding on round, green discs down a mountain (Finally having to stop as the track was getting faster and faster) There happened to be a sharp drop on the other side.

Walking under a glacier in the ice caves where they were many ice sculptures.

Rising from the canvas to the bitterly cold Swiss mornings and watching the sun rise over the mountains as we raised the flag.

Viewing the North Face of the Eiger.

Tobogganing down a mountain in the region of 25mph speeds.

Celebrating Swiss and Yorkshire day on the 1st August, lets face it, who can say they have eaten breakfast outside with 1400 other people.

Walking through the village of Kandersteg with 1400 other people, all with lit torches, on our way to the bonfire to celebrate Swiss Day.

If your interested in the place we stayed: http://www.kisc.ch/

Photos: http://www.warleyscouts.org.uk/swiss2000/

[the_pm]

Best life experience? Good golly. Well, I have an ex-wife and no kids, so the cliche answers are out ;)

In a broad sense, the seven years I spent in college were the greatest of my life (counting both degrees - I'm not that much of a 1uzer). Given those years back, I would not have done a single thing differently.

But as for a single event, I'd have to say the two weeks I spent on Mt. Princeton in Colorado practicing Aikido with Tom Crumm and a small group of martial artists/spiritualists has to rank amongst my most memorable experiences. Imagine practicing weaponry (Aikido weaponry is a very gentle art, we practiced Jo staff) in a snow bank at 14,000 ft. in the middle of August. The trip included hiking trips into the mountains, whitewater rafting and other such funness. I capped it off with an extra week in Aspen on my own - I nearly transferred to Aspen high school for my senior year during that week.

I haven't been to Aspen in about 12 years, and I miss it terribly. One day I'll go again, but during the summer. It's breathtaking in the summer!

[Jamie]

Whitewater rafting... now there's a sport! Fantastic activity. Hopefully my trip in March to NYC will rank up there at the top. Parachuting is on the cards, but the planning stage is very tedious.

[TakingHold]

My basketball tournament, The most fun I've had in a while actually ...

[Tjobbe]

BEING ON TV!

I would say beat that, but everyone has their own unique experiences.

for those in the UK, I was on Bad Lads Army.

for those that have no idea what I'm going on about, there was a "reality" TV show in the UK where 30 18 - 25 yr olds went through 1950's national service training, for four weeks.

living on a tradtional national service boot camp, in the same beds and uniforms that most of our grandparents had worn and even fought & sometimes died in, it was certainly a massive experience, it went on ITV (channel 3) for 8 weeks with 13 episodes being shown on tv.

The training was tough, I lost 1 stone in the four weeks! I fired a real rifle with real bullets and did night exercises, loads of P.T, ate a hell of a lot of spam, polished my boots, and even cried..

The best moment of mny liufe to date was the passing out parade at the end and being re-united with friends and family - pretty special!

[Jamie]

Oh boy yes... I remember that! :lol: I'll throw you another well done mate for doing that. ;)

[the_pm]

That sounds amazing, Tjobbe! And 14 pounds in a month is nothing to sneeze at ;)

[Tjobbe]

ive put it back on and some more though!