I was recently reading one of the blogs I like, rcThink, and the author, Ross, had put up his ‘Bucket List’. Reading through the list and glancing at some of his friend’s lists got me stoked to get out in 2010 and accomplish some of the things I have on my own list.

Bluntly titled Things to do before I Die, I remember drafting my bucket list probably 4 or 5 years ago on a sleepless night. My basic premise is that whenever I say to myself, I have to do that someday, I put it on the list. For each item I stoke off, I have to add at least 1 new item. I also strive to accomplish at least two items per year (although in 2009 I didn’t strike a single item off the list ). Some things are really simple (like do the Grouse Grind), others may take a bit of time and money (like climb Kilimanjaro).

Anyways, if you don’t have your own list, I recommend starting one and watching it grow over the years. Its a great feeling each time stike-out one of the items. If you already have one, please share!

Things to do before I Die:

1. Attend a World Cup game
2. Visit Brazil (Carnival)
3. Visit Australia
4. Visit South Africa (Great White shark cage in Gansbaai)
5. Visit Thailand
6. Visit New Zealand
7. Backpack Europe
8. Sky dive at least once
9. Go to a Stanley Cup final
10. Go whale watching by kayak
11. Helijet from downtown to Victoria (helijet.com)
12. See the northern lights
13. Go on an African safari (Kruger National park)
14. Visit Machu Picchu
15. Visit Egypt (Pyramids, raft the Nile)
16. Go in a BC hot spring (Hot springs cove, Tofino)
17. Go to Oktoberfest
18. Road trip of NA (Oregon, California, Arizona (Grand canyon), Mexico, Texas, Florida, Louisianan, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Niagara falls, Quebec (Montreal), Ontario (Toronto), Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta)
19. Watch a Canada Olympic hockey game
20. Ride a camel
21. See a total eclipse
22. Learn Italian (and use it in Italy)
23. Learn to play guitar, well
24. Learn to surf
25. Dive with whale sharks (in Placenia, Belize)
26. Go on an Alaskan cruise
27. Visit an active volcano
28. Start the wave at a pro sports game
29. Learn Mandarin
30. Go white water rafting (hyak.com/rivers/thompson.html)
31. Hike the Berg Lake trail (env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/mtrobson.html)
32. Own a Galaga arcade machine
33. Ziptrek (ziptrek.com)
34. Take train from Vancouver to Banff (rockymountaineer.com)
35. Climb Kilimanjaro (the hardest route)
36. Hike the West Coast Trail
37. Hike the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail
38. Climb Mount Logan
39. Outdoor Survival Course
40. AST-1 Course
41. Wilderness First Aid Course
42. Hike ENTIRE Pacific Crest Trail
43. Visit the Great Bear Rain forest (see a spirit bear)
44. Dive with 6 gill sharks, Hornby Island (between May – Sept each year)
45. Backpack the Chilkoot Trail (pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/yt/chilkoot/index_e.asp)
46. Drive the Duffy Lake loop
47. Rock climb the Chief
48. Go to a 49ers game in San Fran
49. Do a MOMAR
50. Dive with hammerhead sharks (Galapogos Islands)
51. Complete a full marathon
52. Help someone achieve a life goal (Just added thanks to Robert’s comment below)

Items I’ve Already Accomplished:

1. Visit the Caribbean (’05)
2. Do the Grouse Grind (’06)
3. Learn to snowboard (’06)
4. Do the Polar Bear Swim (’08)
5. Get Scuba certification (’08)
6. Go bungee jumping (’08)

Looking at the list vs. what I’ve completed I realize I need to pick up the pace here. I didn’t check off any items at all in 2007 or 2009! But its also fun to look back at the things you have done and appreciate it. For example, this picture of me learning to snowboard in 2006. It almost looks like I was in control of my snowboard as a flew over the mini-jump, but in reality I was barely able to hit the jump, and had a huge crash landing…

Or the video I have of myself screaming and flailing as I jump off a bridge:

Overall, the Bucket List is a nice thing to have and reflect on periodically, and a good way to get yourself motivated to get out and accomplish all those things you want to do in your life.

Thanks Ross for the motivation, and I hope this motivates others to start their own list too!

Related Posts:
• BC’s Hiking Trail Conditions
• Grouse Grind Open For 2009
• January Recap

Tags: Bucket List
Categories: Random or Unrelated
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