I'd like to think that one purpose of ours, in the relatively short time we're alotted here on Earth, is to create some memorable life experiences . For whatever reason, some memories stay with us forever, others fade like our favorite t-shirts. Maybe it's the place, the people, the smell, the sounds, or the way it made you feel all together. Much like yourself, I have had many of these memorable experiences. For me, exploring the Eisriesenwelt ice cave in Werfen, Austria was one of those experiences that will stick with me forever.

Just South of Salzburg, home to Mozart and that cute blonde lady from "The Sound of Music," lies the small town of Werfen. Here, you can find the largest ice cave in world. Once feared by locals as "the entrance to Hell," the cave wasn't first explored until 1879 by a man named Anton Posselt. What was the inspiration for Posselt to venture alone into this Austrian abyss with little more than an ice pick? Maybe it was Thoreau when he said "the man who goes alone can start today; but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready." Whatever his inspiration came from, we can thank him.

Today, guided tours are available for those interested in entering the cave and into another icy planet. After a 20 minute hike, a ride on the steepest chairlift in Europe (built in 1955), and another 20 minute hike, you arrive at the cave. Upon reaching the 20m wide and 18m high entrance, you are slapped in the face by a gust of freezing cold air, and handed a carbide lamp. For this, a good pair of shoes, and warm clothes is also recommended.

The cave itself is 42km deep, while only the first kilometer is shaped by ice. This is a result of rain water and run-off seeping down through the cracks from the rock above. Once it reaches the colder first kilometer of the cave, the water is slowly transformed into the ice formations you see today.

Exploring the ice cave is an incredible experience. Ice formations are viewed behind the glow of your carbine lamp and lit by the occasional flare from your guide. It is filled with ice stalactites and stalagmites, colossal walls of ice, and waterfalls literally frozen in time. As you make your way deeper into the cave, the temperature drops well below freezing and each breath becomes increasingly visible. The knowledgeable guides will take you along wooden planks and up frozen stairs to different points of interest. The first is an ash mark in the shape of a cross, left by Anton Posselt. Continuing on, you will see giant ice formations including one in the shape of a woolly mammoth. After 75 minutes, the tour climaxes at 400m underground and one kilometer into the cave at the ice palace. From this point, visitors re-trace their steps out of the cave and back to reality.

For me, the experience was exciting and intensely spiritual. It left me with sore cheekbones from the constant smile on my face. I recommend giving your feet time to thaw before hiking back down the mountain. While waiting for the chairlift, take a break to suck in the view, and enjoy a fine Austrian brew at the cafe. Cheers to many more other-worldly explorations in the future. Don't forget to leave a comment below.