Today, some 1,600 incoming freshmen will fervently stumble their way through campus on their second official day as Stanford students. Below, upperclassmen reflect on their favorite memories from freshman year and wish their newest Farm-mates similar happy trails.

Many members of the classes of 2008 and 2009 shared expectations for a year of peerless academic learning, with long nights invested at Green Library in the exalted pursuit of knowledge and growth; others foresaw a year of thirsty, unfettered merry-making surrounded by innumerable new friends. Some saw themselves committing inexhaustible time and energy to activities and public service; others planned to await self-discovery in a haze of smoke.

The Stanford freshman experience is a unique combination for each individual, but few to none know exactly what lies at their feet as they begin to tread through their first eight months on the Farm.

Whether these stories calm frayed nerves or fuel eager anticipation, they offer important insights, told by those who have been through it all.

For junior Adam Maenhout, fountain hopping was a particularly fantastic frosh activity — he actually jumped when he suddenly remembered his first experience splish-splashing in the pools in front of MemAud and the Bookstore.

“We did that the first week — it was awesome,” he said, recounting his vivid memories of the 2003 Roble residents, then near-strangers, running to all the fountains on campus shouting their dorm’s cheer. “I think that was the first time we did something together as a hall, and at that point we didn’t know each other’s names.

“No one had any clue what fountain hopping was, or why we were doing it, but it was pretty sweet,” Maenhout added.

Now he regards jumping through a fountain late at night as perfectly standard Stanford behavior — just another fun freshman event that helps new students settle in and upperclassmen blow off steam.

“I remember it because it’s one of those Stanford traditions,” he said. “We came back soaking wet and tired but we knew each other’s names!”

For others, dorm trips proved to be their favorite memories as novices on the Farm. With all the dorm cheers, dorm themes and scheduled dorm bonding that take place during New Student Orientation, you might be feeling the need for some time apart from the whole entity that is your dorm, and you may not believe that a weekend getaway with all of Branner or Roble could be fun. Think again. Especially for the frosh that are new to the area and for all those without cars, dorm trips are perfect ways to get off campus and experience California.

The first trip upon which most dorms embark is the scavenger hunt in San Francisco. Staffers divide you into groups, give you disposable cameras and put you onto a bus or train to the city.

Groups are given until about 5 p.m. to do “all these crazy things as a team while barely knowing each other” said sophomore Silvia Sanchez.

From mooning Larkin Street and getting a piercing to performing in the streets, the group that accomplishes the most tasks on the list — with pictures as proof — wins some kind of prize.

The scavenger hunt hurdles you into your new Bay area environment, helping you to get a quick look at much of San Francisco in a short amount of time, as well as provides ample opportunity for bonding.

“The San Francisco scavenger hunt was at that kind of awkward time where we were all trying to make good impressions on one another, so it was such a relief to be able to run around and look stupid for a legitimate reason, said sophomore Kat Lewin. “Plus, although the people in my group didn’t immediately become long-term friends, every time we saw each other around we had to share a secret smile because, hey, we saw each other run around Lombard Street naked. That’s a bond no one can take away from you.”

Sophomore Christina Mendez has only fond memories from her freshman year Scavenger Hunt in San Francisco.

“My favorite parts were when we convinced some people at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel to let us take a picture on their bed,” she recalled. “Getting kicked out of the Nike store was fun too and watching my teammates David and Nick smear chocolate all over their faces at the Ghiridhelli factory was so funny.”

If the scavenger hunt sounds like a day of terrorizing San Francisco with immensely entertaining, and admittedly obnoxious, antics — well, it is.

“You have to just lose all shyness in order to complete the tasks, so you get to see different sides of people that rarely come out,” Mendez explained. But it’s no lie that the most trying times bring out the best in people.

Another favorite dorm trip is the ski trip to Lake Tahoe and the surrounding areas, which gives frosh the chance to travel hours from campus and spend a weekend in the snow.

“I loved ski trip!” Sanchez said. “It was a huge bonding experience, as well as a learning experience for those of us who learned how to ski or snowboard.”

And if you don’t want to ski or snowboard, you can have a memorable weekend without skiing or snow boarding. Lots of people hang out and party at the houses the dorms rent out, as well as go sledding and ice skating.

Other crazy journeys to look forward to, depending on your dorm’s preferences, are camping trips to Yosemite National Park, attending professional sports games and seeing the taping of “The Price is Right,” a game show, in Los Angeles.

While many Stanford students seem to love these trips, some said that the daily hustle and bustle in the dorms comprises some of the best bonding with friends on the Farm.

“My favorite dorm activity was just that: dorm activity, otherwise known as playing, and avoiding injury from new games such as ‘death frisby,’ random dance parties in tiny rooms and finding creative ways to procrastinate together as a family,” said sophomore Alana Dong.

Sophomore Terry Hou added, “the Stanford freshman experience can’t be summed up in a few keystone events. It’s something that is inextricably yours.”