Cool’n crazy sights in Norway Nr 1. Preikestolen Rock

A must do and see and most of all, climb. The reward is really just a rock – even I was surprised how stone can get me so terribly excited. ‘Stone’ is an understatement. Preikestolen is a massive cliff that stands over 600 metres (1980 feet) tall above the huge and crystal clear Lysefjorden. Once you have walked up 3.8 km one way, you will be rewarded with a gigantic plateau for amazing pics. That’s for the cool part.

If you want to go for crazy, do not do stupid things, such as taking risky pictures or running around naked (witnessed at the plateau), it doesn’t take that much effort to go crazy: simply climb up in THONGS. I did that. Story of a perpetual travellers life.

Arriving from tropical Thailand in not-tropical-at-all Norway with high heel sandals and thongs. I took both, tried sandals, but they failed miserably on steep paths. It was going to be thongs then. My understanding hubby helped carrying the sandals. I just love him for unlimited unfussyness in cases of severe lack of preparation on my part.

There are signs that clearly forbid that kind of hiking wear. I can see why thongs are not recommended. NOT because of the possible dangers – I managed super, no slip, no fall, I felt comfy and climbed safe and light footed AND was well within time norms for walking up. No, seriously, the reason why is THIS: people felt compassionate about my footwear and virtually EVERYONE felt obliged to comment passing by.

I caused a lot of amusement along the way and learned the word for ‘thongs’ in Norwegian, Italian, French, Russian, Polish and German. There were also some strongly disapproving comments. One Austrian women actually tried to stop me from walking up ‘das geht so nicht’. So much help from all nations is just neat.

Anyway, here’s more crazy: there are mega cracks on the cliff and the plateau will at some point break off and fall down, but our thorough geological investigations (jumping and observing) have revealed that this event will not happen soon, at least it didn’t happen on the day of our visit.

Sandals and light foot wear are crossed out. 3800 meters to go.

 

This is what people were wearing.

 

A contrasting sight – my gear. People looked intimidating well prepared with top notch outdoor clothing, footwear and backpacks.

 

The hike to Preikestolen is very steep in places.

 

Cool break at the lake mid-way to the top. It was so warm people were actually dipping in.

 

Which way? I admit, up here I am a just a follower.

 

It’s called rock, right?

 

Rocking the day away.

 

There are two ways to conquer the rock. The harder red way, which we took up and the easier green way, which is worth taking, when descending. It is up here that we were looking for the green way, which is pretty hard to find. We didn’t give up on the green way.

 

No matter what everyone says (out of 10 people asked, 10 will say that it isn’t there or that they couldn’t find it) – the green way for Preikestolen rock is there, just like the map says.

 

This is close to where the green way meets up with the hard way. There is no easy way to describe this.

 

The green way is GREEN.

 

Almost there. Overlooking the valleys of the Ryfylke region.

 

Testament of some very brave man. Women with very wide chests also fall into that category.

 

WE made it! Geologists have confirmed our investigations and the safety of the plateau. Ignore the cracks.

 

Close up. There is no safety railing on the edge of the cliff which makes for great pictures.

 

The BUNCH made it!

 

Find US on the plateau.

 

Felt a bit  insecure at the gorge, this is how far out we, the brave girls, dared to crawl and sit go out.

 

There have been no accidents at the site, only suicides abusing the cliff for their last act. We have seen some naked nuts running around the site, but that’s classified mental accident.

 

The stone ritual.

 

The hike took us 2 hours one way, but depending on experience and fitness level you can rush up in one.

 

The walk starts easy but there are sudden elevation gains and losses along the way.

 

The path climbs and descends and does that again and again. My muscles were damn sore over the next days. This is the beautiful exit.

 

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