Kjeragbolten
As you can tell from the main picture, I made it, but I couldn’t stand up. I was too scared. Petrified. My legs were shaking too much to even attempt to stand. I thought I was going to fall 984 metres in slow motion to my death. The slightest mistake and I would fall. I’ve decided I’m okay with being a chicken shit. Do you remember the movie Cliffhanger with Sylvester Stallone and the opening scene where the woman falls off the rope and he couldn’t save her? It was in slow motion and her teddy bear fell too. That’s what was going through my mind.
The hike itself was fanastic! Kjerag is a mountain in Norway that is 1,110 metres high (3,640 feet). The north side of the mountain is a cliff that falls 984 metres (3,228 feet) into the Lysefjorden (the fjord). Kjeragbolen is a 5 cubic metre (180 cubic feet) rock stuck in a crevasse that overlooks this cliff. People climb the mountain and stand on the rock!
From Stavanger, it’s about a 3 hour bus ride to the starting point for the hike. It takes about 2.5 hours each way to hike to Kjeragbolten.
Climbing onto the rock and trying to stand up is the scariest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life!
On the way down, a stop at the river to soak my feet was divine!
An amazing experience with gorgeous views!
Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)
Pulpit Rock is 604 metres (1,982 feet) above the Lysefjorden. It is a flat piece of rock about 25 x 25 metres (82 x 82 feet).
From Stavanger, you take a ferry and a short bus ride to the starting point. It takes about 2 hours each way to hike to Pulpit Rock. I found it to be an easier hike than Kjeragbolten.
These hikes were another bucket list item for me! I had a great time and would love to do both hikes again someday. Ya never know!!