Stavanger in Norway – Preikestolen “Rock Pulpit”

“Having hiked all the way to the top of Preikestolen, things were actually pretty terrifying. It helped that my pal who I was climbing with was clinging to the rock face in fear at the narrowest parts in the path (where the edge is mere centimetres away from you). Trying to act casual and calm for her benefit made me feel less of a sense of impending doom than I otherwise would have done. [...] The view of the fjord below and the mountains in the distance is truly something breathtaking, with the cliffs of Preikestolen rising almost 2000 feet above the water below. The Norwegian authorities have ruled against putting any kind of fence around the cliff edge as it would destroy the beauty of the area [...] it’s rather scary watching people crowd to the edge like a bunch of lemmings in order to dangle over the edge and take selfies.”

“I can’t describe in words how beautiful this was to watch… It would have to be one of the most spectacular experiences of my life, to be able to sit on what feels like the top of the world, overlooking Preikestolen and the fjord, watching the beautiful colours emerge through the clouds, the crescent of the sun rising and the place transforming every second.”

“A s I mentally prepared myself for what could very well be the end of me, I never took into account that hiking Preikestolen could test my patience. My will not to cry in public yes, but not my patience. [...] What I didn’t realize is that hiking Preikestolen is one of the most popular treks in Norway. So much so that queuing up for a turn on the jaw-dropping rock face is common. This was news to me. After talking to the helpful staff at the Stavanger Region tourism office my visions of being hunched over gasping for air in privacy were replaced with an audience and long lines in the most beautiful place in the world.”