Norway - Kjeragbolten

Okay, this post my father is going to LOVE.  He told me if I went out on the rock, he would come to Europe and take my home.  He made me promise that I wouldn't get out on that rock.  He has what I like to call, The Look and The Voice and when he uses them, you know you are in trouble.  He very much had The Look and The Voice out while skyping me, forbidding me to go out on the rock.

But what are the point of rules if not for breaking?

So we went to do the Kjeragbolton hike.  Again, for more information on this hike, click here!  This hike was rated difficult, and was about the same time length-wise.  There are three big hills to climb, and then about a kilometer of "flat" walking to get to this (stupid) rock.  There were no trees on this hike, a lot of rock climbing, and I actually liked it better than Preikestolen even though it was more difficult.  I really liked the thrill of rock climbing where you could easily fall and really hurt yourself.  Oooo the adrenaline kicks in!

So let's see some pictures!

Sidenote: I probably won't be making as many comments on the photos because they're mostly landscapes.

Alright, let's go climb us a mountain to see a (stupid) rock!

Yay cliffs! And random dude!

And, I didn't get the poopies after this. #winning

Top of hill three I believe.  Yes, we had to hike that mountain side.  More awkward stair climbing.

Fanny pack on a mountain!

I look like a sherpa.

The rocks all looked like this, pretty neat.

As yes, vertical climbing.

Snow!

Note: Joy was scooting down the mountain, she didn't fall. She wanted to make sure that I clarified this.  (More note: She and Ron are currently on a cruise around Norway and far north. Jealous.)

Rock is drunk.

My lens had fogged, and I didn't realize it.

Okay, with these photos, I was going to send them to my dad saying I had made it out on the rock, because this is a rock in between two other rocks... technically...

Alright, let's talk about the (stupid) rock.  See that tiny speck directly above the woman's head? that's where the rock is situated. (You may want to enlarge the photo) (Also, photo cred to Ron and Joy, they gave me this photo to better reference the height.

Zoomed in.  Its that little speck up there.

Cliff that people were base jumping off of. (Again, may be Joy and Ron's photo.)

Here we are. The (stupid) rock.

I keep calling it stupid because it's literally just a rock that people stand on.  We hiked 3 hours one way and 3 hours back to look and stand on a rock.

Here is where you would stand to take pictures of the (stupid) rock.  Honestly, this part scared me more than the actual rock itself.  You slip, you dead.

This is a stolen photo from the interwebs.  She is sitting with her feet on the rock like I am in other photos.  Also, that's the ledge to get out onto the rock.  Here, you can really see how it drops off and if you fall, you dead.

Yeah. No.

I don't think I can get out on that thing.

I'll just sit here and smile instead.

"Yeah, this isn't gonna happen."

So I'll just chill here.  At least I touched the rock.

Joy finally made it out on the rock standing!

Alright, we gotta take a pause. So, I attempted to get out on the rock by sitting down first.  Joy had told me if I got nervous I could crawl out like she had her first time, so I went in with that mind set.  I sat down and looked at the (stupid) rock and decided it wasn't gonna happen.  I was NOT going to get out on that rock.  So we left to hike back and I just told myself I'd come back and now have an excuse to come back to Norway.  About ten minutes after leaving, I asked if we could go back.  I was going to stand on that (stupid) rock whether I liked it or not.  So we walked back, and let me tell you, I haven't had that intense of an adrenaline rush in a loooooonnngggg time.  I was determined.  Ron offered to come out with me if I couldn't make it out myself.  No. I was determined.  I walked right up to it and just walked out to it.

I'm going to stand on you, (stupid) rock!

Thumbs up for standing on the (stupid) rock!

Got the sign out. BTW- unfolding that piece of paper while on the (stupid) rock was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life

I really hope you can see how far up it is.  I think it's 1000m.

So there. I got on the (stupid) rock.  And let me tell you, I couldn't be more proud.  Climbing out onto that thing was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.  Also, here's another life lesson: If you sike yourself out from something you want to do, you won't do it.  Just suck it up, and just do the thing.  Just step out onto the rock.  Just do it.

Okay, if you don't hear from me for awhile, assume papa bear has retrieved me from Europe.