Kjeragbolten (Norway)
DATE 02.08.2017 | DISTANCE approx 11KM |
Posted by Matt | Filed under other locations
This is the day we had been quietly nervous about. You will have seen kjeragbolten all over the internet in recent years, a boulder wedged into a cliff side due to the forces of nature, a long long time ago. This route is pretty demanding. In terms of distance, it's not that far but boy it is steep! It's also rather slippery in places on the smooth rock surfaces and chains are in place to assist. they are not only used for balance but also often used by people to pull themselves up the exhausting route.
just a measly 4.8km. Sounds easy but no!
TRUST ME THIS IS A LOT STEEPER THAN IT LOOKS
SLIGHTLY DISHEARTENING. AFTER A MIGHTLY SLOG UP THE FIRST SECTION WE FIND A LARGE DROP IN ELEVATION ONLY TO ASCEND FURTHER. IT'S GOOD WE LIKE A CHALLENGE.
WORK WAS BEING CARRIED OUT ON THIS SECTION TO CONSTRUCT A SERIES OF STEPS. FOR NOW THOUGH WE HAD A VERY LOOSE MUDDY NARROW TRACK TO NEGOTIATE.
YOU KNOW WHAT'S COMING UP! aNOTHER DROP IN THE DISTANCE FOLLOWED BY A LARGER CLIMB
LOT'S OF PEOPLE UP HERE TODAY. GOOD WEATHER LIKE THIS DOESN'T COME OFTEN IN NORWAY SO, IT'S NO SURPRISE.
A VIEW DOWN TO LYSEBOTN
MORE CHAINS AHEAD SO NO DOUBT WE ARE APPROACHING ANOTHER STEEP SECTION. MUST BE VERY DIFFICULT IN THE WINTER.
AFTER APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS THINGS START TO LEVEL OUT. It's like a lunar surface covered in tiny cairns
well this is a bigger cairn
FINALLY WE TAKE A BREAK AND HAVE SOME LUNCH WITH A VIEW DONE TO lysefjord
From the viewpoint down to lysefjord it's not easy to see the track leading to kjeragbolten but we finally found out. just listen out for the gasps of dread . THE RED 'T' MARKERS HELP TOO.
45 MINUTE WAIT AS CATHERINE QUEUED FOR HER LEG SHAKING LEAP ONTO THE BOULDER.
AND THEN A FURTHER 20 MINS FOR MY GO. jUST AS IT STARTED TO RAIN, MAKING IT THAT BIT MORE SLIPPERY... GULP!