Preikestolen
Preikestolen, also known as Pulpit Rock or Preachers Rock in English, is a world famous vantage point over Lysefjorden that attracts many International tourists each year. Preikestolen is a steep cliff face that rises 604 meters above the waters below. At the top of the cliff there is a somewhat flat area of 25 by 25 meters where weary hikers may have a picnic or simply take in their majestic surrounds.
This heightened platform sits on the north side of the fjord, adjacent to the Kjerang plateau on the southern side. The 1,110 meter tall Kjerag mountain is also a hiking destination that has become increasingly popular among tourists. Due to the influx of tourists over recent years, some hikers have decided to visit Kjerag instead of the crowded Preikestolen.
It is not uncommon for BASE jumpers to leap off the side of the cliff face, an activity that may not be for everyone. Yet the increased popularity of this site has also called for a project, that is currently underway, to improve the path that leads to Preikestolen. To date the only path of access involves a 3.8 kilometre hike that may not be possible for people of low fitness levels.
Preikestolen is located within the municipality of Forsand in the Rogaland county of Norway. The fourth largest city in Norway, Stavanger, is only 25 kilometres from the site. Stavanger is 10 hours and 30 minutes drive southwest of Oslo which includes an estimated 60 to 95 euros of fuel costs (in 2017). Many tourists who wish to visit Preikestolen will also enjoy a short stay in Stavanger. The access from Stavanger to Preikestolen is by car on the Norwegian National Road 13 (Rv13). The drive will take approximately 33 minutes.
The walk from the car park at Preikestolhytta to Preikestolen is rather steep in places. The walk takes one to three hours for people of average fitness levels and also depends on the amount of traffic on the trail. Despite the start and end of the walk having a mere difference of 334 meters, seeing as the walk is not very long, the total elevation gain over the course of the hike may be more than one would expect. This is also because of the amount of different ridges that cause the path to rise and fall somewhat dramatically.
It is important to note that it is not recommended to take the path in winter or spring when there may be snow or ice, causing surfaces to be slippery and hazardous. Therefore, if you wish to hike to Preikestolen, the best time to aim for would be from April to October.
The cliff face of Preikestolen has been found to have been formed during the ice age, an estimated ten thousand years ago when the edges of the glacier reached the summit of the cliff. As the water from the glacier froze, it caused huge crevices to form within the mountain which would then eventually break off, creating angular blocks of rock that in due course were carried away with the remains of the glacier. This is the reason why Preikestolen has such a sharp angular shape, with deep cracks continuing to be visible within the rock itself. As a result of such cracks, geological investigations have shown that at some point the rock with give way and fall down into the fjord below. However, this is not likely to happen within the foreseeable future and geologists have confirmed the safety of the site.
How to make it the best awe experience
In addition to the suggestions made in the aweceanic article planning an experience, consider these:
– Bring warm clothes as the weather can be unpredictable
– Ensure that you have ample time and focus all of your senses on the view before you.
– You may wish to go at a time in the year or the day when there may be less people on the track and on the plateau. This could be early in the morning or at the end of the summer season.
