After reading our post on our road trip last Summer around Norway, let us now tell you more about one of our hikes which we planned so hard for, and failed to achieve ):
Watch our vlog here:
The route we INITIALLY planned for was pulpit rock hike->Bratelli route-> Kjeragbolten hike
Over the course of 2 days. And what people normally do is hike the pulpit rock and back to Stavanger, take a ferry to lysebotn to Kjeragbolten to hike it and back. (YES, it IS possible!)
The route we took eventually was: pulpit rock hike->half of Bratelli->helicopter rescue
This way, we can hike a completely new route and don’t have to hike to and fro to see the same views twice.
We were worried because many locals and staff were unaware of this route and the entire way, there was really NO ONE. We did see some firewood and burnt grass but that was a while ago and we never crossed paths with anyone.
Disclaimer: I think every person is able to achieve this hike, I am just physically unfit and not used to hiking despite really loving the nature and views.
We packed water, food, a tent, sleeping bags, clean clothes and fire starters. I wore cotton leggings and a cotton tank top (BAD IDEA!!: cotton absorbs all moisture in the forest and it made me very cold and heavy).
We started off really late, because we went in off season, we saw wrong bus timings offered by Tide from Stavanger to the foot of the pulpit rock (or Prekeistolen). So we only began the hike at 4pm++. We took a ferry from Stavanger to Tau before riding the Tide bus. I remember getting off the bus when everyone is trying to get on. We joked about not completing the hike.
Compared to Singapore hiking trails, this is a lot harder. It was my first hike overseas and I had never expected it to be so rocky and steep. I expected stairs and smooth paths. Yes, we did have that, but it was very rugged and difficult for a first timer like myself. Although compared to the other hikes in Norway, this was, on hindsight, much easier. But I was tired before it barely started.
As we were halfway through, we noticed fewer and fewer people climbing up, many are either climbing down or have surpassed us. Once again, we joked that we wouldn’t finish.
I kept stopping halfway for water and to catch my breath. I brought Cadbury chocolates for energy and because it was quite cold despite being in late May, the chocolate was frozen.
As we were halfway through, it started to pour. We were soaked through. The clothes we had were not waterproof, neither was our bag. All spare clothes were soaked through as well. Visibility was foggy and poor, roads were slippery and I fell several times. And I started to cry.
We did reach the peak, but saw nothing as it was covered in mist and fog. We ate fruits in the rain, there was no shelter and we had to make our way back. YF promised to go back to the Airbnb for a warm shower. As we walked back, he saw a sigh saying “Bratelli”. It was so difficult to spot we almost missed it. I said I felt fine to hike so we went via that route instead.
Bratelli was breathtaking, and there were really few to no google images or reviews about this route. There was low mist hanging from the trees. Leaves of yellow turning slightly green were appearing. There were small puddles of water in certain areas, a huge lake linking to Lysefjord in the centre and a hidden waterfall.
The route here was much harder to see, as few have traveled this path. But as the locals always say, follow the bright red “T” on stones or trees. Any other way is impossible.
As time passed, visibility, despite the midnight sun in May, grew poorer. It looked about 7pm-ish in Singapore. But it was dark enough to be unable to see the T’s. YF wanted to bash and we started climbing on all fours past rocks for several hundred metres, away from the walking trail in hopes to find a shortcut. I was too tired to carry on, so we set tents and called it a night.
We were wet and cold and I was so afraid I was going to die. YF checked in on me occasionally to make sure I was breathing. In the morning when it got slightly brighter we called for help via SOS. I was crying and screaming and so cold and afraid.
Help came several hours later, after YF stood by the edge of the cliff shouting to give the rescue team an idea of where we were at. They brought warm clothes, medical personnel and helped us get out of there via a helicopter.
The view of the fjord was breath taking, but I was shaking bundled up in new warm clothes.
We reached the foot of Preikestolen, where the kind staff gave us blankets and warm water. We were then escorted to Tau to take the ferry back by policemen.
Let me take this opportunity to once again express our gratitude to the local Norwegian police, SOS hotline personnel, doctors, and Pulpit rock staff for assisting us to safety and back to Stavanger! <3