Worth the risk?

If you didn't already know, this is Preikestolen:

At 1,982 feet above the rocks and water below, it's a no-nonsense, one-wrong-step-and-you're-dead, sheer-rockface cliff. Preikestolen, which means "pulpit rock," juts out into Lysefjorden in southwest Norway. Its not far from Stavanger, where I was visiting some friends in July. Despite knee problems and possible asthma, I really wanted to hike up to Preikestolen and I'd been "training" with shorter hikes. Besides wondering if I could manage the hike, I was also a little worried that once I made it to the top I wouldn't want to go near the edge, making the trip feel like a waste. But Preikestolen was calling and I had to at least try.

 Pumped up: Ida, Julie, and Anne Marie

A ferry ride and short drive later and we'd be at the base.

For being one of Norway's most popular tourist destinations, this hike is no joke. About 2 hours long, very steep in certain places and lots of rocks to manuever, but there were old ladies and kindergartners doing it, so I kept on.

Proper fuel and good companions make

all the difference.

There's nothing like the promise of seeing Preikestolen

at the end to keep you motivated and moving.

Finally, in all its frightening beauty, Preikestolen!

"holy crap"

First things first before we go to the edge: let's eat!

Here's a riddle: How do you instantly produce fresh steaming hotdogs from your backpack at the top of Preikestolen? Put them in a thermos with hot water to cook while you hike... genius! I learn something new everyday in Norway.

Well-deserved and much-appreciated hotdogs
with Julie, my new roommate this year

 "Masse folk" = lotsa people... and not a guard rail in sight.

I was much more scared about the height of Preikestolen before the hike than when I was actually on top of it. It's weird, but when you're up there you don't fully realize just how high you are or how dangerous it actually is. At least I didn't. This must be some sort of metaphor for life also... it's all about perspective and not letting your worries get the best of you, or something like that.

Now, to the edge!

Laughing in the face of a 2,000 foot drop-- ha ha!

Despite the physical and mental challenges,

something inside told me Preikestolen was not

to be missed, and I'm glad I listened.

 OK, yeah, this is a little scary.
But a lot of worthwhile things are...

In moments after the hike and even now, I get more freaked out thinking about how close I was to the edge than I was when I was there, willingly standing near the edge. The mind is a funny thing, and if we let it get out of control we can talk ourselves out of amazing experiences. I remember when I was getting ready to leave for Norway last year a relative asked me, in all seriousness, "Aren't you afraid of being in all those airports alone?" Once upon a time I would have answered yes, but I've been set free from a life of fear so I could honestly answer, "no."

There are always factors to weigh and you have to be smart, but you can't let unknown places and potential harm stop you from seizing opportunities. If I let every single what-if keep me from doing what I'm convinced I was meant to do (very broadly speaking), I'd miss out on a lot of life and that would be a shame. So that's been a big theme for me the past year: there are some risks worth taking.

Yep, that's me on the edge.

Probably one of the more risky things I've done,

but my goal was to get there, and I did it!

Can I add Viking to my resume?

I know you have all been eagerly awaiting this development: Yes, I have rowed a viking ship on the open fjord. I should probably just come home now. I mean, I've climbed rugged mountains, eaten lutefisk, worn a bunad, and lived through perpetual darkness followed by perpetual lightness... what else is there left to do on my quest to be a true Norwegian?

Fully functional replica viking boat

 The rest of the crew:

The guy in front of me was coaxed onto the boat so that we had enough rowers to take it out on the water. He was clearly more interested in chit-chatting and slacking than rowing, much to the chagrin of our no-nonsense, viking-girl captain.

Me, on the other hand:

Grueling labor is fun!