Preikestolen

     Today we hiked Preikestolen. In English it means Pulpit Rock. Preikestolen is a rock that hangs out over a fjord with around a 1500 foot drop on both sides. The view is amazing. You can see for miles. There are multiple lakes and other bends in the fjord you can see. Its just spectacular.
     The hike to the top isn't anything great. This time of year so many tourists come to Pulpit Rock that you basically have to follow the person in front of you up a single track trail for a mile and a half. There are some great views off the side of the trail, but if you want to keep a good spot in the line you gotta keep going. We arrived at the trailhead at the same time as about three tourist buses. We had to book it up and around a bunch of people so we wouldn't feel crowded out by all of the dumb people trying to hike the hike in high heels.
     When we got to the top, Paul and I went over to the edge and took pictures. You can't really see how far down it is, but your senses certainly feel it. Sofie brought up a disposable BBQ pit and hot dogs. We lit up our coals and cooked us some hot dogs. Tons of tourists were eyeing us like we were either crazy, or brilliant for eating hot dogs on top of the mountain. After hot dogs, we made us some s'mores. Some foreigners from Spain noticed us and kept eyeing us. We decided to make them a s'more and share it. They didn't know what marshmellows were at first. I guess in Spain their marshmellows are pink. They told us that at first they thought we were making energy snacks for hiking. We just giggled and told them it was a sweet not an energy snack.
     By the time we were headed back so was everyone else. We were fighting crowds both directions People were still trying to hike up, but a lot of people were also trying to leave. We worked our way down, and near the bottom we all started into a light jog for some reason. We were hopping over stones and roots. Dodging hikers, and trying to get to the bottom as quickly as we could. At the bottom Paul told us we got down in under an hour and a half. Where it took us nearly 2 hours to get to the top.
     I can't believe how beautiful it is here. I feel like I have to add backpacking Norway to my bucket list. There are so many lakes and hills and mountains and fjords. Its green, and just SO amazing. Hopefully one day Paul and I will be able to come back and do some backpacking!

This used to be a cairn, but I guess tourists that don't know what they are just started piling rocks. There were several cairns that people had just piled rocks in random spots. If I was backpacking I would probably be so confused by all the trail markers in random spots!

A lake with a super long waterfall. I didn't even get the whole waterfall in the picture. It keeps going.

The famous Preikestolen. The cliff goes down further. I couldn't get it all in the picture without falling

Just sitting on the edge of a cliff. No biggie!

Paul was a little more hesitant. He sat on the edge but wouldn't put his knees over.

The view across the fjord

cookin some hot dogs on the cliff side

Eatin some s'mores

The crew 

Paul and I actually in a picture together. And its not a selfie!

The view from a little lower looking at the cliffs edge