Stavanger & Pulpit Rock

The main reason we traveled to Stavanger was to hike Preikestolen or Pulpit Rock. Nikki is a hiking pro more or less. In the sense that she normally doesn’t complain as loud as I and can walk up a mountain without dry heaving and gasping for air, unlike myself. Hiking Pulpit Rock gave me anxiety the night before because I was legit terrified I was going to collapse and die on a Norweigan mountain. Spoiler alert: I survived!

We were only in Stavanger for the hike: Preikestolen, a quick little jog up a mountain between traveling to Oslo and Bergen. I am in no way a hiker but if you’re curious to check out my Norway Hiking Guide to see how I survived!

Hiking Pulpit Rock

It was July, which means that there were few hours of darkness but luckily our adorable accommodation (like most houses within this unfortunate latitude are equipped with strong blinds so that 3AM sunrise doesn’t wake you up). I researched just about every page on Google about this hike. From snacks to bring, the difficulty of the hike, length of hike, needlessly to say I was a tad bit nervous. Disclaimer, at the time (eh who am I kidding, still today too), I wasn’t the greatest hiker or in the greatest shape of life and the four hours with a steady incline and difficulty of seven, scared me. My mind was racing for hours, what snacks should I bring, I wonder if Norway sells protein bars, what is protein, I wonder how they make protein bars, where do all the wrappers go, they should make fewer wrappers, I wonder who the garage man in here, I wonder if his name is Leif or Kristoffer. Ah. Go. To. Sleep. Naturally 🙄.

Today is the DAY! Wake up. Get dressed. Layer up. Get breakfast. Fill up water bottles. Grab Snacks. Walk to Pier. Buy ROUND TRIP ticket. (Unless you plan on staying on the other side and camping). ASK and ask again what time the boat comes back. Ask one more time, especially if you aren’t prepared to camp. Meet new friends. Hope on the ferry. Ferry across. Hop off. CLLIIIIIMMMMBBBB up a Norwegian mountain.

The Town of Stavanger:

Sverd i fjell 

Directly translate to Sword in Rocks, which is exactly what it is: three bronze swords towering at 10 meters (33ft) tall. Designed by sculptor Fritz Røed in 1983, these three swords commemorate the Battle of Hafrsfjord of 872. This is when King Harald Fairhair obtained all of Norway under one crown. The tallest and largest sword represent Harald himself, while the two smaller swords represent the defeated kings. Not only do these swords represent victory, they are symbolic of peace. Once planted into a solid rock formation and therefore may never be removed. 

 See you next time Stavanger ✌🏽

Be sure to check out my hiking guide to hiking in Norway! Would love to hear your experiences and stories about the hikes you’ve done in Norway!! More to add to my bucket list!

Guide to Hiking in Norway

 

Have you been to Stavanger? Or hiked in Norway? I would love to hear your stories! Your favorite hikes?