Kjeragbolten and the lesson of courage
Mountains in Norway are nothing like our mountains in Romania. They have a lower height (the highest is 2,000 meters above sea level) and they are rocky, covered with little green.
The places we saw were superb. Quiet, deep green, I felt like I was in another world.
After seeing some of Norway by car and we were mesmerezed by those wonderful views, we decided to make a route to Kjeragbolten.
Kjeragbolten 5 m³ is a rock located between two cliffs, glacial deposit trapped in mountain crevasse and is suspended over a deep abyss of approximately 1000 meters.
In Norway the weather is pretty gloomy and raining very often, so we had to have equipment that will help us get there: warm clothes and rain coat resistant, boots, food, strong will and good vibes.
I had running shoes, but I could not let this thing keep me away from “the little rock”. Now I think about: I was lucky because it had not rained that day. The road was so rocky and slippery and wet, without proper shoes were good chances to get injured. Even down to the base, was a map that was mentioned that we should have the right shoes (boots) for this route.
To get to Kjerag, we had to cross three increases and one track was rough, rocky.
And because it rains too often these rocks were very slippery. In addition they had a great inclination, which makes it more difficult ascent and subsequent descent.
Ever since we started, we knew it was a difficult route.
But I did not want to quit because I really I wanted to get to Kjerag. “If there so many people reaching this place, why can’t I?” I said to myself.
The trail up to Kjerag was aprovimatively 3 hours (one way), and on the way we met a lot of people. They came from all over the world to see Kjeragbolten. Two of them caught my attention and I even learned something. A young couple came down and I helped them, supporting them and then making space to pass.
Both had a support on their back with one child each, age 2-3 years. I was supprised this because I had not seen anybody with children there.
I ask the question that you ask when you climb a mountain and meet somebody who returns: “Are we there yet?” They said no. I’ve asked if they took pictures on Kjerag. They replied that they took more pictures with their kids and all.
I said to myself: “Look at this, it is not necessary to give up your life when you have children. You can still do the things you love to do, but you take into the children as well ad to adapt. ”
I’ve seen too many people with children who practically abandon their lives to devote it enterely to their children. But actually give up on them. Why would you do that when is possible otherwise, when there are solutions?
We continued our way and after we crossed the road filled with huge stones finally we reached the destination. Yay!
We find an imense platform which overlooked a beautiful fjord and rugged mountains, sometimes colored grass. Above the white clouds and gray skies blue embellished this picture.
I honestly tell you that a sight more beautiful than that I have not seen in my life. I was stunned, amazed. I did not know how to express in words the beauty.
Platform, down the abyss was 1000 meters. The brave ones came here to do base jumpe.
Many people did not have the courage to approach the edge. I saw a lady standing 3 meters from the edge of the platform with trembling legs.
I spent half an hour on the platform and I marveled. A wide view, comprised of fjords, water color incredible, sheltered by mountains.
Right next to the platform, is Kjerag. The platform was one of two huge rocks that are between the famous rock. To climb the Kjerag had to lean on a huge rock which is on the edge of the platform and go on a trail about two meters long and a few inches narrower. In the back was a rock you could lean on it and in front was abyss. At the end you were suppose to take a big step and that’s it, you were on Kjerag!
I told to myself that I reaaly want to sit on the famous stone. Under no circumstances I could see myself leavig from there without stepping on Kjerag and taking a picture. I had confidence and I felt that I was safe to do it.
One tip that I received from a friend with whom I was was this:”When you get to the stone, do not look down.” I was on the boulder and down I had a void. I did not look.
And I would not have climbed the stone if I would ot feel that I can and that is safe.
Now when I think and watch back, I’m proud of myself that I had courage. That was one of those actions that gave me even more confidence in myself and I said, “I can do this. I can do anything I set my mind to. The most important thing is that I should feel in my heart that I want to do that thing.”
Have you ever did something that you thought you were not able to do it aand still managed to doo it? How do you feel watching back?
We can all do whatever we have in mind, we just need to have a little faith in us. We have unsuspected powers within us just waiting to get out to surface, to show their strength and brilliance.
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