FJORDS OF NORWAY - ON THE EDGE OF THE WORLD
I fell in love to this feeling when you sit alone in silence and see that wonderful world. That is so unusual and breathtaking. In this picture, it is me sitting on the edge of that cliff. You can see the 700 meters drop below you, but it seems like infinity.
Trolltunga - On the edge of the world
Trolltunga - it means ‘The Troll’s Tongue‘, this massive horizontal cliff is situated about 1100 meters above sea level. Beneath this rock is nothing. It is hovering 700 meters above lake Ringedalsvatnet. Trolltunga is one of the most spectacular scenic cliffs in Norway.
As far as hikes go, this is one of the most epics I’ve ever done. Important point is that I was there in 2013 and 2014, today I would avoid this overcrowded destination and explore many other parts of Norwegian nature. Before 2009 Trolltunga was virtually unknown. In 2017 more than 100.000 visitors made this popular trek.
It is difficult, it is long, but it is spectacular.
Standing on the edge of the Troll’s Tongue, I can feel the breeze around me in every direction. Not surprisingly, it’s scary to be out on this small piece of a cliff with a 700 meters drop beneath me.
Your head is full of thoughts. I realized how small the person is in comparison with nature and the high mountains. Sometimes just a little inattention and an accident might happen. However, all adventure activities are based on your own risk but it is doing unique. It was by far the greatest view.
The hike goes through high mountains and is about 20km long, takes 9-10 hours in total (to Trolltunga and return) and the ascent is about 900 meters. Consider carefully whether you have quality equipment and you are in good enough shape before the hike. Plan carefully and start early morning. The hike starts at the beginning of the funicular (not in operation) in Skjeggedal. Starts on the right side of the funicular. The path is marked with painted red T’s in the terrain.
As photos from this place have spread over social media Trolltunga has become increasingly popular over the last couple of years. It is normal there is a long line of hikers weaving around the rocky terrain each morning, everyone wants to capture their version of the photo. Many tourists also have started underestimating the difficulty of the hike. The hike is actually one of the more demanding one-day hikes and I met a lot of people during the trek who were not prepared for this difficulty.
Be careful, travel mindfully, respect nature and follow the tips you have found on the internet and the hike will give you memories for a lifetime.