Tur retur Kjerag - majesteten i Lysefjorden

For english see below.

Den loddrette og blankskurte granittveggen har lenge vært beundret fra fjorden, men ønsker du en annerledes opplevelse bør du ta turen opp til Kjeragplatået og Kjeragbolten.

Selve Kjeragplatået er goldt med mye stein og blankskurte berg. Terrenget er tungt og krevende og turen lang, men vel fremme får du lønn for strevet. Følg T-merket sti fra parkeringsplassen og reiselivssenteret ved Øygardstølen.

Turen starter med kraftig stigning over den første fjellryggen. Herfra bærer det utfor til Litle Storedal, hvor du på ny skal forsere en kraftig stigning. Fra utløpet av Storedalen følges en bratt egg opp på selve Kjeragmassivet, hele tiden med luftig utsikt mot Lysefjorden. Når toppen er nådd, leder stien i åpent og lett terreng fram til varden på Nesatind.

Kjeragbolten ligger ca. 300 meter sør for varden. Stavanger Turistforening har bygget en varde med veivisere ute på platået for å hjelpe besøkende til å finne fram til attraksjonene. Det er ikke bare fjellvandrere som har latt seg lokke av Kjeragveggen. Både fjellklatrere og fallskjermhoppere er blitt fristet av suget og spenningen denne veggen byr på.

Retur til Øygardstølen samme vei. Hele turen går på merket sti 6-7 timer (ca. 10 km) tur retur i kupert terreng med en høydeforskjell på 570 meter. Tidsbruken avhenger mye av vær og føreforhold, og om du er vant til å gå i fjellterreng. Det er lagt ut flere hundre meter med kjetting for å holde seg i. Noen synest dette er krevende partier når ein skal ned. Så legg inn ekstra tid viss du er redd for høyder. Husk også å legge til ca 1. min ekstra per bilde du tar. Store deler av turen går på bart fjell. Turen blir ekstra fin hvis du kombinerer den med en båttur langs Lysefjorden fra Stavanger. Stien ble betydelig oppgradert 2015 og 2016.

Kjettingene langs stien demonteres ca. 15. oktober og motreres ikke opp før all snøen er smeltet neste sommer.

Riksvei 500 mellom Sirdal og Lysebotn stenges når første snøfall kommer i okt/nov og åpner ikke før ca. juni.

Fra Kjerag kan du alternativt følge T-merket rute videre til Langavatn turisthytte hvor det er mulighet for overnatting. Derfra er det ruter til Flørli, Frafjord og Hunnedalen.

Se også: 360 graders panoramavisning fra Lysefjorden og Kjerag (virtualnorge.com)

ENGLISH

Grading - Expert

PREPARE. Before you leave the parking area, make sure you fill up all you need for a long day outdoors. There is a public toilet, a kiosk (in season) and other facilities at the parking. Once you set off, there is nothing but nature and your fellow hikers. The hike will take you up to an elevation around 1000 meters. In this region, that means extreme weather conditions that changes quickly. Never set out without adequate clothing that can withstand strong chilly winds and rain.

TAKE OFF. The first uphill slope from the parking is a test. There will be a total of three of these steep uphill climbs over naked bedrock. If you can make it up this first climb, then you may continue. If you struggle here, you'd better turn around and enjoy a good lunch and the views at cafe Øygardstøl or down in the Lysebotn village. Regardless of whether you are comfortable with the climb or not, take your time to turn around and enjoy the views back to Lysebotn.

INTO THE WILD. Once you get to the first top, make sure to enjoy the view before you continue down to cross the first of two valleys. The route takes you down the cleverly crafted stairs made by Nepalese Sherpas to save the vulnerable highland soils from the erosion by thousands of hikers. You get down to a surprisingly green valley, and cross a stream before you head on to the next uphill climb. If you bring a tent and plan to use it, this is one of the best places to pitch it.

REPEAT. Up again and down again, steep both ways, it is the same all over. When you cross the second valley and stream, there is a good chance to fill your water bottles. Water supplies after this point may be uncertain in dry condition. This is also the takeoff point where a marked path leads towards the cabin of Langavatn. There are several tentsites further up the valley from the main path

ROCK AROUND THE FJORD. From the second valley there is again a steep ascent, this is the final one leading you to a harsh granite plateau, 1000 meters above the fjord. As you make your way up, you gradually get the magnificent views that draw tourist from all corners of the worlds.

WAY MARKS. The trail is clear and easy to follow at first. As you approach the plateu, it is all open bedrock, and it may be difficult to find the path when the fog comes in, which is not uncommon year around. The small stone cairns ("nødling") are put there by volunteers from the trekking association to show you the way when visibility is low. The Trekking association's red "T"s are signatures that helps you navigate. Many travellers enjoy themselves by building similar cairns dotted all over the plateau. We strongly discourage this, as it actually does confuse hikers coming after you. If you are so filled with energy that you need to move some rocks, you can tear down cairns that are placed away from the route, and reinforce the cairns set in the path, rather than leading others astray.

LAST PUSH. At the end of the plateau, there is a huge cairn with signs in top, that tells that you have to collect your courage and decide whether or not you dare to jump to Kjeragbolten, the famous boulder wedged in a mountain crevice 1000 meters above the abyss. From the signs you can walk straight on (keep left) towards Kjeragbolten. Enter the steep crevice, and follow that down towards the boulder. There is a roomy plateau besides the boulder, providing space for the lineup and final preparations. There is a narrow ledge leading out to the boulder from behind. Needless to say, if you decide to make the leap, watch your step! The pictures don't lie, there is actually 1000 unsecured meters below the boulder.

LOOKOUT. Most people come for the picture perfect view towards the Kjerag boulder. But Kjerag has more to offer. Don't miss the pointy viewpoint Nesatind, where the Kjerag cliff throws itself down 1000 vertical meters, and offers superb views of the entire fjord, including Preikestolen in the far distance. Look for the basejumpers that throw themselves from the cliff opposite from Nesatind, and lands at Geitaneset far below. Do not attempt to go directly between Kjeragbolten and Nesatind, both are best reached "inland" via the stone tower with the signs.

THE VERY END. You hike the same path back to Øygardsstøl and the parking area, unless you have a map and are able to navigate some of the longer alternative routes in the area.

REWARD The view along the trail could be reward enough, but the view from the top is breathtaking. And if you have the guts, the ultimate reward for climbing the hills toward Kjerag is taking the leap and stand on Kjeragbolten. With a 1000 meter drop beneath you and just a small rock to stand on, it will give you an adrenalin kick like you’ve never felt before!