If you had asked me last year if I would like to go hiking on a fjord in Norway, I would look at you like you were insane. First of all, I had never hiked before; I had just begun to enjoy taking walks! Also, I could never imagine myself going to Norway, despite having dreamed of visiting any Nordic country since middle school. So, truly, being here is a dream come true, well, ignoring the hiking.
To prepare, I obviously wore my hiking boots, then topped the outfit with an old tank top and some thrifted cargo shorts, ones with pockets so deep I didn’t need a bag. I filled up my 24-oz water bottle with the clean tap water of Flåm and headed out with the majority of my fellow classmates (I am on a UA-Faculity Led program). It was about 10 AM, but the sun had already been blazing since 4.
The start of the hike was no different than the “short uphill walk” we took the night before: a gravel path on a hill. Then, we got to the main bit of the hike: uneven stone stairs up the mountain zig-zagging through the forest. At any point in the hike, there was no way to know how long was left. It was daunting, but I believed in myself, and started up the steps, water bottle clutched in my hand.
It didn’t take long for me to fall behind a lot of the group, having no experience and all. Luckily, I wasn’t alone, having a few of the other girls in my program to back me up. We took frequent breaks, sitting, drinking water, and chatting with others passing us who were all much better hikers than ourselves (mostly tourists, as Flåm’s population is below 400). Finally, in the end, we reached the top, and were treated to a beautiful view of the town and a rushing waterfall. I had brought my copy of The Hobbit to read while at the peak, but I decided to leave it in my bag, as the view was too incredible to ignore.
The journey was difficult, both physically and emotionally. It was embarrassing to be overtaken on the trail by literal children. I don’t believe I could ever say that I regretted it though. The new experiences I have gained while abroad have been life changing, and I can’t wait to share more.