the hike to Ulriken

Yesterday was the best weather we have had so far in Bergen- it was so sunny and beautiful! Karin & I went to the student center in the city to pick up our student ID cards and then headed to a museum we had been eyeing up for a few days. The Bergen Museum is home to a giant collection of whale bones and lots of animals. It was really fun to look at all the animals! After the museum, we headed back to our housing for a quick lunch and to meet Elise for a hike.

We earlier thought about going up to Floyen again, but since it was so nice out, we attempted to climb Bergen's tallest mountain, Ulriken. The three of us set out on the journey- it was rough terrain! Once we started climbing higher, the trail turned into snow. The scariest part was that every few steps or so one of us would fall through the snow when we stepped and when we would look down, there was no solid ground under us! A lot of the time we were walking on packed snow that was held up in between caverns and over rivers- scary!!! We crossed a few bridges that were rickety, Karin & I kept saying that there is no way they would call this a trail in America! The craziest thing is that what we were hiking on was bike trail- I can't even believe how people can be so crazy/brave to attempt to ride a bike down the rocky landscape!

We stopped a few times on the way up to check out the awesome views. I kept getting more and more fearful as we got higher thinking about how we were supposed to get down! I made Elise promise me we would go on a different route down so I wouldn't have to cross those bridges again! I am such a wimp!!! The hike was pretty intense, and Karin & I were still sore from all the hiking we had done previously throughout the week. Once we started getting closer to the top, we ran into more hikers- which was relieving to me that we weren't the only crazy people climbing this mountain!

Climbing and climbing and climbing- we kept going until finally we made it! What a view! I actually became a little sick to my stomach realizing how high up we were! It was beautiful though- and cold! We found a bench and took in the view. I wish pictures could have captured how far we could see. Into the ocean, over other mountains- we could practically see England! (not really) It was really neat and we were thankful that Elise showed us the way up. After catching our breath and taking in the amazing landscape, we decided to make our way down again.

This time we took a different trail, it was all rocks but most of it had a railing near by to hold on to. It was great! I had a spill during one part on a wet rock when I let go of the railing to let some others by, then took a step and slipped down the rock on my butt! I was fine- just had a wet butt! Most of the trail down was a rocky stream of melting snow so it was pretty slippery. Elise must have mountain goat DNA because she could fly up and down the rocks without a blink- I clung on for my life! She is a great hiker! The hike was awesome, can't wait for the next time up Ulriken!

After we got home, Elise went to her place to get ready for the next day. We are going to her place tonight when she gets off work to make dinner and hang out with a few girls from class. Should be a great time! Last night Karin  & I made our classic dinner: noodles, chicken & broccoli and joined one of our housemates, Andreas, to watch Kung Fu Panda- best movie ever! Well, off to start the day and climb another mountain!