Photo Credit: Smtunli – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
Hornelen mountain is located in western Norway, on the island of Bremangerlandet. Situated in the Nordfjord region of the country, the cliff is said to be the highest in all of Europe at 2,820 feet. Aside from the marked trail that is available for hikers to use that takes about 4 hours to complete, there is another option for those that are a bit more adventurous.
Officially opened in June of 2023, Hornelen mountain has since had a via ferrata climbing route added. The man behind this vision is Rogier van Oorschot, who worked on this project for nearly a decade. Now that the route is open, he operates guided tours through his company, to those wanting to experience Hornelen this way.
Directly translated from Italian as “iron path”, via ferrata is form of mountain climbing that utilizes steel cables and fixed ladders to aid climbers. Spurred on by their love of adventure and perhaps some adrenaline, these hikers can choose from three options to experience the mountain in this novel way. The three paths vary in difficulty and require specific skill sets.
Safety is of the utmost importance, and climbers are required to have specific equipment and provisions for a successful climb. Known as one of the hardest via ferrata routes, climbers are assessed for skill and educated before they leave the ground. Those opting for the hardest route, need to be in good physical shape and certainly not afraid of heights. Climbers, however, are not required to go through a company or have a guide.
The easiest of the three options in called Ørnelia, meaning eagle hill. This is recommended to those that are new to via ferrata climbing and estimated to take about 2 hours. Children 12 and older are welcome to be a part of this experience as well.
For those with a bit more experience, the Wall of Witches path takes about 6 hours to complete and is recommended for those 14 and older.
The expert level climb on “Olaf’s Route” requires the most experience and is the most difficult to complete. This route will take climbers all day, but they will be rewarded with indescribable views of ocean, islands, fjords, villages, mountains and glaciers.
Getting feedback from clients who go through the guided routes, van Oorschot says the climbing experience has been positive and that climbers are most surprised by the sheer steepness of the cliff and the views they take in.
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