Do you want to get high?
A new precarious “floating” staircase that hangs above a Norwegian fjord is the newest – and perhaps scariest – way to appreciate the country's unparalleled natural beauty, if you dare.
At 2,591 feet high, the new “Stigull” ladder, a 131-foot-long open-air climb, is the latest attraction for adrenaline junkies in the small town of Loen in northwest Norway .
“It might make most people's legs shake a little,” said Per Helge Bø, operations director of Løen Active. CNN Travel.
From a distance, “it looks like people are floating in the air,” Helge Bø said.
Loen is located in the Nordfjord region, popular for its spectacular scenery. The 120-step ladder is the final stage of the region's growing via ferrata.
Via ferrata means “railroad” in Italian – the term is used to describe climbing routes that use cables, ladders, and other guides to assist climbers.
The new ladder – mounted at a 45-degree angle – is part of this journey. To get there, you have to climb part of Mount Hoven de Loen, an adventure in itself.
Still, if you can manage to climb the heights, Helge Bø said the views are more than worth it.
“If you dare to look around, you can admire the spectacular fjord landscape with the sparkling fjord and majestic peaks, with the massive cliff and narrow gorge right next to you,” he said.
And even if you don't score as many adventure points, you don't need to submit to the railway to reach the top of the mountain, which is served by one of the steepest cable cars in the world: there is even a restaurant at the top.
You'll definitely save money: Most Via Ferrata Loen hikers pay a whopping $160 for the privilege, which includes the services of a guide. Experienced ones can go it alone, but will still pay an equipment fee of around $46.
If you're up for it, don't worry if you've never done anything like this: the road's bark is apparently worse than its bite.
“All climbs on Via Ferrata Loen, including the Stigull, take place while you are securely attached to a wire,” explained Helge Bø.
“Climbing the ladder in itself is not difficult, but the exposure and sense of accomplishment one feels while climbing it is immense,” he said.
