Have you been yearning to tackle a climb up an alpine incline? Norway has some of the most beautiful climbing and hiking opportunities in Europe. You can climb up, and even take a flying leap off these picturesque peaks! But bring your parachute — BASE jumping in Norway is an adrenaline-pumping undertaking for those with skydiving experience, with the added benefit of nearly 24 hours of daylight in the summer.
Norway has become a favorite spot for BASE jumpers, and Pulpit Rock is one of the most popular. This 1,099-foot granite cliff overlooks western Norway and is a well-known tourist attraction for hikers and nature lovers as well. The Troll’s Tongue is another frequently visited spot, found in Odda, Norway. The drop from this rugged outcropping is 1,148 feet and can be reached by hiking up the mountainside. A tram used to run visitors up the hill, but you’ll have to rely on foot power these days.
BASE jumping is similar to skydiving, but without the plane. Instead, jumpers leap from stationary objects like cliffs, skyscrapers, or bridges. The term is an acronym for building, antenna, span, earth: the surfaces from which jumpers take off. BASE jumpers use special parachutes designed for quick deployment. It’s a very risky maneuver. So much so that it is illegal in many cities, where jumping from the tops of buildings is against the law.
The danger in BASE jumping stems from the brief nature of the event, as well as the possibility of striking something on the way down. Flying through the air at 120 miles per hour with the ground rushing up to meet you leaves little (if any) room for error. Check out this video of some experienced BASE jumpers leaping into a cloud obscured chasm in Norway, and catch the excitement for yourself!
For more crazy base jumping videos, head over to another one of Sunny Sports articles – Leap of Faith.
Featured Image from Lane Smith/Unsplash
