Kjerag or Kiragg is a Norwegian mountain, located in Lysefjorden, in Forsand municipality, Ryfylke, Rogaland. Its highest point is 1110 m above sea level, but its northern drop to Lysefjorden attracts most visitors. The drop is 984 m (3,228 ft) and is just by the famous Kjeragbolten, a 5 m³ big stone which is plugged between two rocks.
Kjerag is a popular hiking destination. Some go there because Preikestolen has become too crowded, some to jump onto Kjeragbolten and quite a lot of BASE jumpers from all over the world go there to dive off the high cliffs. Kjerag is also a popular climbing destination, with many difficult routes going up its steep faces.
The easiest ascent starts from the visitors center Øygardsstølen, with a 2.5-3 hour rather strenuous walk each way. From Stavanger, it is roughly a 2 hour drive (closed in winter season). Or take the touristferry from Lauvvik to Lysebotn in summer. The Lyseroad up from Lysebotn is spectacular (closed in winter). The best season for walking is late June to September depending on snow conditions.
Kjeragbolten
Kjeragbolten, a 5 m³ boulder wedged in a mountain crevasse by the edge of the Kjerag mountain (59°2′0.83″N 6°35′32.79″E / 59.0335639°N 6.5924417°E / 59.0335639; 6.5924417). It is possible to walk onto the rock without any equipment, but there is a direct 241 m drop below and then another tumble of 735 m down to Lysefjorden, so to walk onto it requires good nerves and steady feet. The name means "Kjerag Boulder" or "Kjerag Bolt".
BASE jumping
Kjerag has become a popular BASE jumping destination. In the period 1994 to 2008 29,000 jumps were performed.
In this period there were ten fatal accidents. A list of jumpers who perished at Kjerag is provided below:
- Sebastian Dectot (24, from France), August 16, 1996
- Ulla-Stina Östberg (46, from Sweden), July 29, 1997
- Thor Alex Kappfjell (32, from Norway), July 6, 1999
- Kirill Goretov (29, from Russia), August 15, 1999
- Terry Forrestal (52, from United Kingdom), June 10, 2000
- Valentino Ventori (30, from Italy), August 5, 2000
- Lori Barr (37, from USA), July 23, 2002
- Rob Tompkins (30, from USA), September 12, 2002
- Darcy Zoitsas (nickname Peter Pan) (39, from Australia), July 19, 2005
- Anton Knestyapin (25, from Russia), July 25, 2010
In the Norwegian documentary film Loop, Kristen Reagan climbs up the 1000 meter drop before BASE jumping off the same cliff.
The name
The name is possibly a compound of kje 'kid' and ragg 'goat's hair, shag'. The rough surface of the mountainside have then been compared with the shaggy hair of a kid goat.
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