Pregnant RSAF pilot who couldn't fly scales new heights in Norway

31-year-old wanted to challenge herself as she went through a transition in life

- Kolette Lim

A thousand metres in the air and 27 weeks pregnant, Ms Fiona Lee got on all fours.

The 31-year-old tentatively inched onto a boulder wedged in a crevice in the Kjerag mountain in southern Norway. She took some time to get used to her new centre of gravity - courtesy of her baby belly - but soon found her footing and got up on two feet.

"There was definitely a mental barrier to cross," said the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) pilot on standing atop the renowned boulder in June 2024.

"But coming face to face with the sights I've seen only in photos made my worries disappear."

"And I'm not that scared of heights," she quipped.

The tale of Ms Lee's 2024 summer adventure reached the ears of Mr Leif Trana, Norway Ambassador to Singapore, who invited her to tea at the embassy on April 15.

On the 44th storey of the Hong Leong Building, Ms Lee animatedly recounted her 10-day trip, which involved climbing three mountains, to the Oslo native.

While Pulpit Rock was relatively easy for Ms Lee and her software engineer husband, Mr Shao Fei, the 28km hike up Trolltunga and the steepness of Kjerag - which required them to hoist themselves up with a cable and chain - were more challenging.

But the strength gained from 24km route marches in the military, done while carrying a rifle, came in handy and she conquered the peaks without too much difficulty.