The hike to Seoraksan mountain

Wikipedia says:
"Seoraksan is the highest mountain in the Taebaek mountain range (태백산맥) in the Gangwon province in eastern South Korea. It is located in a national park near the city of Sokcho. After the Hallasan volcano on Jeju Island and Jirisan in the south, Seoraksan is the third highest mountain in South Korea. The Daechongbong Peak (대청봉) of Seoraksan reaches 1,708 metres (5,603 feet). The Taebaek mountain chain is often considered the backbone of the Korean peninsula."

Infact, the park is considered one of the most beautiful ones in Korea.
We started at sunrise, without actually knowing how long it takes to reach the summit, since no information was available to us. Actually, the only piece of information we did have from the Lonely planet was that the peak is closed. Well, LP Korea was again incorrect...




When we reached the park entrance, we finally learned some more details about the available trails. We also learned that it takes about 7 hours to reach the peak (and another 6 to come back)



At the entrance there is a nice Buddha statue (about 15m high):


And from a first glance, you don't understand what is all the fuss about, since there seem to be no water in the river:


But, after half hour's hike, you start to get the picture, and it is a beautiful one:




Water are running everywhere! There are numerous waterfalls and the entire scene is spectacular:



Obviously, we took great care to protect the poor bears from fallen rocks:


The hike is along a narrow valley ("Death Valley"), and as you reach a height of about 500m (notice, the hike starts at about 100m or so), a gorgeous rocky ridge appears:





A quick stop at the first Shelter. Hmm... What's up doc?


And we continued upwards:




Near the second shelter, at a height of 1050m, this is what we saw:



The summit was covered with thick rain clouds. After hiking for about 5 hours, we learned that it will take about 3 hours to reach the top, and that the last part involves an ascend of 500 m that should be covered in 2 hours. At this point, we decided to give up the climb to the summit. Mai was quite exausted and Shay thought nothing should be seen from the top, so we started our descent and enjoyed the landscape around us.





At the basecamp, we found an artist who draws on wood using a welding torch. Amazing!

Mt. Jirisan & Mr. Park

We had quite enough of Jeon-ju, and decided to change our original plan, and go south again to a national park with the second highest mountain in Korea (we already climbed the higest one, which was Hallasan in Jeju island).

We reached the area at 17:00 and at first, we actually thought we arrived to the wrong place, because all the signs did not show the name Jirisan, but Sancheong.

When we asked where is the nearest tourist information, someone pointed along a really steep road, and said it is about 30 minutes walk. Since we weren't sure it was even the right place, Shay went on a reconnaissance and on his way, took a wrong turn and ended up in a place that looked like a reasturant. However, upon approach, a man came out and said the place is his home. His name was Mr. Park, and this is his story:

He is a hermit, who has been living for the last 11 years in a lovely wooden house at the foot of Jirisan mountain (so, we actually did reach the right place afterall). He is well educated and spoke better English than most Koreans we have met. He was an engineer in Hyundai, but at the age of 32 decided Hi-tech was not for him. He fell in love with this mountain. After climbing it 40 times in one year, he decided to quit his job and move there. He just came to his boss one day and said - I quit! The boss did not believe him. He called him the next day and asked - where are you Mr. Park?, and Mr. Park answered - I am in Jirisan.
The boss actually came to the mountain because he did not believe the guy. But after he arrived, he understood why this guy decided to quit everything and move there.

Anyhow....

Mr. Park was so nice, he invited Shay to stay on his premesis. So, Shay went all the way down, took his bag and wife, and climbed up again.

Here is Mr. Park estate:



Upon arrival, he offerred us Coffie, then beer and snacks, and after we calmed down from the difficult climb, he showed us to his guest quarters and we took a hot shower (yeppi!)

We then prepared dinner, and afterward Mr. Park invited us a traditional Korean tea ceremony with tea he made by himself from mountain flowers. We then walked to a near by reasutrant and drank the local Korean wine with him (note - Korean wine is nothing like a western style wine.....
It is made of rice and is not clear like the Japanese Sake).

We woke up at 5am and started the strenuous climb. The sun was just starting to show its face, and the sky were clear blue:



It was a difficult climb,

but after about 3 hours we reached a mountain shelter and a near by temple.



At this point, we were above the clouds, and it was starting to get foggy.
A Korean woman blocked the one second in which the view was clear....



The road is makred pretty well with these poles every couple of hundred of meters.
Notice how many dragonflys there are on the pole:


Two hours after the shelter, we finally reached the summit!



And drank water to celebrate the occasion:


The way down was hard on the knees, but we did have a chance to meet some of the wild creatures around:





Back at Mr. Park's place, we took another shower and said our farewell!

The hike to Naejangsan (nine peaks ridge)

After the hike to Deadunsan, Mai decided to stay and rest another day at the hotel in Jeon-ju, while Shay went hiking along to the beautiful Naejangsan ngsan national park.

If you wandered how can it be that we do so many hikes in Korea, well...

There are parks everywhere you go!

Naejangsan is an interesting place. It is shaped like a horse-shoe, and the ridge contains nine peaks:

The green trail is where I hiked.

At the basecamp, there is a wonderful camp area with authmn colors trees:

A temple (a must...)

As you climb up, once in a while you can get a glimpse of the surronding mountains through the thick growth:

It was a really hot day (about 30+ deg) , 120% humidity, and the sun actually showed its face, so by the time I reached the top, I was exhausted:

The summit was infested with (thousands of) dragonflys:

The angle along the ridge was so steep that even the bears have a problem keeping their balance:

Is this a mushroom?

And, finally, back to the camp site at ground level, there is a lovely lake with a small gazibu, so if you are Jesus, and can walk on water, there is no problem reaching it!

What's with the J?

There are so many places in Korea that sound the same. And all start with a J!

Jeju, Jeon-ju, Jirisan, Jinan, Jinju,...

HELP!

Hike to Daedunsan, with stairways to (foggy) heaven

On July 26th we hiked Daedunsan.

At the begining of the trail we walked near, around, accros and in a stream of crystal clear water.
In Korea, as in Japan, the National Parks have marked trails going up, down and around mountains. And in both countries they insist on building rediculous stairs everywhere. So instead of climbing on good-old dirt and mud and rock you walk on cement or pavment or even metal bridges.

In this park however, they have managed to keep the pavments to a minimum and made the bridges and stairs into an atraction.

So we climbed at first through and by the stream



Maayan is chewing an energy bar and Shay is taking pictures of spiderwebs:


We met some bizzare worm-like creature only with an anvil-like head and bright yellow. Disgusting!

As we continued the climb we left the stream-bed behind us and got a nice view between the trees.

We suddenly heard screems from above us, and looking up, this is what we saw:

So we continued on up, looking for this bridge we saw from below and an half hour later....






At this point, the bridge is somewhat behind and below us, but if you look carefully, right above Maayan's head, you can see another bridge. This is infact a stairway above an even higher and deeper gorge, and about another half hour's climb from where we are here.

Zoom to the stairway:


But it started raining, and Mai didn't have her Jacket with her (big mistake) - So we split up - Mai to wait at the cable car station near the bridge, Shay to climb on up.

The second bridge was quite scary and unstable. It is about 30m high, and by the time Shay got there, clouds were everywhere. It was like climbing stairways to heaven!
Before the climb, one encounters this very important caution sign (read no. 3)



We assure you, Shay did not pass any drunks on his way up!



It was another 40 strenous minutes to the summit, and by the time Shay got there, everything was foggy and cloudy that nothing could be seen.
So, after going down (not via the bridges, since, as we discovered, they are only one-way...), we descended back to base-camp, and took the bus back to Jeon-ju.

Yet another boring day at the office.... :)

And the winner for the second sign trivia is...

Matan! (sorry Ariel...maybe next time)

Here is your cool present that will be shipped as soon as we know your address (Mai does not remember it, so if you be so kind to send it to us we will ship this lovely folding fan ASAP!)