On Sunday, I finally went on a winter hike with Jasmine and her hiking club. I was suppose to go a few weeks ago...but I didn't find out until the night before we were suppose to meet downtown at 6 am, and had very little sleep during the week. Hence, I wussed out. This though, with due warning, I joined Jasmine and about 50 other people from her hiking club for a trip to Taebeak san. Taebeak san is in the north east part of Korea, quite close to North Korea I am told. We had about a five and a half hour hiking which was nice an relaxing because we had to go at a very slow pace most of the way. There was a traffic jam of people all of the way up and down the mountain. We had to wait at one point for about twenty minutes, just to go a 100 meters or so. But the hike was enjoyable, the travel wasn't that much fun. We meet up at Daejeon station, the train station, at 6:20 am. I got there a bit early and didn't see anyone around, after waiting until 6:30 and still no one, I was a bit worried I was at the wrong place, so I gave Jasmine a call and turned out she was just on the other side of a wall. We had two rented buses and got on our way. It was a four and a half hour ride to the mountain, with seat too small for me to sit straight, so I had sit in the aisle seat with the legs angled off. It wasn't too bad, I actually got some sleep which is unusual for me and mass transportation. The trip back was worse. It took seven and a half hours to get back, because of traffic and weather, although the weather didn't look that bad to me. We were warned at one point that we might have to try and find some place to stay for a a while then try and head back at 3 or 4 am, once the roads had been cleared, but happily that didn't happen, and we just kept slowly moving. 7 1/2 hours with your legs angled off, unable to sleep is horrible, especially when you are tired and don't have the energy to read, but can't sleep. If it wasn't for the good company, I would of gone insane. We got back to town around 2 am, and I was dead tired. I'll try to avoid traveling that far for a hike in the future I think.
|
Right from the get-go I knew this was going to be a different type of hike. First of all the snow, second of all, all of the people. And I though Gyeryung san was busy.
|
If it wasn't for all of the the occasional hint of green poking through and all of the Koreans around me, I could pass these off as pictures of Canada. But I would have to change the name from "Mike in Korea", kinda gives the secret away.
|
|
This was our 20 minute traffic jam to go a couple 100 meters. It was like this the whole way...well close. This was a little ways after a couple of different paths converged for a bit, so everyone had to go through here.
|
All over the mountain there were little bits of green poking out through the snow. It was quite the change from what I'm use to. In Canada, everything is good and dead before the snow falls...well, in Saskatoon at least.
|
|
Our short lunch break. We were sitting with just a couple people. The group got broken up quickly so we had people all over the mountain. In the summer I'm sure lunch breaks will be welcome, but right now I get too cold just sitting around.
|
This lovely picturesque tree was right next to our lunch area. The tree we ate under is just back and to the right...back and to the right. (A good, but very easy take off of a quote for those playing the home game.) I looks like something that belongs in a Tim Burton movie.
|
Near the top of the mountain the snow and wind picked up. There were fences built to protect small trees from the weather and give them a chance to grow. I think most of the soil would probably get blow away without them from the wind we were feeling.
|
On either side of the top were two large stone structures that were built for prayers. People usually pray for a safe climb and good weather Jasmine said, but you can pray for anything you want. This picture gives you a good feeling of the weather on top of the mountain.
|
Crossing from one side of the top to the other was a long path stretching between frozen bushes. 'Twas a cold trek with no protection from the wind.
|
A little ways down our descent we came across a small building, a sure sign that a temple was up a head. Once again, people everywhere.
|
|
A bit further down was the temple. A large Buddha statue, and pagoda stood in front of the main building. Buddha looked a bit cold. For some reason the idea of sticking my toque on Buddha's head and taking a picture struck me as really funny, but I thought better of it, and avoid becoming a martyr for comedy.
|
The descent lead us through a path that had looming rock faces towering above us on either side. They were quite impressive, although, not that photogenic. I took a couple pictures, but where the other guys failed, this one stood out proudly. It almost looks like a little cave up there.
|
A bunch of people tried to sliding down parts of the paths on plastic bags and other things. They occasionally ran into other people and knocked them over. This lucky lady got a ride from her friend. He pulled her along for quite a while. Jasmine and I were jealous of her relaxing mode of transportation. I wish I had brought a crazy carpet with me...although the rocks looked like they would hurt.
|
As we came to the end, we came across a tunnel of evergreens. It sort of felt like what I imagine walking up the middle of Christmas tree would feel like: lights constantly blinking at you from all sides, and a strong smell of pine around you. Luckily we didn't covered in sap, as the poor sap (haha) in the middle of a Christmas tree would.
|
We ended on a different side of the mountain then we started. There were a number of giant ice sculptures. I didn't know that Egypt got that cold...and yes, that a snow flake standing beside me and a pyramid in the back ground. It must have been a girl in the suit, because as I walked up, it grabbed my arm and hung on, where as it only lightly touched the girls that went before me...either that or it was because I'm a foreigner....but it felt like a female snow flake. You know what I mean?
|
Just after the ice sculptures was this huge thing that you see. A lot of dripping water slowly freezing and there you go. I'm guessing someone made it. It looked far too big to move. That's Jasmine right in front. I asked her to turn around for the picture, but that's as far as she went. Oh well, a little is better than none. Everyone was cover with ice as you can see on Jasmine's hat.
|
