If I've talked to you in the last couple of weeks, then you've probably heard me mention that I was planning on heading to Gyeryongsan by myself to run the trail that I did with Rob, Terry, Beth and Jasmine back at the end of November. At that time, the hike took us 7 1/2 hours to finish, with a lunch break and countless other breaks along the way. Jasmine tells me the expected time for the hike is 5 hours. Before I went, I was hoping to do it in 4 hours, but was expecting 4 1/2 or 5. I didn't go last weekend because I wasn't able to sleep at all Saturday night, so I went this weekend instead. Saturday was a bit rainy, in the morning, so I waited a bit to see what was going to happen with the weather before I decided for sure. Around 10 I decided I would go, and caught the bus out at 10:30, but life as it seems, wasn't going to be as easy as that. Bus 103 is suppose to run out to Donghaksa temple at the bottom on the weekends, but as it turned out, Saturday was graduation day at a university near the mountain. Traffic was stopped dead even before the bus got out of the city. While stopped on the freeway, everyone was made to change from the bus we were on to another bus, a different number, that we were next too, which took us to the university, and convocation. I was rather distraught, and not sure what was happening. There were a number of police men and military personal trying to control traffic, so I approached on for help. After a little while attempting to communicate, and talking to bus drivers he called up one of his friends who spoke very good English, since he was really struggling himself. She was at the university and came out to meet us, and after finding there were no buses running to Gyeryongsan, she gave me a ride to Donghaksa, which was about 10 minutes away. I was very grateful to her. She said she had been to San Diego and gotten lost, and people there had helped her and driven her to where she was going, so she was more then happy to help people in Korea. One good turn does indeed deserve another! So after a long adventure, I arrived at the bottom and began my hike, worried about both rain and being stuck on the mountain side as night fell. The first couple cross roads I came to, I checked my watch to see if I should take a shorter route, or continue on my original trail. I soon lost all fear of taking too long. I finished the entire run in 3 hours and 36 minutes. I really impressed myself. All of the hiking, biking and work at the gym is really paying off. It was also a nice hike because there were very few people on the mountain. Probably only passed 50 people at the most, a combination of the weather and that is was Saturday and most people have a 1/2 day on Saturday. There were brief showers throughout the day, just light rain for a couple of minutes then it stopped. That all changed for the last 40 minutes of the hike, where it poured down, for my descent, stopping after I had the steps of death behind me. It also occurred to me half way through my hike I could have just used the time display on my camera for recording my time...but I kinda like the watch, but the camera never wanted to focus on it...so for the most part the background is in focus...or it is somewhere the two, not really focused on anything.
After a quick bathroom stop at the gate, I checked my time and began my trek. Start time: 1:00 pm
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After a sheer show of will power, I hit the pagoda with out stopping. The closest I came, was stopping in stride for 5 second just to catch my breath, but the pagodas were already insight by that time, and I only did it once. That's about 700m climbing, with almost no flat section, just constantly up, probably 75% of the total climbing. I kept telling myself, I'll stop for a rest at that big rock up there. Then when I got the rock I would say, well maybe that one instead, until I figured I might as well try for the pagodas. When I got to them I took a short 3 minute break before moving on. Pagodas: 1:50 pm.
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The first peak comes up pretty quick after the pagodas. It's mostly uphill to it, but much shorter, and there is a semi-flat area just before it where you can rest a bit. First Peak: 2:08 pm.
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I was able to fly along the ridge and over the second peak without another break. As I crested over the last rise before the climb to the third and final peak, I took a quick pause for some water. Final Peak in View: 2:43 pm.
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One of the little showers happened just before I reached the top of the third peak and the shelter there. The rain was pretty much over. But short after I left the downpour would begin. 3rd Peak: 3:06 pm.
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This is at the bottom of the descent, at the bottom of the big waterfall. The had only just stopped. I was going to take a picture of the big waterfall, but it was raining too hard when I was at the viewing level. Bottom of Waterfall: 3:56 pm.
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The course was quite slick at times with everything moist from the rain, and snow and ice still hiding at various places. But everything is slowly thawing.
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As I returned to the main path, there was a fog, that was beginning to work it's way up the mountain. A cool atmosphere, much better then the picture shows.
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I reached the main gate at 4:36 pm, making my time 3 hours and 36 minutes. Far faster then my expectations and my hopes. I was and am quite proud of that accomplishment. I think I'll probably try it again once everything has dried up, and I can go faster. I think I'll just be a test to see what slows me down more, slippery conditions or heat.
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