Last Saturday (6th December) I went hiking with Adventure Korea at Daedunsan, a provincial park in Jeollabuk-do. It is described in the Lonely Liar as “one of Korea’s most scenic mountain areas” and for once the guide book gets it right. The rocky peaks offer spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. Plus the combination of steel stairwells, cable bridges and rocks along with the terrible duo of snow and ice made for an interesting day of trying to stay upright. Some of us didn’t have suitable footwear so at the lunch stop we had to purchase crampons (spikes) for the bottom of our shoes. More on those babies later.
This was my third trip with Adventure Korea, and while each has been thoroughly enjoyable, my one complaint is the way in which they rush you. Fair enough the guides have a schedule they want to stick to, but particularly on a snowy, rocky mountain peak 878 metres above sea level, being told “hurry up” is almost as annoying as being told to “be careful” after you have fallen over.
We took a cable car ride over half way up the mountain, and then got to experience the stairs-the never, ending amount of stairs! It disconcerting watching middle aged Koreans bounce down the slippery stairs with the agility of mountain goats, leaving a waft of a soju cloud behind them, as you huff and puff up the stairs like an obese person at a bakery.
On the way to the top we got to experience a 50 metre long cable bridge seemingly balanced on two rocky peaks. One of our guides thought it would be funny to shake the bridge, which ultimately saw my friend Maja and her friend Erin head back down to the bus. Then there was a very steep stairway, check out the picture, before we reached the peak.
After a brief photo opportunity at the peak we had to start the climb down, spikes on. That’s when the trouble started. My spikes refused to stay on no matter how tight I had them and while the trek down started easy enough we were soon led into a ravine, and that’s where the real fun started. Suffice to say rocks, ice and spikes are not a good combination, as the below picture shows. I was frustrated with the spikes, and had to keep readjusting them and doing them back up, so I was towards the back of the group, on my own when I took a tumble and did this to myself. Ouch!
An hour later we were twenty minutes from the bus, I befriended a lovely Canadian guy, who had much longer legs then me-our conversation meant I kept up with his pace-an act that saw me in agony for the next two days as my legs have become accustomed to not doing much. We were the first back to the bus though, even though I lost a spike towards the end of the hike. Good times.
But the trip served as a reminder for how much beauty Korea has to offer, and how much I enjoy hiking (at my own pace!). Also, how clumsy I am!
1 comment:
Ouch, that had to hurt. I feel your pain!
Now when are you going back to find the offending spikes?
Take care
Mum x x
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