Hiking Dobongsan in Bukhansan National Park
The last mountain! It was the most technically challenging, with lots of sheer rock faces to ascend with footholds and cables and opportunities to plummet to my death.
In fact, there were some added challenges and warnings today.
First of all, a park ranger at the gate ORDERED me in no uncertain terms to come speak to him when I was reading the map on the signpost.
He warned me that this park is very dangeours, and I should reconsider going to the top, and take the path around the bottom, maybe enjoy the spring water at the temple.
I did explain to him that I have been climbing mountains for weeks now, but he was having none of it, even telling me that hiking trails in Korea are not like hiking trails in America. Thanks for that.
Then a bit later, some guys were yelling at me, one of them was a ranger too. I let them catch up, and from a game of charades, we worked out that there was a rock fall on the main trail and it was blocked or under repair.
This was also confusing to some serious looking Korean hikers, fit looking guys who dont stop for a break every few metres.
An alternate path down was offered by the ranger, I dont want to go down though. I looked at my phone map, along with a couple of Koreans, there is a parallel track up a few hundred metres a way, so I went cross country, no path.
Korean guys followed, and sure enough, we rejoined a path in 15 minutes or so.
Then the real fun began, these were the steepest rock faces so far, and although there was metal cable affixed to poles to pull yourself up, the path seemed genuinely dangerous.
Then I got to a peak, and theres ANOTHER ranger, on a 2-way radio, and he speaks some English. This time hes telling me that I have to go the back way and bypass the peaks. Theres a path called the Y path thats too dangerous.
He was at least giving the same story to others, not just me, however, I took the Y path, and it was awesome. Narrow verticle crevices, and vertical rock faces with foot holes carved into them. There was still a metal cable to pull yourself up with, and occasionally a metal spike to hang onto.
It was very difficult to photograph whilst doing this!
Then I get to the main peaks, and theres another ranger, and hes not letting anyone past. Korean guys were arguing with him, but there were abseilers on the peak, and they seemed to be ensuring it was safe, and on a couple of occasions pushed a boulder off the top, which was exciting. They had a big plank as a lever.
After 15 minutes of watching the discussion, abseilers, and furious 2-way radio communications, we were allowed to pass around the back of the peak, but not allowed up it today.
I am not sure if there was an actual rockfall, despite people telling me that was the cause, or if it was just some preventative maintenance, the abseiling team seemed to be numerous and prepared, so probably preventative maintenance.
Thankfully I didnt have to backtrack, and the path down was also very spectacular, but quite long. Despite 2 full days in the Bukhansan national park, I feel as though I saw only a small part of it, but did ascend the main peaks, well almost!
Guess when I come back I will have to re do Dobongsan and get to the top of the bit I was denied today.
When I decided I was coming to Korea on holidays, I planned to climb lots of mountains, and thats what I did, and I took lots of boring photos, and I am glad that I did, and I dont care if people would rather see photos of Korean girls half naked, cat cafes, theme parks or elaborate desserts.
This would be one of my peaks today, they all have different names, but are collectively called Dobongsan. Easy to access on the subway north of Seoul, theres a dedicated station just for the park entrance.
Impressive rock in front of impressive rock.
Today also featured a police station in the middle of nowhere. The mountain was nowhere near as busy today, perhaps because I took a non direct route, but its also not the weekend.
Getting closer to rock climbing fun.
A nice section of rocky path that leads to a remote tiny temple. They have marked the way with paper lanters featuring a baby smiling buddha, which was nice of them.
The view down was very rewarding.
This is pretty much the entire temple. A lady stuck her head out the sliding door and looked angry, so I moved on. Behind here was where a ranger caught up to me and we played charades.
Heres a couple of the peaks, I think this was taken near the end of my cross country expedition to find an alternate path up.
View from peak 1.
More view. It was here that I was advised to go around and not take the notorious Y path, its called the Y path because thats the path you take, down, then steep down, then steep up and up.
Part of the Y path.
A bit more view. Not as polluted 2 days ago, but still polluted. Probably should have gone yesterday when it was a lot clearer.
Todays one and only panorama. Probably the last of my trip.
Using my zoom, I think those peaks in the distance are the ones from 2 days ago, Baegundae.
Now a few photos of serious rock climbing. It was impossible to photograph the steepest parts.
Here you can see the cable which was a steep downward section.
And heres a fun way to go up, on the edge of the rock face. Going up seems much safer than going down.
I was having a great time. If you zoom you can see the metal cable. I think this is still technically part of the section I was told to avoid.
Best to hang on at all times.
Now I was stopped, and not allowed past at all. There are ways to go to the very top of both of those, and you can see the abseiler on the top of the rock on the right.
These are the highest parts of Dobongsan, and I was DENIED.
Heres the ranger doing his best to convince people its not safe to pass. The argument seemed more amusing rather than angry. I could understand none of it of course, but I think they were suggesting he was a park ranger on a power trip, do you feel like a big man because you have a badge on your jacket and a radio?
We waited whilst the abseilers pushed rocks about, probably for 15 minutes, time for me to have a powerade and some lotus tea biscuits.
Eventually we were allowed to pass, and embarrassingly, that was the one time today I slid onto my ass. No doubt putting a smirk on the face of the experienced Korean hikers.
The excitement was largely over now, but the way I took down was very quiet, some cool things to look at. I didnt really want to get under here though.
The lower parts had bridges to cross over a stream, multiple times, and numerous small temples.
Some temples had large golden buddhas. I always struggle to spell buddha / buddah.
Once you get to the main temple, its a paved road from there on down, but still quite far.
I then realised in all the park ranger fueled excitement I had forgotten to do a selfie. So I did one near the bottom.
I am fairly certain as I walked back to the subway that I was looking at the mountain from 2 days ago. But I cant be 100% sure.
Might have to come back and make sure.
If for whatever reason you came without socks, Korea has you covered. Theres probably 50 similar sock selling carts on the road to the park gate.
Korean catwoman has clearly been to see the western boob doctor.
This is the low rent part of the hiking village, nearer the subway. Right by the gate are huge brand name stores, like the north face, columbia, patagonia etc.
Feather not dot. You can pay to stay in a teepee at Indian Soul, go on a vision quest fueled by the smoke and carbon monoxide from your BBQ stove.
The unusual fashion and cosmetic stores of Myeongdong
I have no strength left in my legs, timed it perfectly.
Anyway, what should I have for my last meal in Korea, a country famed for eating the same thing 3 times a day, every day of the year.
There are a few things I havent eaten, cold noodles with raw fish, anything featuring KFC style chicken, tteokbokki which I like but is seemingly only a street food not a meal, any of the all of a pig places, where you get literally all of a pig. I like pig but the serving size seem ridiculous and meant for 4 people.
So I was determined to have something different, Korean, and not in the above list.
After much searching including the new for me activity of standing still on the escalators (rather than bounding up) due to leg weakness, I found a place claiming to be the hottest new addition to Korean cuisine since bibimbap.
The place did have a few things I wanted, on the menu outside, but once seated, I got a different menu, and now the thing I wanted which involved a wholemeal savoury pancake rolled and filled with strange vegetables was no longer on offer.
Instead I ordered the house special, which had a suitably Korean name, which was OK I guess, but even now I dont know what it was!
Tomorrow I go to the airport all the way out at Incheon, then its a 4 hour flight to Hong Kong, then 6.5 hours in Hong Kong, then 10 hours to Melbourne, then 2 hours in Melbourne, then 1.5 hours to Adelaide.
Including travel time to airports at each end, I calculate this to be 27 hours. Awesome.
Korean super mario.
This is a stage outside a department store, note the screen and lights. Except its been infiltrated by....you guessed it, a sock selling lady.
I think I am inside or underneath the Myeongdong catholic cathedral. Apparently the 2nd best thing to visit in Seoul according to tripadvisor, it appears to be a Jesus themed mall.
Yes, can confirm, was indeed the cathedral I was under / in. Luckily I didnt buy anything.
This is the scene inside the new fashion food place I went to which was roughly double the price of any other meal I had (I had left over WON to burn).
Tables full of girls seemed to order what I got and share it, plus something else for themselves.
Like I said above, I am not sure what I ate. The rice looking thing was only part rice, I think it was various other grains too. The menu explained a bit about the origin of grains used in the store.
The soup was not miso, I dont know what it was, I think it had ginseng in it, I guess my many viruses are cured.
Among the side dishes was something I am sure was blended fish guts, but the place claims to be vegetarian, so I have no idea really. You can just see it in the photo, the bloody looking stuff behind the main bowl.
The spinach with what looks like coattage cheese, I doubt thats cheese, probably some sort of tofu.
I made sure I ate everything they gave me, cause it was like, $18 or something, so I wasnt going to let it go to waste.
Heres where you take your girl to buy some jewellery, by the numbers. Everything here, $5. Just go to the counter and tell them what number you have selected.
If you dont buy enough skincare products for your baby, he or she will turn into a filthy punk.
Probably the best photo I took on the entire trip. Saved the best until last.