Seoraksan National Park

    
     On November 6, 2010, I went with a fellow co-worker on a trip to Seoraksan National Park.  I had gone with a tour group called Adventure Korea and was very nervous to take the hike.  The hikers had their choice of three different trails: difficult 4.72 miles round trip (for expierienced hikers), moderate, and easy (you ride a cable car).  Of course the whole bus raised their hands when asked, "which trail are you going on?"  Peer pressure.  I decided to try the difficult trail.  If you know me well, I have zero hiking experience and thought, how hard could it be.



View From The Starting Point

      Well, it turns out I'm out of shape and I would not like to see another set of staircases.  Ever.  My co-worker, Julie, and I set out at a decent pace, but lost the group.  We came to a fork in the road and took a left.  Suddenly, we hear, "Your going the wrong way (we were easy to spot, in a sea of Koreans)!"  This was just one of many awkard moments.  We veered off another time (towards the bathrooms), were the slowest and last people in the group (we passed people later during a photo spot), and lost my footing (once or twice). 
     The halfway point was Heundeul Bawi Rock (Unsteady rock).  The rock is a 16 ton boulder that looks as if it is ready to roll off the cliff.  I tried my hardest to push the rock off, but was not successful.  It is much like the story, The Sorcerer and the Stone.  Around the stone are Chinese characters carved on neighboring boulders and a small temple in a cave.  

Heundeul Bawi Rock

     After leaving the Heundeul Bawi Rock, the trail become very difficult.  I had to climb an 808 step-staircase with mobs of people!  The staircase to the summit (873m) was built for one person at a time.  You stood on the staircase and had to wait your turn.  It was intense.  I even had an empty Gatorade bottle fall from above hit me!  Once, I reached the top, I almost blew off!  It was worth it in the end.



The Summit