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blunder1983
Joined: 12 Apr 2005
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 8:56 pm Post subject: Help me hike |
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I wanna start hiking, there are loads of mountains here and loads of shit on them (like temples etc.) and I've done the bare minimum of cultural things.
Trouble is i've never done it before, not properly and dont know any good mountains to climb and how to get to them.
I live in Incheon and have no specialised equipment. Just want somewhere pretty to walk on the weekends.
Anyone care to offer some reccomendations?
Ta! |
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teachmeenglish
Joined: 14 Dec 2004
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thursdays child
Joined: 21 Sep 2005
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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Day hiking is amazing in Korea. Really satisfying coz you get to the top! You get a workout (steep little mountains) and then there's all the cutural 'beep'.
I've hiked all over (it's what i do) and basically wherever you live there's a mountain. There's no such thing as private property or traspassing rules (as long as you don't go on army bases) so if it's green and steep there WILL be a path and a temple. Just do it.
On a more entrepid scale, Koreas national parks are fantastic. From every major bus terminal you can catch a bus. The parks have great accomodation, food, drink and escapism.
There are loads of books on Korea Parks out there about where, what and how. The best is a big blue one called 'Koreas' National Parks' great maps, commentary and pics. |
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blunder1983
Joined: 12 Apr 2005
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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That hiking korea site looks good, but I'm curious where u r going this weekend?
I'll definately keep and eye for that book, who are the publishers? authors? Any one got ne specfic instructions for hitting an easy hill? I.e goto this subway out exit 3 etc etc.
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seoulhiker
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 12:31 am Post subject: |
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I've been day-hiking in Korea for years now and greatly enjoy it.
Here are my suggestions:
1- Worry about shoes. Get good ones that are comfortable and have loads of traction. The better ones are pricier but your feet will thank you.
2- Worry about clothing. Get CoolMax or the equivalent for the humid summers; something warm for the winters.
3- Bring loads of water but don't worry too much about other equipment.
4- Bring your cellphone. It's highly unlikely that you'll ever get too far from civilization, but you might slip and break your leg, etc. If you're alone and it gets cold at night, this can mean disaster. |
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riley
Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: where creditors can find me
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 12:57 am Post subject: hiking |
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Seoulhiker gave some good points, but one more is worth mentioning. For a good hike, start early. That way it isn't as crowded. I find that later in the day, the yahoos come out and it gets crowded and annoying. If you go early you can find some nice people and interesting also. I found some nice korean people when I've gone hiking. |
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seoulhiker
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 5:41 am Post subject: Re: hiking |
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riley wrote: |
For a good hike, start early. |
I second that. Right around noon, people start getting soju-ed up, and by 2 pm the "yahhhhh-ho" business gets well under way. I'd been here nearly a year before I found out that "yahhhhh-ho" means "yahoo!"
If you do end up in all that "yahhhh-ho" nonsense, rather than get irritated at the invasion of nature's sanctuary - join in! It's a great way to relieve stress. I once got into a 20-minute session of yelling "ariiaaaahhh-oooo!" at some guy several hundred feet below me. I have no idea what that means (if anything), but he kept yelling it and I kept yelling it back. Great fun.
Also, the yahoo yells are nothing compared to some of the noise that occurs in Korea's hills. In Busan, there are helicopters overhead blaring advertisements over loudspeakers to the hikers. When I hiked Halla-san, I stumbled upon a gift shop blaring K-pop that could be heard from half a mile away. I think many Koreans view hiking in the mountains as we would a day in the park, rather than as a peaceful retreat away from it all. |
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riley
Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: where creditors can find me
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 6:05 am Post subject: hiking |
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Seoul Hiker:
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If you do end up in all that "yahhhh-ho" nonsense, rather than get irritated at the invasion of nature's sanctuary - join in! |
That's a good attitude to have. I unfortunately am not so positive. I should be though. |
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joe_doufu
Joined: 09 May 2005 Location: Elsewhere
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 6:30 am Post subject: |
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Any clue when the next Korean national holiday is? If there's a three day weekend soon I definitely intend to travel out to Seoraksan or some such place. |
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JeJuJitsu
Joined: 11 Sep 2005 Location: McDonald's
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 6:46 am Post subject: |
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seoulhiker wrote: |
I've been day-hiking in Korea for years now and greatly enjoy it.
Here are my suggestions:
1- Worry about shoes. Get good ones that are comfortable and have loads of traction. The better ones are pricier but your feet will thank you.
2- Worry about clothing. Get CoolMax or the equivalent for the humid summers; something warm for the winters.
3- Bring loads of water but don't worry too much about other equipment.
4- Bring your cellphone. It's highly unlikely that you'll ever get too far from civilization, but you might slip and break your leg, etc. If you're alone and it gets cold at night, this can mean disaster. |
Where can I get a good pair of Ledderhosen and conch here in Korea? |
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schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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joe_doufu wrote: |
Any clue when the next Korean national holiday is? If there's a three day weekend soon I definitely intend to travel out to Seoraksan or some such place. |
This monday coming is a holiday. |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 2:59 pm Post subject: Re: hiking |
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seoulhiker wrote: |
In Busan, there are helicopters overhead blaring advertisements over loudspeakers to the hikers. |
Holy crap, are you serious? Glad I never encountered anything like that. |
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Free World
Joined: 01 Apr 2005 Location: Drake Hotel
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:44 pm Post subject: |
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blunder1983 wrote: |
Any one got ne specfic instructions for hitting an easy hill? I.e goto this subway out exit 3 etc etc.
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Go to the Dobongsan stop (line 1 and line 7 intersect here in the top right of the subway map).
Turn right out of the station and follow the people with hiking sticks. You have to cross the road and walk past quite a few fish restaurants but it's fairly straight forward. There is a nice stream cascading down the mountain as well as the temples and it is a beautiful place. |
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jlb
Joined: 18 Sep 2003
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 5:28 pm Post subject: |
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My recommendations:
1. Get an English and Korean map if possible so you can point out where you want to go to the Koreans who don't understand English.
2. Bring raingear, especially in cooler weather. Mountains are unpredictable.
3. Bring something warm for the top of the mountain, it gets colder higher up with the wind and elevation change.
4. Bring extra cash.
5. Bring lots of water.
6. Start early, there's nothing worse than being on a mountain when it starts to get dark and you don't have overnight gear. Realize also that in the worst case scenario, you may have to spend the night on the mountain so bring a warm top and a hat.
Have fun! Hiking in Korea is awesome...so many places to explore. |
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uberscheisse
Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Location: japan is better than korea.
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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here's another hint -
on the way back from the hike, hit a dongdong ju/ pa-jeon (sp?) hut.
one of the most satisfying meals after hiking is a seafood pancake and some rice wine. the mountain food stalls are some of the best food i've ever had. |
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