Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ed Provencher]

Did any of you go to Seolaksan this weekend? I went for the first time. I'm wondering if those of you who went think the fall colors were at their peak or not. I think they weren't and by next weekend they will be. I saw plenty of naked trees and yellow/red trees, but I also saw plenty of green deciduous trees. Anyways, I think next weekend will be at least as good as this weekend was.

Here is a summary of my highs and lows of the trip.

Highs:

The bus ride to Sokcho goes right through the mountains which are amazingly beautiful. The weather on the way was a little rainy so the damn windows on the bus were foggy. On the ride back it was dusk, so while I didn't get to see them with daytime clarity there were clear skies and the view was still incredible. If I had a car, I'd drive that road a few times and stop at all the rest stops.

Climbing Ulsanbawi. You gotta do it.

Spectacular views everywhere I walked. I have so many great photos.

Lows:

Longer bus ride than I was informed it would be. I was told that the bus ride would be 2 hrs 50 min. On the way to Sokcho it was 4 hrs. On the way back it was 4 hrs 51 min. My bus to Sokcho left at 1pm, and the return bus to Dong Seoul left at 5pm. Traffic and construction are the culprits.

Sleeping in a jjimjilbang. I went to bed at 8:30pm to get a good night of sleep. I went to a room upstairs where bunks were and where it was dark and quiet (I was the first one up there). After a couple of hours, men came in chatting it up, talking on their cell phones, cell phones ringing Korean pop songs, and worst of all the snoring. I got the worst night of sleep in my life because of the damn snoring. I have never in my life heard so much snoring so loud and incessantly. Lesson learned, next time I stay at a jjimjilbang, I will bring earplugs.

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Questions

Do any of you know why the large riverbeds in the area don't have rivers in them?

Do any of you have recommendations for trails to hike or special activities to do in Sokcho? (I'm definitely going back)

Have any of you hiked trails that start from the highway that cuts through the mountains the bus takes you on?

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Additional Information

You can get to Sokcho from Dong Seoul Terminal for 20,000 Won. Listed as a 2hr 50min ride.

You can get to the Seolaksan Park entrence on bus 7-1 from in front of the Sokcho Terminal for 1,000 Won. It's a flat rate no matter where you get on. About a 35min ride from the terminal.

There is a youth hostel at the base of the park called "Seolaksan Youth Hostel". Sorry I didn't go in to check prices.

[talltony4]

Good on you Ed, sounds like a good mission.

I'm guessing that the river beds were dry because it has been a really dry year. In certain places, anyway.

Interesting to hear that the leaves weren't peaking. TV news has been featuring "dunpung" stories for a couple of weeks but when I look at the hills they still seem mostly green. I think it has been too warm. It's much colder today, so this weekend could be great.

[Underwaterbob]

Pretty soon they close the entire mountain for a month or two since there's a big danger of forest fires in the dry season. I guess a few years back some idiot adjossi burned down half the mountain with an Esse.