I went hiking on Sunday. An American friend, Karen,and I climbed Dobongsan ( mountain). It's only about fifty minutes away and accessible by subway so made for an easy day trip (or so I thought). The leaves are turning here at the moment so I wanted to get a few snaps with the new camera and recharge the batteries after all this city life.
One of my students very kindly recommended this mountain and a route. He went to a lot of trouble and printed me maps and pictures of landmarkers enroute to ensure I didn't get (too) lost.
It was a nice day out and the weather was perfect; cool, crisp and clear. But it was not the type of hiking I am accustomed to. For me, hiking is something I do to escape society. Hiking alone or with a small group of friends is how I like it. But I guess here in Korea things are a little different, or at least here in the capital city. There were MILLIONS of people on teh mountain! MILLIONS! Or at least many hundreds. I knew it wouldn't be abandoned, but I had know idea I would get pushed and jossled by old people with telescopic walking sticks and all manners of other fancy hiking equipment.
From the minute Karen and I changed subway lines for the direction of Dobongsan I knew we were in trouble. Even with our nine o'clock start the train was already packed to the rafters with hikers, nearly all over fifty in age, and certainly not as gentle or frail as the pensioners back home. I got bumped and bashed several times without apology, but of course, being a gentleman, didn't hit any of the old ladies back. Well, at least not on purpose.
After the madness of getting out of the subway station things were still too busy. Masses of people marching together to conquer one small mountain.
The hike itself was quite nice and neither too long nor too strenuous. We reached the summit after about two hours and could see great views out over Seoul and appreciate the size of this massive city (20 million in greater Seoul).
Whilst at the top a rescue helicopter came right over us and did some pick up or drop off just out of sight of where we were. It returned several times and at one point one of the rescuers waved back to an old Korean lady, so we assumed it was a training drill. But I later found out they were genuine rescues and several hikers had fallen over the side and had to be hospitalized (but no deaths). Probably from all that pushing and shoving.
I enjoyed the day for the most part and it was great hanging out with Karen who I met last year on the boat from Japan to China. But I don't think I'll return to this mountain and will ensure my future hikes near Seoul are on weekdays or in the dead of winter when noone else is about.
One of my students very kindly recommended this mountain and a route. He went to a lot of trouble and printed me maps and pictures of landmarkers enroute to ensure I didn't get (too) lost.
It was a nice day out and the weather was perfect; cool, crisp and clear. But it was not the type of hiking I am accustomed to. For me, hiking is something I do to escape society. Hiking alone or with a small group of friends is how I like it. But I guess here in Korea things are a little different, or at least here in the capital city. There were MILLIONS of people on teh mountain! MILLIONS! Or at least many hundreds. I knew it wouldn't be abandoned, but I had know idea I would get pushed and jossled by old people with telescopic walking sticks and all manners of other fancy hiking equipment.
From the minute Karen and I changed subway lines for the direction of Dobongsan I knew we were in trouble. Even with our nine o'clock start the train was already packed to the rafters with hikers, nearly all over fifty in age, and certainly not as gentle or frail as the pensioners back home. I got bumped and bashed several times without apology, but of course, being a gentleman, didn't hit any of the old ladies back. Well, at least not on purpose.
After the madness of getting out of the subway station things were still too busy. Masses of people marching together to conquer one small mountain.The hike itself was quite nice and neither too long nor too strenuous. We reached the summit after about two hours and could see great views out over Seoul and appreciate the size of this massive city (20 million in greater Seoul).
Whilst at the top a rescue helicopter came right over us and did some pick up or drop off just out of sight of where we were. It returned several times and at one point one of the rescuers waved back to an old Korean lady, so we assumed it was a training drill. But I later found out they were genuine rescues and several hikers had fallen over the side and had to be hospitalized (but no deaths). Probably from all that pushing and shoving.
I enjoyed the day for the most part and it was great hanging out with Karen who I met last year on the boat from Japan to China. But I don't think I'll return to this mountain and will ensure my future hikes near Seoul are on weekdays or in the dead of winter when noone else is about.
1 comment:
I dont remember you having a problem pushing the Japanese obaa-sans out of the way on our Fuji ascent...you gone soft or something?
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