As some of you know I love hiking at home. Here the name is mixed between hiking or some call it climbing. I can see the reference when it is steep etc. I have managed to go on 2 hikes so far.
My first one was out of Seoul and possibly due to it being a little wet in the morning and it being a harder hike there were very few others on the mountain. This was a fantastic hike in a number of ways. It was a very good work out, very few people and there was snow from 2/3rds up the mountain. The snow was amazing and I can now say I have hiked in snow......a beautiful thing. One of the differences I noticed about hiking on Korean mountains compared to at home is that it is directly up, super steep. At home we kind of go up and around a bit then up some more and around a bit. This makes it easier as the steep is made easier with some breaks before the next steep part. I was a bit wowed going straight up constantly but non the less I still held my own in the group. It was a small group of 4 with 1 of those being Korean. He said to me on the subway while on our way that I was brave coming on this hike, which naturally had me quite concerned and then he went on to tell me that there would be ropes. I'm imagining now that if I need to be brave I must be swinging from these ropes or something. No, the ropes are to help you climb up as it is steep and you need something cause there is not enough footing or other things to hold onto. So some sort of glove is also good in case you are on a mountain with ropes.......but we aren't swinging from them so all good :o) By the time we made it to the top of the mountain the Korean decided that I was 'very good' especially for someone who has never hiked in Korea or ever hiked in snow. I was happy as I was also the only female on this hike so I didn't let the team down by being 'too girly!'.
My second hike was today and it was a hike that was within Seoul......I know sounds odd doesn't it. This was very different. There were sooooo many people on the mountain, especially before lunch. It was busy and for me too busy in that it takes away some of the peacefulness of hiking. People everywhere on the mountain....can you imagine that? It was not as enjoyable for me but in the afternoon was better as the track we took didn't seem to have as many people. This hike had 1000 stairs so I had a good stair workout today which I think is good for your butt however I would prefer to be getting it from actually climbing the mountain itself. There were stairs on my first hike and the steps were extremely steep so when I heard there would be 1000 on this hike I kind of thought 'oh no!!' but they were no where near as steep so it made the hike much easier. Funnily I don't think I am cardiovascularly fit at all but I seem to get up them with no huffing and puffing so that was good. Of course my knees didn't like the descent but they felt worse when I did the Grand Staircase in the Mountains. After today's hike we went for shabu shabu which I love (was told tonight though it is actually a Chinese dish originally and not Korean). One of the best things about hiking is it gives me a massive appetite at the end so when they suggested we all go for dinner I was more than happy. One of the American guys was amazed that my table which had 3 women at more than his table that had 2 blokes and a woman. Like I told him give me food after a hike and I can eat as much as the next person.
Oh on today's mountain when you get to the top you can buy noodles, ice blocks, magkoli (Korean alcohol), water, instant coffee. Some poor person/people have to hike up the mountain with all this on their back and then back again at the end of the day. I think my first mountain may have been too difficult to have someone carry all that stuff up. None the less it is quite the sight to see a little stop set up at the top of the mountain. I wouldn't want to guarantee there would be food at the top though......would be pretty hungry by the end if there wasn't anything. Sharing food during the hike is common here like at home. My sharing that everyone loved was......my pineapple. Those who have been reading my facebook will know that I am in love with pineapple at the moment and can't get enough of it.
I was told again that I climb very well by a Korean woman so it seems I can hold my own on Korean mountains. I did tell her that whilst it was only my second hike in Korea I have done a bit of hiking back home.
One of the things that I love about hiking both at home and here is that you get to meet some great people. Good friendships are formed when you hike a mountain and share food/meals. Oh that being said the same lady who told me I climb very well was also trying to teach me 100 new Korean words while we were descending the mountain. I had to say to her that I would love to learn new words but I can't while I am trying to hike!!!! I think I have a male brain often and can't do two things at once. Today I can not descend a mountain with as little impact on my knees and learn a new language. Some of you may be that clever but not me :o)
I am off on my first weekend out of Seoul next weekend. It is to both check out the Cherry Blossoms and hike. I am really looking forward to it.
I will try super hard to get my camera out. The last two hikes I have left it to others to take pictures and they share them with me on facebook so I can't put them on here. Sooo sorry. I will try harder to take photos. I need to get a camera bag with a strap so I can keep it out of my bag and easy access. It does come with me but stays in my bag so far. I think next weekend will be pretty beautiful if the Cherry Blossoms are out by then. Promise to share what I get.
I am thrilled that I can hike here in Korea just as much as at home.
Well that is all for now from me. Off to bed as I want to walk for an hour around Olympic Park in the morning before walking to work. I know.....I love my walking!!
