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Where the amazing
journey begins |
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On the way to the starting
position |
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Birabong Peak was first
my destination |
I was well prepared for the snow mountain. Had my Skin tights
underneath the strong thermal pant I got at Inner Mongolia and then wore my ski
pant over them. On the top, I had my light thermal top from Decathlon, an
Addidas sweater and the light jacket.
I
also brought my thick jacket for backup, a pom pom hat, scarf and my ski glove
for standby.
I wore my white bandana as the
headgear with the ear comforter. The cap was used when I need to get more comfort
for my head or hide my face from the wind by covering my head with the jacket's
hook.
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The many hiking trails of
Sobaeksan National Park |
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That was the peak I was
heading to! |
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| Early part of the hike |
All set, I walked to the bus stop. Asked a local again for confirmation and was
directed to the further bus stop opposite as I was told yesterday as well. It
was still 15 minutes to 7am. A few buses passed by, but as expected, none was going
to Darian where the closest hiking trail starts. The guy from the information
centre told me the first bus was at 7.
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| Path along the river at the start of journey |
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| The first hiker I encountered! |
Then, help came just like falling from the sky!! An old man walked over and sat
next to me. When I said I come from Singapore, he replied he is Chinese too!!
He offered to send me to the park in his car!! Mr Zhang's parent was from
Shandong and he was born in Taiwan. He had been staying in Korea for 40years!!
He said he had two daughters. My eyebrows raised slightly. He said they were married.
My excitement dropped too. When I asked about grandchildren, I could hear from
his tone that he was longing for a few! I thanked him a lot and wished him
well.
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| Vetege's foot print! |
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My "30-minutes" hiking
companion |
It was 7:10am! I walked slightly further up to reach the trail starting point.
Around 7:30am, I began my hike.
Came to
a waterfall and saw the first hiker! I was very slow and busy taking pictures
almost after every 10 steps!! The view covered by snow was so beautiful!
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| Ice Kacang Dessert, anyone? |
Finally caught up with the guy. Nam Jae Woong was an electronic engineer and 2
years older than me!! But he really look like a university student!!
Young and handsome!
He showed his cute little 13mths baby girl
when I asked about his children.
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| That was how thick the snow! |
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| Rest area! |
He showed me the tooth print of a wild animal. He said that were Vetege (Don’t
ask me how I get this name from!
I
couldn’t even find anything from Google.
Perhaps, I misspelled the name) foot print and their teeth are sharp and
dangerous! You wouldn't want to meet one!
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| Was it the left or the right path?! |
We came to a rest area. The sign said 2.3km more to the Birabong peak. However,
we struggled for a long while trying to find the right way. One path seemed to
be blocked by some branches while the other looked very unlikely since it
seemed almost impassable! The most probable was the one going east and I decided
to try that!
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A small hollow I had to
dodge through |
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Looking up from the
small hollow |
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A "Casper" welcoming me on
the other side of the "world" |
Jae Woong decided to turn back instead! We exchanged contact and took a photo
together! He stayed very near Hapjeong!! We decided to meet again when I'm back
to Seoul!
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| Some animal foot print! |
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| More animal footprints! |
I moved on and played limbo rock dodging those tree branches! Later I realized
the path was actually blocked because of heavy snow on the tree branches!
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It wasn't easy to walk on
such thick snow indeed |
I heard from Mr Zhang that the snow just started yesterday! It was amazing that
I came at the perfect timing!
After a
long day of snowing, I was greeted by such marvelous view today all the way
throughout my hike! And I was so grateful that I got my waterproof boots (cheap and very reliable)! Would never have made it even with my Goretex hiking boots!
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| Taking a break at 1110m asl |
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| A wild woodpecker |
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| Signboard at the Birobong Peak |
I used the compass to ensure I was on the right track.
Stopped for early lunch at 10:30am. Met two
guys, each separately, going up as well!! Glad that the right path was
confirmed and I had someone to open up the road again for me too! I was only a
few minutes away from the 2nd guy but I could not catch up at all. Partly due
to spending too much time on the camera!
And the trail got steeper as well. After a
long struggle, I finally see the sign of last 600m which still took me another half
an hour more to reach the top!
The 2nd
guy was already just on his way down. The first guy still helped me to snap
some photos!
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| At the highest peak of Birobong! |
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| Very misty at the peak (and very cold too!) |
Along the hike, I saw some really beautiful birds but the most amazing finding
was the owl!!!
I didn’t really manage to
see it actually but I guaranteed it was an owl!
I could hear it calling somewhere.
I was trying so hard to locate it among the tree branches which were all
covering with snow.
It was like finding
that particular missing piece of a jigsaw puzzle!
After some few minutes, I reluctantly gave up
the look and moved on.
But the sound of
the wild owl howling was a soothing sending off.
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| View from the Birobong Peak |
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| Path away from Birobong Peak |
Somewhere around the hike, I met the first lady hiker.
She was a staff from Woraksan National Park. She
quitted to travel.
Sounds like myself.
She was planning to go to India.
I was chatting happily with the lady while
strolling along the snowy trail like a romantic scene in a typical Korean
Drama!
Only to realized later that I was
running out of time!
I was also very
busy with camera all the time during the hike that I didn’t manage my time
properly.
As a result, I had to get out
of the park using a shorter trail.
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| Spiky spiky snow! |
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| A note from fellow hiker |
After a long day, I finally had the urge to do business.
Luckily it was small business.
And the park had hardly any other hikers
around.
Just when I was about to do
release my hose, someone passed by and scared the hell out of me!
Luckily it was a guy.
Feeling embarrassed, I quickly moved on.
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| Christmas came early that year! |
I was on my way to another peak and met three guys where one of them really looked
like the ending part of Kenji from the Japanese comic 20th century boys.
He told me there were buses to Danyang from the
Hibong car park exit, where I was suppose to end my day.
I thought they were going the direction of my
original plan.
But soon, they caught up with
me again pretty fast!
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| One of the Yeonghwabong Peak |
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| "Kenji" and his mates.. |
After a long and tiring hike, I reached another peak, Yeonghwabong Peak 1, at
about 2:30pm. Thought I had a lot of time but based on the map, I would need
another 2.5 hours more to reach the Hibong carpark!
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| Some of the path at the peak |
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| A stunning deserted temple |
On the way down, I saw a very nice bird again and managed to snap a photo this time.
The feeling was like catching a manta
ray on a scuba dive!
I still couldn’t resist the temptation but took much lesser pictures along the
way down.
Anyway, I managed to catch up
with the three guys again so that I would not be too late and miss the bus!
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The final bridge that leads to
Hibong carpark |
We came to a very nice temple hut but sadly it was deserted already.
Then, we crossed the bridge and the view was
just amazing.
I could see where I came
from earlier at Birabong peak, the highest peak.
After that, we passed by a beautiful
waterfall and finally reached the carpark at 4:30pm!
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| Left-side view from the bridge |
I asked the guy at the booth. He said there was no bus to Danyang but only taxi
for W30000. He even asked me if I need to call the cab up. I decided to explore
for other options.
Walked further down
via the main road and reached the national park office.
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| Right-side view from the bridge |
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| The final stairs away from the park |
Saw some bus timetable, walked in and tried to get some help. One of the guys reconfirmed
that there was no bus to Danyang but I could try the train!
I was more than happy to ask him for the
direction. He was showing me the first step, that was, taking bus there to Pyongi
at 5:20pm.
Before he could continue
further, someone called him. I saw “Kenji” again. They were talking to another
staff too. Only then I realized “Kenji” would help to send me to the nearby
town, Pyongi, to catch the bus. I thanked them all and delightfully jumped into
the car!
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The view while crossing
the small stream |
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The waterfall that ends the
amazing hike |
I guessed I was so quiet (probably too exhausted after the 9-hour marathon hike
and also partly because I didn’t know what to say in English because they don’t
speak any) that the driver, probably “Yukiji” (lover of Kenji in the comic),
sorry, I meant the wife of the Kenji-look-alike guy, because Kenji was taking
the front seat, said hi after a long ride and introduced herself.
I was so ashamed of myself for being so quiet
and impolite! Quickly told them in English and apologized for troubling them.
We came to Pyongi shortly.
They asked a
local.
It didn’t look like the answer
was not favourable to them although I already saw the Pyongi train station.
Wanted to tell them that it was ok to drop me there since I could take the
train but realized my explanation would probably make things worse. Yes, all of
them were not well-versed in English but they would still willing to help. I
was then brought to another town Yeongju instead. “Kenji” and I got off the
car!
I sincerely thanked them all! “Kenji”
then guided me to the bus station and helped me to get a ticket from the ticket
office.
He then walked me to where the
bus was. There was no timing printed on the ticket when I asked about the time.
I thought maybe I could have my dinner if the bus was later. He walked back to
the counter again and found out it was 5:30! He actually wrote it on my iPhone
using Hanguel for the hour and minutes, as if I knew how to read.
But it wasn't difficult to guess. I thanked
him again very very much for all the trouble.
But somehow I just didn't manage to get his
email or contact. I regretted so much!!
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Chambong, my favourite
Korean seafood noodle! |
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Did taste goes really well with
the sweet onion! |
I managed to get a drink before the bus departed. There were only 2 passengers,
and one old lady picked up along the way.
After a 50 minute ride, I had to take another bus to Danyang.
Thankfully, there was a young lady who helped
me out a lot on the bus schedule to get a ticket with an old lady ticket
officer.
The young lady was waiting for
her bus as well, so I built up my courage and tried to strike up a conversation
with her.
Too bad, she didn’t look
interested and probably was just being courteous to entertain me.
I somehow managed to get her email but anyway
my first attempt to woo a Korean girl didn’t really turn out very well.
After a long exhausting day, I finally reached my beloved bed.
Found out my old habit was still haunting
me.
I left my bandana as a souvenir for
“Kenji” in his car.
Here there are and hope they inspire you to visit Sobaeksan National Park! =]
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