– Ian
The ride up to Sokcho is no picnic, regardless of your mode of transportation. Except when you’re rolling with Enjoy Korea. For every trip they have, they’ve got you traveling like royalty in some plush coach buses. On a five-hour ride, you’ll be glad they had your comfort in mind.
The hike itself is of moderate difficulty, especially if you’re a lazy pile.
Speaking of comfort, the pension in Sokcho is pretty swank as well. They’ve got more than enough room for you and your homies to sprawl out and settle in, a kitchen if you need it, a balcony looking out towards the mountains, a Jjimjilbang in the basement of the hotel, a norebang because waygooks love microphones, and a convenience store to satisfy all your snacking desires, plus outdoor swimming pools and hot tubs; prime for a soothing pre-hike ritual. We had everything we needed to brave the sweet, mild air of the North (side note, Sokcho is so close to the DMZ line you can almost see Kim Jong Un’s bouffant at the peak of Seoraksan).
The hike itself is of moderate difficulty, especially if you’re a lazy pile. However, the views the different trails afford are nothing less than spectacular. Spring is the best time to visit the mountain, what with all the green bursting forth from the clutches of winter.
The further you go up the mountain, the sparser the crowd, the thinner the air, and the more beautiful the view. Along the path run blooming flowers, and a stream that guides the melted snow from the previous winter.
If you find yourself intimidated by the ajummas and ajushis that keep passing you with their bionic walking sticks, there’s plenty of other attractions like an enormous Buddha statue and temple compounds (and if you want to give the illusion that you didn’t sweat on your ascent in the pictures you’ll be taking, there’s a cable car for that).
One of the more popular peaks last year terminated at a Buddhist temple carved into the face of the mountain. Just below is a substantial rest area where you can enjoy your company with a snack and a well-deserved bottle of Makgeoli. Coming down from the path grants you with a great opportunity to check out all of the pathside shops and trinkets for sale…if you’re into that sort of thing.
This is one of those things you will regret never doing (on par with not learning Hangeul).
The next day we traveled a bit further south into Jeong Seon county, situated in the Han River valley, where we went ziplining on the longest zip line in Korea. The starting point is a few hundred feet atop a cliff overlooking a bend in the Han river, which makes for some pretty photogenic opportunities. Once you zip to the bottom you can explore the banks of the river, or sit and relax by a peaceful retention pond situated near the bottom of the line.
In any case, if there is only one thing you do during your time in Korea, this isn’t one of them (NOREBANG!). No, but seriously, this is one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had living here, and I’m pretty sure you would be hard pressed to find someone who had anything bad to say about the mountain itself or the trip with Enjoy Korea. This is one of those things you will regret never doing (on par with not learning Hangeul). At the very least, the trip allows you the opportunity to leave the chaotic bombardment of information during your weekdays to enjoy yourself. Might as well Enjoy Korea.
Author:
Ian
Bio:
Ian came to Korea in February of 2014 to evade taxes and the consumer-capitalist saturated culture back home in Chicago. Then he came to Daegu and walked down cell phone street in a horrified stupor. Both a failed philosopher and incessant bibliophile. He maintains a frugal lifestyle with the exception of food, comfort, and vices.