We conquered Wolchulsan!

Well.. maybe not conquered, but we survived it! And that is a feat! As part of our ongoing push to see all we can of Korea before the winter shuts us down, we decided to hike the 809 meter Wolchulsan this weekend. Wolchulsan (Wolchul mountain 34°46'4.71"N 126°42'17.46"E) is a good 1 hour from Mokpo by bus, and after a solid Friday night at the bar, the 8am wake-up call was not a happy sound at all.

After losing a few of the wimpier memebers of our climb team (isn't fresh air good for hangovers?) to the festivities of the previous night, 15 of us started the trek around 10:30 It wouldn't be until just before 2pm that we would reach the summit and not until shortly after 5 until we would leave Wolchul National Park.

Now, coming from Southern Ontario, I hadn't expected a climb like this. I had heard rumours that the hill was tough to start with, but wasn't all that rough after that. This was wrong. From a gradual and steady dirt incline, to rocky "trails", to steps braced with logs, to rubble with strategically placed "handrails", the climb seemed to run straight up and besides the suspension bridge half way up, it never let up... for 3.5 hours.

The Koreans, for the most part, were decked out in full mountaineering gear and walking sticks, and pulled off the trail regularly to have little picnics. Every once in a while, you would find a 70-80 year old person resting on the side of the trail. All I could think was: "How did they get here? I barely made it this far! Am I that much of a pansie? Are those guys up ahead doing shots of Soju? You've got to be kidding me." One Korean, forever to be known as "The MAN", beat us up to the peak of Wolchulsan with a baby on his back, and his 4 year old at his side (special mention to the 4 year old, who walked the entire 7km on his own!)

The view at the top was incredible, and the weather couldn't have been better. Once to the top, everyone plopped down to enjoy the view and a snack. On dead legs, we all headed down the other side of the mountain, being sure to stop and soak our feet in a stream beside the trail. Unlike the way up, the opposing side of the mountain had a trickle of hikers (probably because the trail was too easy for the superhuman Koreans!) Exhausted and starving but buzzed from the accomplishment, we headed back to Mokpo for a well deserved lest (rest).


Here are the amazing pictures from our day!
Here is Virginia's story when she went up the mountain!