Living In This Story: Deogyusan Road Trip

A couple weeks ago Lindsey and I decided to have a pair of Me weekends. For no other reason than that we live and work together and it is nice to get some quality "me time." Lindsey stayed home to take over the apartment. Saturday was spent knitting by America's Next Top Model marathons and having dance parties. On Sunday she journeyed to Gwangju for knitting club. The girls are having their own knitting olympics. They all began projects together that they have to finish by the end of the games.

I took a solo road trip to the central mountains of Korea. I headed to Deogyusan National Park for a relaxing weekend. It took 4 buses and 5-6 hours each way but it was well worth it. The park is not one of the most popular but there was still loaded with people. I didn't arrive until around 2 in the afternoon despite having left the house at 7. I got to the giant campground which they claim can hold 10,000 people!!! At first, I thought that many people were they and it would take me forever find a spot for my tent. Fortunately, all the Koreans had giant tents and had virtually built second homes. Ended up it was easy to find a nice spot to sent up my little 2-person tent.

I had to keep moving though. I still had to get my hike in that Saturday afternoon. After setting up camp, eating a quick lunch, and deciphering some poor directions to the trail head I was on my way. The trail lead for a while along a gravel road that shadowed a shallow river rolling through a valley. After an hour or so the road ended at the foot of a mountain temple. The temple was under construction diminishing some of the mystic of the temple but it was still beautiful. It was a crystal clear day with blue skies and rolling clouds surrounded by green hills.

After a short break I kept going up the mountain trail. Once past the temple the trail became very steep. It took another hour and a half to reach the summit. I had passed a couple people on the way up but had the summit to myself when I got there. I found a comfy spot to relax and eat while enjoying the view. I enjoyed the slowly setting sun over the mountain ridge for a half hour. Then it was time to get a move on. It was about 6:45 when I left the summit. I knew I would be walking in a dark for a little while and that was what happened. I had about an hours hike in the dark following the river along the gravel road before getting back to camp.

I had planned to head back to my tent and get my towel so I could take a swim in the river. I was to excited to swim though. Knowing I needed to walk back to my tent in my shorts after I swam. It felt fantastic! The water was cool in the dark. It was the perfect ending to a long day. That is until I got back to my tent and realized I hadn't packed my extra pair of shorts.

The next morning I lit a fire to dry my shorts. Well, I had some help from a fellow camper. After my first attempt at lighting my fire my neighbor walked over and showed me a blow torch. I don't know how or why this man had a blow torch. He just told me to step back and started my fire in about 2 seconds.

After packing up camp I was back on a bus headed home. It was a great weekend and a beautiful hike. I hope I can get out to several more parks before we leave Korea.