Sorak San August 23-26

[Deuce]

I know we're probably gonna up to Sorak in Sept, but I'll be there Aug 23-26th as well if anyone is interested. My little brother's here for a couple of weeks so I want to get Sorak in before he takes of the end of the month.

If anyone can't make it to Sorak in Sept, or hell if you just want to do it both weekends let me know.

If anyone has any beta on bolted "must do's" let me know cause I want to make sure we get on the good stuff. :)

Thanks everyone!

:painkille

[sigi]

yo, im keen for seoraksan this weekend!!

im not so experienced but id love to get on out on the rocks again, climbing in a gym gets a bit boring at times. where are you planning to stay? camp? me gots no tent, only sleeping bag. i know there is a youth hostel aswell.


later!

sigrid

[skinsk]

Chris-- I'd love to meet your little bro, and I'd be happy to contribute some gear, etc. . . (provided you and little bro carry it!!). . . I have a meeting for work on the 23rd, tho, and I get in on the 22nd, so no telling how I'll feel. . . Seorak is a long way from Jeonju!

That said, my preference (and I could recommend it easily) is to go to the Pisandae shelter and do some of the adjacent routes. The easiest on the General or Yuseondae are the ridgelines, which max at 5.8 (but can get crowded and an alpine start is recommended). . . helmets are necessary. Not sure what level you and/or your bro climb trad? but there are options, and many people practice on the lower easier pitches. You might try Sotowang Falls one day, too. The turnoff is near the entrance, and from there it's kinda bushwhacking. . . the trail isn't so good. Still, some classic moderate bolted routes (though some with dodgy starts and I haven't seen the bolts and anchors there in a couple years). . .

On the plus side, it puts you and your bro in the middle of the park, in one of the most scenic areas (climb to the roof of the shelter and look at Jeok Byeok, or "red wall", the General and Yuseondae. . . from the rocks you look down the valley. . . the mists and sun can be dramatic! The aid routes on the severley overhanging JB can be done in the rain, or if it poors and aid's not your thing, you can do the main summit hike-- my first trip to Seoraksan had a day of rain (and no partner anyway) so the main dinosaur ridge provided plenty of adventure (fast with a day pack).

Sigi-- with the shelter you don't need a tent. Though it could still be crowded by this time-- not sure when most Koreans go back to work/school and if the climbers will try to get one more weekend. You can camp/bivi around the shelter or on the roof when it's full. Bring ear-plugs.

Chris-- still have your DVD!

[mil-mil]

weather permitting I'll be there friday night both weekends.

[Deuce]

Thanks for the beta skinsk, I'm looking at doing Go-Rak (10 pitch 10a) on Friday and then whatever else over the weekend. I have a basic trad rack but that sounds like it will be enough for that one.

I have seen some pics of a pretty isolated temple out there (not sure if there is more than one or not) and would like to hike out to that one day if there is time too.

Just let me know when all of you plan on getting out that way and I'll meet you wherever.

Sigi, I know what you mean about pulling plastic. Time to rock out with your chalk out!

I'm gonna do a little no-rain dance too, so anyone that wants to can feel free to join me. :)

:painkille

[sigi]

i'm gonna try head up to sokcho on friday evening from suwon and find a place to dos there, and hopefully i'll be joining you sometime during saturday morning. i just need a number for someone and i have a park map. one thing, will there be a harnass i can use? i'm planning to buy one anyway, but i dont have one at present. my number 010 7763 1154. and yes, ill be doing a no-rain dance too!!!

[bhylenski]

Hello All,

I live in Sokcho and have climbed many of the routes in the park and all of the routes you have discussed on this forum. I may be going to Seoul this weekend to do some climbing on Saturday. I'll let you know more on that front come Thursday.

But, if you need any infor or if you are interested in climbing come September I'm game. My wife and I are due to have our first baby in Oct, so we will be sticking around for Chuseok, so if anyone wants to climb hard around Chuseok, Im available and planning to put some trips together around the park. I've got enough gear for two people. My wife is a climber as well, but not now that she is 8 months pregnants, so I have plenty to loan if need be.

My cell is 010-3090-0521. Your also welcome to crash here, there's a small community of climbers here, so even if something happens with one of us, there a few others that climb as well.

Let me know if your interested. If Im around this weekend, I'd love to catch up with ya guys.

Bryan

[Deuce]

My number is 010 8681 2378, feel free to call me and I'll let you know where we end up. I want to camp right there near Go-Rak but I'll let you know if anything changes.

What size waist do you have? I have a couple of harnesses so I'll bring one with me. Let me know if you need shoes or anything else and I'll bring whatever I can.

Does anyone know how close markets or anything are to the climbing? Just wondering if we should be packing in all the water and supplies we need for the weekend.

:painkille

[bhylenski]

As far as supplies and markets. The road is being re-done. To get there you will go to a parking area called Jansudae. From there you will walk 5 minutes back down the road toward Inje. Inje is the town with the closest supplies. About 15 minutes by car. The hike in is about 20 minutes to the base of the climb and because of the floods last year, you will need to do some bushwacking to get to the start of the climb. The trailhead is marked with a DO NOT ENTER "Korean Bear" sign. We've all seen those. Its on the east side of the road (on the right if your walking back toward Inje). The climb itself is marked with a plaque.

But get going early. Some friends went out two weeks ago and were swamped by 14 korean climbers, who started jugging on their ropes, sharing bolts and pitons...an absolute ShitShow! Start early real early.

Have fun!!!

[Deuce]

Fortunately I'll be climbing those routes on Thurs and Fri but I'll be sure to brush up on my Korean rope fighting skills for the weekend. :)

Thanks for the beta man, that will be awesome to not have to pack in all of the supplies for the weekend. Its good to be able to hike out and grab whatever else is needed.

Another question for you man. What's the easiest way to get to Sokchon from the Seoul area? I found lots of beta for getting to the areas from Sokchon but can't find much on a good way to get there.

Thanks again man.

Chris

[bhylenski]

If your coming from Seoul East, I would say head toward ChungCheong then keep heading toward Sokcho on Rt 46. When you get to Inje you'll see the road split and 46 goes toward Jansudae and Yang Yang, or if you head left it goes to Sokcho, thru the Misyeorong tunnel. Its difficult to explain, but get a map, get your self to 46 after ChungCheong and you'll find it. Don't forget there's some nice 10ds, 11a, and some very nice 12's at Alghalbawi just 3 minutes before the entrance to Gorak and about 5 minutes before Jansudae. You can't miss the rest stop on your left, with the granite wall on the backside. If you want to warm up, thats a great place. We've done just about every route on the wall, the twelves and 10d's are the best ones on the wall! there are some longer 10a's and b's to warm up, then tear it up. Worth a half a day if your into sport climbing.

Have fun. I'll be around on Sunday climbing near Jangun boeng and Yusondae in the park. So, if you get an itch for some long routes in the park, call me Saturday night. There are a few of us going on Sunday. 010-3090-0521

[climbergrrl]

anyone interested in checking out the boulders beneath ulsan-bawi in seorak park for potential bouldering? maybe this saturday (the 25th)? (i've got a pad and am keen to check them out...marissa, bryan, shauna and jenn - have you guys checked the place out yet?)

and maybe a little sport climbing action (i'm thinking awguhlbawi - is it climbable?) on the 26th?

takers? all welcome!

cheers,
dee

[sigi]

im keen to do some bouldering! as i've heard the sportclimbing routes are pretty crowded! we'll be arriving at the park sometime during the morning. gimme a contact number if you have one!

[Ilsanbro]

can someone from seoul give me a ride up to the park? i would be extremely happy!

[climbergrrl]

okay, i just spoke with mr. son last night...he said that the boulders below ulsanbawi are basically holdless (which may make for some diffficult bouldering), although i'm not sure how thoroughly anyone has ever checked them out - they are pretty far from seoul.

also, he said that because of monsoon season, 아갈바위/ahgawlbawi is wet and not climbable either. i don't think he meant to rain on our parade, but i'm thinking a back-up plan is in order. still waiting to hear more from the sokcho crew about rock beta/conditions.

corey, i may leave seoul around 5 or 7, i'm still waiting on another person. if they bail, i'm thinking about just taking the bus. if anyone wants to contact me, my # is 010-7273-5015.

let me know what you think...

cheers,
dee

[climbergrrl]

okay,so i just spoke with the sokcho crew, here's what's up...

we're thinking that we'll do a multi-pitch on saturday...

as for sunday, bryan conjectured that ahgawlbawi is still good to go, so we could head out that way early sunday morning and do some sport climbing. or we might just do some chill hiking in the park. i'm still interested in checking out the boulders beneath ulsanbawi, so i'm bringing my crash pad, just in case. but if ya wanna join, be forewarned...i've heard that there's lots of bushwacking, the boulders are hard to find, and that even when you do find them, there's not a lot of routes, (i.e.:serious lack of holds). ...but i still want to try...:rolleyes8

so, if anyone is interested for sunday, let me know...don't worry, i won't insist on bushwacking in an attempt to find some impossible or crappy routes if no one else wants to do that (of course, if someone IS interested)...

corey, if you want to catch a ride, it looks like i'll be leaving around 1930h-2000h from the southern seoul area (noksapyeong?)...give me a call if you want a ride to the park. :) (number is in above post)

ciao,
dee

[skinsk]

Chris, Dee et all. . . one of the Korean papers in the airport had this from the Wonju Regional Construction and Management Office. Apparently they are repairing roads damaged by floods! I ripped it out and will give it to you verbatim, as I am not sure if the mean these extra stretches will let you get to the rock? Or if they are alternative routes?

Vehicles will be blocked from passing through the route between Inje and Yangyang in the province from Aug 22 to Sept 21. Instead, two routes will be allowed to mnimize inconvenience for residents of the area; the 8 km route between Hangye-ri in north Inje and Jangsudae and the 9 km route between Nonhwa-ri in west Yangyang and Osaek.

Hope that helps you plan better!

[climbergrrl]

wow, that's good to know! at least we won't be totally caught by surprise if we can't get through. it sounds as though there is some road open, anyway.

thanks so much for the heads up, sonia! i really appreciate it.

:hug:
dee

[skinsk]

I know. . . but hard to know if the emphasis was on "residents" or "roads open"! I wonder if that's wat Chung-jun was hinting at?!