The Greatest Korean Trekking Route

[shanja]

Esteemed fellow climbers and hikers all, lend me your eyes, for I have cut and pasted a very interesting message from the lean mean green snow leopard himeslf, "Hypoxic" (aka Shawn of KML - visit the web-page, it's a great site and group! Bottom any KOTR page link.).
A cou[ple of intrepid Kiwis have done the deed and hiked from Jirisan to Seoraksan whilst mapping, researching and being environmentally groovy blokes. Check this out!
Not sure if I told you about the Baekdu Daegan Expedition Project for which I'm the assistant researcher. In brief, two kiwi guys started trekking from Jirisan on September 2nd and followed the Baekdu Daegan up to its northern border in Seoraksan, and just finished today. About 70 days in all. The four of us (the two trekkers/field researchers, a Kyunghee University professor/chief researcher, and me/assistant researcher) are gather all data regarding environment, culture, and trails for two publications: a trekking guide a la Lonely Planet, and a coffee table style book. As far as our research shows, this is the first time non-Koreans have ever trekked the entire length of the ridge and the first indepth research ever done on the subject for availability in English. You can check out the blog for more: www.baekdudaegan.blogspot.com.

[jsp1001]

Dude, Jake,
I almost wish I hadn't seen this.
Having done parts of the southern segments of the Pacific Coast Trail, and having always dreamed vaguely of "walking" Korea point to point, now there is the possibility of doing something which takes away from my climbing time! It's like having to choose between two beautiful women, or great wines, or between creme brulee and tiramisu . . . you get the picture.

[shanja]

Dude! I mean형(님/neeeeeeemmmmm) I am fully au fait with what you are saying, man it's tough having choices, yeah? But this trek, you know, it doesn't need a full 70 days obviously, but man, what a sweet concept. A trekkers "magic line" (sorry Messner, no copyright on that word). A backpck, camp stove, ram,yeon, kim chi and trusty crusty hiking boots, swag and coffee etc...sweeeeeeeet! Ahhh Brandon's avatar says it all. So many mountains, only one life! Well that's the cruel irony of a love affair. Maybe we can sate oursselves with a winter hike in Jirisan, or Seoraksan...just for now, mind.

[isipau]

This sounds phenomenal!!! Arrrggghh....I wish I had time left in Korea to get involved in something like this. Great project. I can't wait to see the results of everyone's hard work. Did they hike continuously over the 70 days? Who's sponsoring this work?

If they need quality photos for the coffee table book idea, let me know. I'd love to contribute.
-Alex

isipau@hotmail.com

[Hypoxic]

This sounds phenomenal!!! Arrrggghh....I wish I had time left in Korea to get involved in something like this. Great project. I can't wait to see the results of everyone's hard work. Did they hike continuously over the 70 days? Who's sponsoring this work?

If they need quality photos for the coffee table book idea, let me know. I'd love to contribute.
-Alex

isipau@hotmail.com

I just noticed this, and sorry that it's months late. Yes, Roger and Andrew trekked continously for the 70 days. We did have government sponsoring but that fell through due to political horsecrap.

Thanks for the offer for photos. I think we're good in that department, but I'll keep your generosity in mind.

We hope to have the books published next year.

[Hypoxic]

An update: it looks like we've struck the initial stages of a publication deal. I was hoping to go with The Mountaineers Book based out of Seattle but they were taking rather long to respond (actually, the typically 3 to 6 months that most publishers take to respond, but the others on the team wanted something sooner). So, it looks like our plans to have the books ready by next year is still afloat.

Keep you all posted.

[1tacocat1]

how is that guide book coming along? a long walk could be the last thing i do in korea before heading home. would be a great way to finish up the year.

[Hypoxic]

Things are moving along nicely. All members of the research team (Roger Shepherd, Andrew Douch, Professor David Mason, and myself) have set a Christmas Eve deadline on all initial writing (including captions, footnotes, etc.). With any luck we'll have the two books out by next summer, which would be perfect as they would arrive before the September trekking season.

[yandy]

Andrew is currently hiking the Nakdong-Jeongmaek. It's one of the lesser ridges that runs from Taebaeksan, on the Baekdudaegan, to Busan. You can follow his progress here: http://www.nakdong.blogspot.com/

I've done a few sections with him. It's nothing like as spectacular as the Baekdudaegan, but if you want to get away from the masses in the national parks, you can't beat it. We walked about 28km last Saturday without seeing a soul.

[yandy]

Roger has just started a 2000km odyssey taking in all of the Jeongmaeks. Follow him here: www.hikekorea.net

[gwalinor]

glad to see lots of people taking on mad hikes. I hiked Jirisan, Nogodan to Daewonsa (bout 40km) last friday. Terrific in the snow.

2 weeks ago did Rotari-Nogodan in a day. 3-4 feet of snow in some places. great scenery!

I started the nakdong jeongmaek last feb, but it was too cold, all the water in the mountains was frozen, couldnt find anything to drink, had to come down after 5 days.

keep on trucking

[Canadian Grizzly]

This is incredible! On the website/blog it said that the books should be published already. Is this the case and if so, anybody know where I could get my hands on them?

Also, I'm living in Hwamyeong, Busan, right beside the Nakdong river. I've already explored a good deal of the trails in Guemjeongsan and would love to get my hands on some maps to be able to explore more of it, as well as the mountain on the other side of the Nakdong river which tantalizes me with her sunsets. I've heard rumors that it's possible to get lost for a couple days over in them mountains and would love to do so. Maps would be helpful though. So again, if anyone knows where I could get my hands on some, please let me know.

Cheers and happy trails

[gwalinor]

Canadian Grizzly, i live in haeundae, im in vietnam right now. when i get back in a couple weeks, i have a cd of korean mountain mapps compiled by a korean friend of mine. can make a copy.
also, try searching in naver of daum.
name of mountain in korean + "jido" (in korean, no korean on this keyboard, sorry). do an "I-mi-ji" search :) that often works for me.

for national park maps, google "korea in the clouds"

[Hypoxic]

This is incredible! On the website/blog it said that the books should be published already. Is this the case and if so, anybody know where I could get my hands on them?

They haven't been published yet. There's been some delay for various reasons. As it is, though, the guide book will be published before the culture guide. The guide book will likely (or better, hopefully) be published in March. Don't expect the culture guide before summer.

[Hypoxic]

The Baekdu Daegan guide book has been officially released, today July 2.

They can be purchased at the Seoul Selection book store (SS is the publisher) or ordered via David Mason's site (paypal or bank transfer): http://www.san-shin.org/order6.html

[Helenk]

Where is the Seoul Selection book store? I am hoping to pick up a copy and make good use of it on my time off!! The sample pages look great!


Ah, I just found the link to their website: www.seoulselection.com