Who wants to camp and climb in Seoraksan the long weekend? Sept. 13-15.

[nationalpickleday]

I am a new English teacher here in Korea and I am jones'n for a three day climbing adventure. I am new to trad climbing, but I do have a full rack and everything for sport climbing too (with which I have much more experience). I am leading about 11a sport and 8-9ish trad (depending on the sketch factor). I am stoked to meet some more passionate rock people as my partner has little experience climbing anything, albeit she is a riot and keen as hell! We live near Wonju and are planning on heading up on friday night (sept. 12th). It would be great to meet a group in Sokcho for the evening and all head to the park in the morn. I also have a stove and pots for REAL coffee and yerba mate for anyone who misses either.

[lkiehn]

Awesome, I was hoping someone else was planning to head to Seoraksan as that is my first choice for Chuseok this year! I finish on the 11th (Thurs) at 3 pm and could probably end up in Sokcho that evening. And I don't have to be back at school until the 17th (Wed). If anyone else has a longer break, let me know!

[nationalpickleday]

I have to work on Friday and be back on tuesday. This gives me 3 days to climb... I was hoping there is a crazy monument or clear park entrance we could use as a meeting place when the time comes!

[lkiehn]

Or we could meet somewhere in Sokcho, it's not a long bus ride to the park entrance. Just so you know, I've only ice climbed in Seoraksan, so I don't know where the crags are located.

Anyone else interested? Heather, Brandon, Kapo, Sonia, I think I saw/heard/imagined you all mention Seoraksan over Chuseok at one point...?

[heatherj22]

For sure. I'm down, it was kind of one of those "not plans". I like the real kind way better!

[Katz]

I'm in. I've been itching to head that way.

[nationalpickleday]

This is great... it sounds like an all girl rampage! We are gonna pull down!
of course the guys are more than welcome. Don't worry boys, you'll have your rope guns...

[kapo]

sorry to spoil your girl weekend, me and brandon are coming. I have friday off so i could get there friday around noon. Anyone wanna meet somewhere were we can climb on friday? Otherwise meet in Sokcho ...it has a beach ;).

[kapo]

by the way, i have no gear other than a harness and shoes

[skinsk]

Masa and I are here and will be. . . so it won't be only girls!

For multi-pitch trad routes, two ropes are really best, and a helmet is necessary. Can anyone beg borrow or steal?

[Philipp]

hi,

would be great to join you guys over the long weekend.

Most properly i will be able to start from Changwon on Friday evening.

Only problem is hat i dont have any camping gear with me, if i get the company car i coulld leep in the car if not...???


Hope to hear from you,


Philipp

[skinsk]

Hi Philipp! Would be great to see you again! There are plenty of accomodation options in Seoraksan-- the best is the climbers' shelter at Bisandae. It has limited space, but Masa and I could get berths, then if more KOTR people come and it's full, we could get our tents and move into the "overflow" lot (camping is generally not permitted here, but exceptions are made if the hut is full). . . I've been here several Chuseoks and some days it's full-- other's near empty. With the short short holiday, it's anybody's guess. There is an official campground, but loud, expensive and a bit outside the park. . . some unofficial but good camping near the sport areas. . . I know Brandon has a biggish tent if the weather is nice:) Near the entrance you can store gear relatively cheap if you don't want to hual it all up to the shelter. . .

Best places to meet:

Sokcho-- near E-mart and the Express Bus terminal is the Haesupia, a kinda ritzty jjimjilbang, but a good place to meet of folks are arriving at various times of the day and night. If Philipp did get the company van, he could pick up here. . . or everyone could bus/cab it (busses #7 and 7-1 run to the park).

In the park-- there is a giant Buddha near the entrance, or everyone could hike into Bisandae shelter, about two hours along a nice path. There's a good restaurant, a nice river, and time to scope all the routes! (topos hang in the shelter if you don't have them!)

Who's got ropes? Me, Lindsey, Heather, Danielle, Brandon. . . so that should be OK. . . Two ropes (or two teams with one rope each) are necessary for trad/multipitch, as are helmets. I can't emphasize that enough!

Also, by the sport area is a nice swimming hole-- as it's right on the trail, a swimsuit would be in order during the holiday season!

[cyphecks]

I will be there - I have a bus ticket that is supposed to get me and a friend into Sokcho around 1030PM thursday night. Anyone have any advice on a reasonable place for two people to stay in town that night? For the weekend in the park, we both have our own shoes and harnesses and bolle devices, and a tent.
I am new to the country and never been to Sokcho or Seoraksan before so maybe Friday I will just hang around the beach and look for other Westerners who look like climbers...
As far as the rope shortage goes, I'll see if I can rent anything, otherwise I would not mind at all just bouldering if there is any in the park.

[Katz]

I plan on bringing a rope!
I'm looking into transpo now but I hope to arrive late Fri.
maybe I can meet up with you guys ,Sonia et al, when I land?
anyone have any travels hints coming from Daejeon?

[skinsk]

Wow-- I feel like we're chatting. . . yeah, once I counted ropes it wasn't so bad. . . how about helmets?

I know Kat, Lindsey and I are covered. . . seems I've seen Brandon in one. . . Masa plans to get one today. . .

And who feels solid on 5.10 trad? 5.9? :confused8

cyph-- not sure when we'll head in, but likely Thurs PM/Fri AM. . .though I doubt we'd fit 2 more in the car, we could meet you at the entrance.

[heatherj22]

I'm solid on anything 5.9 trad, and crack 5.10 a/b/stretch c trad, no so much the slabby stuff. I know Alec said he was planning on coming, and he's solid on... 5 hard. In any case among all of us, we can get to the top. No worries, Sonia.

I have a helmet! It's so exciting! I won't be in until sometime Sat. I'm not sure whether I should head straight from Ulsan to Sokcho or hit Seoul Friday and then head over. Any beta? I'll be there as soon as I can in any case.

[lkiehn]

I finish Thursday at 3 pm and am hoping to make it out to Seoraksan that night - I'm heading to the bus station in a few hours to check on tickets, so I'll let you know tomorrow. I'm excited!

[skinsk]

Lindsey-- tickets shouldn't be a problem at that time-- maybe in Sokcho check on a return if you head back Sun PM!

Heather-- Seoul is way out of the way-- it looks like no direct busses to Sokcho, but maybe try going through Daegu. . . more direct and ultimately cheaper! Or call the 1330 help phone and ask them what's best/easistYou'll have no problem getting to the park-- but bring everyone's number so you can see where we are!

[cyphecks]

anyone know if return tickets out of sokcho could be a problem? im hoping the bus station will still be open when i get there thursday evening but i feel like it will probably be closed by 10pm, as the station i bought my ticket at here in daegu closes at 10.

[skinsk]

cyph--call 1330 with the appropriate area code for help in English 02-1330 (Seoul) is a good backup. . . they can answer questions pretty accurately. You could try toget return tickets Fri AM-- but usually only express bus tickets are available in advance. . . inner-city are first come. . . though pretty much everyone makes it back on chuseok. . . maybe at some ungodly hour, but they run a lot of busses!

[nicco33]

I'm heading to Seoraksan for the weekend but plan on doing a 2 or 3 day traverse (haven't looked into details yet so start + end points are sketchy). I'll likely make it to Sokcho mid- to late-afternoon on Friday. With a little luck, maybe we'll cross paths in town.

[nationalpickleday]

Between my partner and I we have one helmet, one rope, a double rack, shoes, harnesses, etc. (all the necessary gear). We will also be pulling in late Friday night. Daphne's school "surprized" her with an extra class at 4:10 friday after school. ballsy.
Meeting at a little eating joint or other sit down place friday night for all or all who arrive friday night would be great. I also have never been to Sokcho or Seoraksan (in fact I have only been in Korea just less than two weeks). Friday night I have been offered a floor by another climber, but I am prepared into camping sat and sun night. We could all hike in together Saturday morning, sweaty and ready to climb.

[nomadicmind]

I'm wondering how difficult it will be to get there, but approaching a problem with a "screw it, let's just do it" mentality. If I leave from Seoul Friday night, I may hope to get into Sokcho early sat morning.
I have a 50 meter rope. I'll bring it if we really need it, but 60s are really better. I've no helmet, not getting why the warning is so emphatic... the rock didn't seem that loose when I was there, though of course I defer to Sonya in matters of experience.
What are people thinking here? Just doing some routes and camping? A nice long ridge route, perhaps? I've done it once, but have no black and white beta on the subject.
I will say that the Jim Jil Bang in Sokcho is a fine place to stay, just bring ear plugs.

[lkiehn]

Hey Cyphecks (Ethan?), I'll be getting in around 10:30 or 11 on Thursday night too, would there be room for me in your min-bak/motel?

[cyphecks]

assuming i can in fact find somewhere to stay, there will defiinitely be room. the more the merrier. it will be a new experience and place for me, so im just going to see what i can find - check my guidebook and whatnot. i'm under the impression that sokcho is not that big of a town, so lets try and meet at the bus stop when we get in that night. you can give me a ring on my cell when you get in, and we can figure something out from there. 010 6806 0603.
anybody feel free to take that number down and give me a ring if it would help with any planning/meeting.

[lkiehn]

Awesome! I've been to Sokcho a couple times, it's a great little town. My number is 010 8505 2982, so I guess just give me a call when you arrive and whoever gets there first can go min-bak hunting : )

[masayukionda]

Dear KOTR members

Hello, I walked around the downtown Sokcho and found a cheap helmet for construction work. It costs only 8,000 won so it is way cheaper than brand-name helmet such as Kamp etc.

I got it at the plumber's shop on the opposite corner of Annam plaza in Sokcho city. Rember that this Friday is Tusak so the shop might be closed. I guess that you can get one in your town either, so you should get one beforehand if you don't have.

I am looking to meeting you guys this weekend.

Masa

[nationalpickleday]

I have researched the buses and trains and they look like impossible connections to arrive in Sokcho friday night,one of us has a late class on friday so we wouldn't be able to take the bus before 7:30 from Yeoungwol (near Wonju). This bus will only however take us to Gangnueng and then by the time we arrive there, there will probably not be any buses until the morning to Sokcho. We have a few friends in gangneung (if they will be there) we can probably stay overnight and take the earliest bus saturday. Or maybe someone knows someone else that is driving up that way for the weekend??? We could meet them in Gangneung and drive up to Sokcho late friday night??? Otherwise Daphne and I will have to meet up with the banda Saturday morning. Any suggestions?

[Katz]

Diana and I will be spending Fri night in Gangnueng and heading to Sokcho early Sat. We could split a minbak.

[nationalpickleday]

Do you have a cell phone we could contct you? Ps, is you oicture that of potrero chico?? (i lived there for 2 years!)

[shanja]

So if we came in on Friday where would we find you folks? Sonia are you and Masayuki going to be up in Pisondae shelter by then? Are you looking to climb at Janggun bong or where? I can bring a rack and ropes...but do we need sleeping bags etc at Pisondae? Sorry I forget. Pencil us in if it's not too late. I'll try and call you later. Kat! Maybe we could ride together and share gas? I'll call you also.

[Philipp]

HEY SORRY,

i think i will not make it up to seoraksan, its just to far from Changwon...

[JerrBear]

so down for Seoraksan! never been. I'm in wonju,is there anyway someone can give me some directions?

[JerrBear]

so down for Seoraksan! never been. I'm in wonju,is there anyway someone can give me some directions?
Oh, i also have a rope, two harnesses, and some draws if that helps.

[lkiehn]

Jerry, I'm taking a bus tonight that leaves Jeonju at 5:00 and stops in Wonju before arriving in Sokcho, so you could definitely go by bus.

[heatherj22]

Hey boys and girls! I'm dying. We're talking super-duper sick, but I have tomorrow off. So don't expect fireworks! I'll be leaving from Daegu tomorrow morning. If I'm lucky, I'll roll into Sokcho around say... 1230? That is, if I catch the first bus. If not, we'll see. I'll bring phone numbers and directions! What crag are we going to be at? And is anyone going to be around Sokcho at this time?

[Dong-il]

011-9797-5061 Choi hyun (최현) who is a friend of mine. If you guys will not be able to find place to stay, just call and ask him to find rooms. He'll be a big help for sure.

Danielle, there are buses run three times during night from Busan to Sokcho. You should check it out at Youngwol or Gangneung bus terminal.

[nationalpickleday]

Daphne and I are going to leave from Yeoungwol at around 7:30 to Gangneung on Friday night and then catch the 10:00pm bus to Sokcho. When we get to Sokcho, I have some buddies that will put us up for the night.

Katrina, we have a place for you to stay too! No worries. This is going to be an awesome weekend!

[Dong-il]

Sonia & Masa ask me to let you guys climbinng at Seoraksan on weekends know that they can not access internet now, and ask you to print out Eusundae topo from internet. If you won't be able to get topo of 유선대, just call Soina. 010-9547-8848

[shanja]

Here (I think) is the maps they are talking abvout for Yuseondae crag - up past the Pisondae shelter area. Look under the search climbs for Yuseondae (or search all climbs in Seoraksan):
http://www.koreaontherocks.com/climbing/gallery.php?area_id=172&view=1&photo_nav=1

[JerrBear]

Thanks Lindsey, It should be easy enough. I have to work till 5 tomorrow so i'll try to leave right after work then. Who can i call when i get there? If anyone can drop me a number to call that would be sweet!!

[shanja]

OK for Seoul types heading over (Jonathan that's you!) dearest Ilsanbro (Corey) has left this sage advice:
"take a bus from Express bus terminal (orange line subway) to Sokcho. Buses here leave every 30 minutes and the trip is about 3 hours costing you 22,000won."
From Sokcho you'll have to city bus it to Seoraksan National Park, but get off at Seoraksan Ya-Yeong Jang/ 설악산 야영장 (this is the camp ground) IF YOU WANT TO CAMP. Go right to the entrance (ip-gu/ 입구) if you are going to jump straight up to Pisondae shelter (40min hike from the enterance).

[JerrBear]

Cool, Thanks Jake for the info! lookin' forward to seeing you again.