*Yeongso Pokpo May 23-24*

[CharlesCullen23]

A healthy group of wonderful, non swine flu infected foreignors will be descending upon the astoundingly beautiful Yeongso Pokpo this weekend for some climbing, slacklining, camraderie and campfire shenanigans. There is ample free camping, as well as minbaks for ~ 10,000 W for the comfort seekers. This crag has everything from 5.8 to 5.12, so beginners and badasses alike can find their fix!

Yongseo Pokpo is located in 구례, (Gurye) which is:
-1 and a half hours from Gwangju by bus.
-3 hours from Busan by bus
-3 and a half hours from Seoul Nambu Terminal by bus
-For everywhere else, you can use the "Korea Travel" link under Korea Links on the left hand navigational bar of KOTR- extremely helpful!
Here is the link to the crag on KOTR- by far the most beautiful place I've been/climbed in Korea!!
http://www.koreaontherocks.com/climbing/areas.php?area_id=48&q=area_type%3D1%26area_province%3D8%26area_city%3D 73%26sort%3Dname%26

***Once in Gurye you need to take a taxi to Yongseo Pokpo ~8-10,000 W, but if you meet someone there at the station it will be less (obviously). Once the cab driver takes you to Yongseo Pokpo, make sure he takes you to the restaraunt at the top of the hill and drops you off. Once you have reached the restaraunt, hug the left side of the restaraunt along a small little creek past the wooden statue with a gigantic penis, and cross the creek where the stepping stones are. Once across, follow the trail to the right and up to the crag- a 100 meters or so- not a far distance at all. As long as you stay near the creek bed you will find the place no problem!

I will be heading out Friday night to camp and most likely arriving ~ 10 ish, look forward to seeing you all there:becky:

[Pattyannblake]

Thanks for the info...looking forward to seeing everyone again this weekend (and getting my a** back into the mountains...)

love :)

[Louise]

let the games begin!:lol:

[Goulash]

Might make an appearence some time on Saturday. I feel like a bit of rock action this weekend.

[krisdodson]

I will be there with a few friends from Cheonan on Friday night - we will be staying in the minbak if anyone cares to join.

[thedudepeters]

I'll be there with Diana around 4pm on Saturday...

[pyrfordpaul]

Hey,

I'm on a round the world trip and I just got to Busan. I've got my harness and shoes and would love to come on this trip if that's cool but not sure if I'd need my own rope and draws!?

Anyone heading down from Busan on saturday morning!? If i just turned up would there be a ten I could crash in, would I need a sleepingbag?

Cheers,
Paul

[CharlesCullen23]

Paul,

There will be ample equipment to go around, so shoes and a harness are perfectly fine! As for camping- I am sure you can find someone to bunk with! There is also a minbak really close to the crag for around 10,000 W a night. If you don't have a sleeping bag, I would suggest using the minbak as they provide blankets and such! Look forward to seeing you this weekend!

Charlie

[lkiehn]

Does anyone else have Monday off?? I'd love to climb somewhere on Monday - Paul, I sent you a PM!

[pyrfordpaul]

So I think I might leave Busan on Saturday morning, and then arrive in the afternoon. I'm a little bit worried about getting lost as I don't speak any Korean whatsoever. Is anyone arriving on Saturday that I could meet at Gurye? Does anyone have a mobile number I could call from a payphone if I get stranded?

Ok, so the link to the crag is http://www.koreaontherocks.com/climbing/areas.php?area_id=48&q=area_keyword%3Dpokpo%26sort%3Dname%26 right? Where's Guyre(Gu)? I can't find anything about it on the web. Is the crag walkable from the train station / how easy is communicating with Taxi drivers going to be?

Oh and I may go meet Lindsey on Monday too.

Paul.

[CharlesCullen23]

Once you arrive into Gurye from Busan, find a taxi. Tell the taxi driver, Yeongso pokpo kada chuseyo. This will get you to the village, once you have reached the village let the driver know you want to go up to the restaraunt (shikdang). From there it is very easy to find. Once you make it to the restaraunt, if you cant find the trail- make rock climbing gestures to the wonderful women that owns the restaraunt and she will show you the path.
OR- what you can do, is give me a call once you have reached Gurye, that way I can meet you by the restaraunt about 10 minutes from your departure in Gurye. My number is 010-2891-3430.

The link was indeed bad, this should work!
http://www.koreaontherocks.com/climbing/areas.php?area_id=48&q=area_type%3D1%26area_province%3D8%26area_city%3D 73%26sort%3Dname%26

[pyrfordpaul]

Thanks for all the info, sounds great. But, sorry, where's guyre? I can't find it , tried googling.

[Goulash]

Hey Charlie, are there direct buses from Busan to Gurye? I would have thought you'd have to head to Suncheon and change there?

[CharlesCullen23]

"G u r y e" :) with an r in front of the y! Korean can be oh so confusing sometimes!

Also- there ARE direct busses from Busan to Gurye.
First bus is from 7 am and last bus is at 6pm.
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/transportation.kto?cmd=transportInfo&lang_se=ENG&md=enu&frame=Y&orignName=Busan&origin_addr2Name=&destiName=Jeollanam-do&desti_addr2Name=Gurye-gun&orignCode=6&origin_addr2=0&destiCode=38&dest_addr2=30914&kind=

Busses from Gurye back to Busan start at 6:30am and end at 6:30 pm.
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/transportation.kto?cmd=transportInfo&lang_se=ENG&md=enu&frame=Y&orignName=Jeollanam-do&origin_addr2Name=Gurye-gun&destiName=Busan&desti_addr2Name=Gurye-gun&orignCode=38&origin_addr2=30914&destiCode=6&dest_addr2=0&kind=

Make sure you go to the right bus terminal as there are at least 2 that I know of. You will be going to the Busan Seobu intercity bus terminal.

[tyadams]

im hoping to make it down there from seoul by saturday midday. anyone else taking the bus early sat? if so, want to meet up at nambu terminal and head down together?

ty
010.8683.8209

[Lostontherocks]

Aww gosh with all the people headed to yeongso this weekend guess I'm changin my plans. Hopefully the 20% constant chance of rain won't dampen things...lol....I'll come out to camp anyways. I'll be arriving friday maybe morning or evening depending on the weather. I'll bring out 2 ropes also.

[Pattyannblake]

Ty-

If you want someone to travel with, I would love to meet up with you!!

010-5870-0067

[jstarkweather]

leaving from busan...it's the sasang exit on subway line 2...you can find a direct bus from there and if i remember correctly it is Kurye there instead of Gurye (sound the same but like charlie said slightly confusing)

[CharlesCullen23]

Thanks Jana! Korea is definately a bit Elton, ;) L, about their Romanization of G's and K's. Gwangju, Kwangju, Gunsan, Kunsan and the list goes on.
Sean, 20% chance of drizzle means 80% chance of beautiful weather- hopefully the odds continue to tip in our favor!

[Pattyannblake]

I'm predicting sunny skies, light breezes, awesome climbing, good wine (hopefully), good people, and of course, good times :)

Rain? Not on my forecast...

I can't wait to see all of you!!

[Lostontherocks]

Okay I will be out there early on friday, definitely before noon and maybe as early at 8 or 9. So if anyone was wanting to come out early but was worried no one would be there.....COME on out!!! If no one shows up and I'm solo then I'll spend the day collecting enough firewood for an epic campfire.

My phone is 010-8693-3688 for anyone showing up early, in case I'm off in the woods somewhere.

Also I'll buy copious amounts of soju on my way in, if someone could bring plastic cups I forgot them when I packed and i'm already out and about.

[BN@4807]

I'll meet you there tomorrow. I'll bring my extra shoes and chalk bag for Ashley. So excited to climb 'the rock' with you finally!


I will be there with a few friends from Cheonan on Friday night - we will be staying in the minbak if anyone cares to join.

[willpower]

Anyone wishing to contribute to a monster open fire cook up; just bring something cool. I will bring a curry/dhall/rice.

Vegetables - to stuff/bake and plates/cutlery will be welcomed with glee.

Also If someone brings a pony that we can ride around the crag on you'll be Luke's new best friend. (Also if someone else could bring a long bit of cardboard tube he need's to turn it into a unicorn first).

ta. w.

[Wes Harrison]

I was there. Fun was had.

[Wes Harrison]

And I'm new. Hi!

[bhylenski]

This place was great. Enjoyed the company, minbak was perfect, cheap and comfortable. Camping spots would have been perfect, but when we heard it was a KOTR weekend get together, we thought our 19 month old Hana, would sleep better a few minutes away from Sean's "raging dominion of fire."

It was great to meet so many new faces as well as climb and party with the "southern" crew. Hana offers two tiny thumbs up for Yeongseo and the entire KOTR crew... Hope to see everyone around this summer.

Cheers
Bryan, Shauna and Hana.

[pyrfordpaul]

I had a really great weekend, met lots of cool people and did some nice climbs. I also really enjoyed the food on Saturday night, cheers! Really glad I found this site while I'm traveling through Korea.
Paul

PS: I'm free for the next 2 weeks or so to go climbing anytime any where!?
PPS: Thanks to Shauna, Valerie & Charlie for getting me into the full Minbak at such short notice!!