skinsk
05-22-2006, 02:45 AM
Well, what a nice weekend in Wonju! Headed out Thursday after class; got in fairly late and strolled around town, off to look for the artificial wall. Got a little distracted and stopped at a protest and to chat with a politician. I was impressed that he made the effort to chat with me and shake my hand and pose for a photo when it was obvious I wasn't Korean and couldn't vote. Then again, I was the only person that didn't cross the street at the sight of a politician. Somehow that seems funnier in a country other than my own.
Coincidence#1 I ran into one of my oldest climbing friends in Korea, Chun Jin-taek, and his family, at the wall. It was only his 2nd time there all year, and each of us had been talking about the other the night before. . . and I was going to call him to come out for the weekend. . .
Fri headed out early to find Uri Am. Even with maps, Jin-taek's directions, and him telling the people who worked on the lot where the trailhead is, I couldn't find it:( but he met me after work-- I was right there!!! pacing in front of the "trailhead" but would have never guessed that such a dodgy embankment and total bushwhacking were indeed the 5 minute approach.
I will assemble details and photos and post. . . then we had another little adventure going to Ipseokdae (I'll post under dangers and annoyances) under Ipseokdae! Then we went to Kanhyon, where Mike was enjoying some early Fri relative solitude. . . and JT left for his 2nd job. . .Mike and I got in a few climbs but I had to leave some draws on the 3rd pitch of one of them as I wussed the steep part. And I wanted to get on Elida (sent:)
Sat Mike got one climb down before I got out of my tent. VERY loud evening! Trains, microphones, karaoke, drum bands! and AM exercise drills. . but Mike came back for me, then ran back off. . . and Steve from Austrailia showed up. Coincidence#2 Steve is from Brisbane and climbed with an old partner of mine from Brisbane -- one of the climbers who helped in my evacuation. Steve was able to get my draws down and we all enjoyed the view from the top. We went back down and climbed some more (Jin-taek came by!) and then Steve2, from Chunchon showed up showed up. Coincidence#3 Jin-taek and I were just discussing how common the names "Steve" and "Mike" are. Steve did a few climbs, then went back to Chunchon, and the rest of us went to Wonju where we mwt jin-taek and family for dinner, then ice cream, then back to his place, then back to Kan-hyon, then to sleep. Pretty quiet for a Sat night!
Pretty mellow Sunday for such a beautiful, if a bit hot/sweaty/chalk- consuming (Mike thoughtfully brought much loose chalk!) day! Where were all the Koreans? KOTRers continues to decend on and ascend up Kanhyon! Corey came in on the early train. He went to CU Boulder, just like Steve2, (Coincidently#5, they met in Thailand, where and C told S about KOTR) which is where I live now, when not in Korea! Greg, Jenn and Andrew showed up next. Very impressive. Andrew onsighted Honeymoon going L in a way I have never seen before! I got photos. . . I am impressed. Cool folks all! Wish I could've stayed longer but the days are so long now, it was getting late! had to sprint home. . . return JT's rope (we forgot to return the night before so I was leaving it with a near-ny restuarant). . . got a 7:10 bus to Wonju. . . taxi to the bus terminal, got the last 8:00 bus to Daejeon with less than 10 minutes to spare, in Daejeon sprinted the 1/2 block to the Express bus terminal, ran way ahead of the line and got my ticket with 2 minutes to spare on the last bus to Jeonju (10:30). . . sorry Jake. . . I'd've called but you'll get the vegemite next week:) Got home just after midnight! Thanks all! Great weekend!
What happened next?!
Steve. . . what's your impression of Korea?
Coincidence#1 I ran into one of my oldest climbing friends in Korea, Chun Jin-taek, and his family, at the wall. It was only his 2nd time there all year, and each of us had been talking about the other the night before. . . and I was going to call him to come out for the weekend. . .
Fri headed out early to find Uri Am. Even with maps, Jin-taek's directions, and him telling the people who worked on the lot where the trailhead is, I couldn't find it:( but he met me after work-- I was right there!!! pacing in front of the "trailhead" but would have never guessed that such a dodgy embankment and total bushwhacking were indeed the 5 minute approach.
I will assemble details and photos and post. . . then we had another little adventure going to Ipseokdae (I'll post under dangers and annoyances) under Ipseokdae! Then we went to Kanhyon, where Mike was enjoying some early Fri relative solitude. . . and JT left for his 2nd job. . .Mike and I got in a few climbs but I had to leave some draws on the 3rd pitch of one of them as I wussed the steep part. And I wanted to get on Elida (sent:)
Sat Mike got one climb down before I got out of my tent. VERY loud evening! Trains, microphones, karaoke, drum bands! and AM exercise drills. . but Mike came back for me, then ran back off. . . and Steve from Austrailia showed up. Coincidence#2 Steve is from Brisbane and climbed with an old partner of mine from Brisbane -- one of the climbers who helped in my evacuation. Steve was able to get my draws down and we all enjoyed the view from the top. We went back down and climbed some more (Jin-taek came by!) and then Steve2, from Chunchon showed up showed up. Coincidence#3 Jin-taek and I were just discussing how common the names "Steve" and "Mike" are. Steve did a few climbs, then went back to Chunchon, and the rest of us went to Wonju where we mwt jin-taek and family for dinner, then ice cream, then back to his place, then back to Kan-hyon, then to sleep. Pretty quiet for a Sat night!
Pretty mellow Sunday for such a beautiful, if a bit hot/sweaty/chalk- consuming (Mike thoughtfully brought much loose chalk!) day! Where were all the Koreans? KOTRers continues to decend on and ascend up Kanhyon! Corey came in on the early train. He went to CU Boulder, just like Steve2, (Coincidently#5, they met in Thailand, where and C told S about KOTR) which is where I live now, when not in Korea! Greg, Jenn and Andrew showed up next. Very impressive. Andrew onsighted Honeymoon going L in a way I have never seen before! I got photos. . . I am impressed. Cool folks all! Wish I could've stayed longer but the days are so long now, it was getting late! had to sprint home. . . return JT's rope (we forgot to return the night before so I was leaving it with a near-ny restuarant). . . got a 7:10 bus to Wonju. . . taxi to the bus terminal, got the last 8:00 bus to Daejeon with less than 10 minutes to spare, in Daejeon sprinted the 1/2 block to the Express bus terminal, ran way ahead of the line and got my ticket with 2 minutes to spare on the last bus to Jeonju (10:30). . . sorry Jake. . . I'd've called but you'll get the vegemite next week:) Got home just after midnight! Thanks all! Great weekend!
What happened next?!
Steve. . . what's your impression of Korea?