So, when Kel mentioned that we were going hiking I figured it would be a nice little trek out in nature. You know the kind where you hike in a lunch and sit by some serene pond. I couldn't have been more wrong.
After taking a taxi to the trailhead, Kel, Charissa and I began with some asian style stretching. (You know the kind that those of considerable years do before they start water aerobics or tai chi.) The first bit of the trail was next to a river for all of about 5 minutes, then the stairs started. Now I am not talking one flight of stairs, I am talking dozens (this is no exaggeration) so you can ascend straight up the mountain. Koreans waste no time, remember? (And being as how hiking is a national pasttime, one must hike with gusto! This is also why you will see Koreans wearing full REI gear as if they were going mountaineering, one gentleman even had a rope! No, it wasn't for rockclimbing.)
Once we had hiked the first dozen or so stairs we came to a landing overlooking one of the highest falls in Korea. It was beautiful and reminded me of Bridal Veil Falls in Valdez Alaska.
At least two dozen more stairs and we came to a lookout. You could see clear down into the valley and across to the other ridges.
Now at this point, I was quite happy with the effort put out. I would not have cried if we turned around and were through. Only my two adventuresome friends decided that we should continue onto the top of the ridge. (Mind you I have not had hearty exercise since, well, since Thailand.) What the heck, I came all this way, I figured I should finish. We ventured on, breathlessly.
Truly I thought the stairs, would never end. Corner after corner they came. Until, I saw blue sky. I knew this was a good sign. Joy doubled the pace of my pulsing veins. The end! The end! Well to be honest this new vantage was little different than the previous one, oh about an hour ago.
C: Well lets continue on.
K: Yeah!
N: uhm... sure?
I was ready for a bit more, so long as the view was worth it and this second part was to be downhill. Or so we thought.
Nope. Still up, and up and up and up. By now I felt as though we should have reached heaven, for I was already asking God how it was possible we had come all this way and not yet seen Him.
Finally, we all agreed either whither away on this trail or turn around.
With jello legs and over stressed knees, we headed down the stairs... and stairs... and more stairs. Stairs of stone, stairs of rubber, stairs of wood.
When we reached flat land, I could have cried. It may have even been more beautiful than the waterfall.
Though this was a challenge, I do not regret it. Dare I say I even had fun. More importantly though I learned two things:
1.) Working to ge to the top makes the view 10 times better.
2.) I need to get into better shape.
After taking a taxi to the trailhead, Kel, Charissa and I began with some asian style stretching. (You know the kind that those of considerable years do before they start water aerobics or tai chi.) The first bit of the trail was next to a river for all of about 5 minutes, then the stairs started. Now I am not talking one flight of stairs, I am talking dozens (this is no exaggeration) so you can ascend straight up the mountain. Koreans waste no time, remember? (And being as how hiking is a national pasttime, one must hike with gusto! This is also why you will see Koreans wearing full REI gear as if they were going mountaineering, one gentleman even had a rope! No, it wasn't for rockclimbing.)
Once we had hiked the first dozen or so stairs we came to a landing overlooking one of the highest falls in Korea. It was beautiful and reminded me of Bridal Veil Falls in Valdez Alaska.
At least two dozen more stairs and we came to a lookout. You could see clear down into the valley and across to the other ridges.
Now at this point, I was quite happy with the effort put out. I would not have cried if we turned around and were through. Only my two adventuresome friends decided that we should continue onto the top of the ridge. (Mind you I have not had hearty exercise since, well, since Thailand.) What the heck, I came all this way, I figured I should finish. We ventured on, breathlessly.
Truly I thought the stairs, would never end. Corner after corner they came. Until, I saw blue sky. I knew this was a good sign. Joy doubled the pace of my pulsing veins. The end! The end! Well to be honest this new vantage was little different than the previous one, oh about an hour ago.
C: Well lets continue on.
K: Yeah!
N: uhm... sure?
I was ready for a bit more, so long as the view was worth it and this second part was to be downhill. Or so we thought.
Nope. Still up, and up and up and up. By now I felt as though we should have reached heaven, for I was already asking God how it was possible we had come all this way and not yet seen Him.
Finally, we all agreed either whither away on this trail or turn around.
With jello legs and over stressed knees, we headed down the stairs... and stairs... and more stairs. Stairs of stone, stairs of rubber, stairs of wood.
When we reached flat land, I could have cried. It may have even been more beautiful than the waterfall.
Though this was a challenge, I do not regret it. Dare I say I even had fun. More importantly though I learned two things:
1.) Working to ge to the top makes the view 10 times better.
2.) I need to get into better shape.
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