Yong Mune Mountain

I went hiking with my co-workers a couple of weekends ago. It ended up just being me and five Korean women. I don't think I've ever laughed so much while my body was in so much pain! The whole thing started off an a hilarious note because we were deciding what time to leave. Jinhee suggested we leave at 6:00 am, to which I exclaimed, "Six AM! Are you crazy! You've been working every day for the last two weeks! This is your first Saturday off, and you want to leave at six AM!" [final exams had just finished] To which everyone was just falling over laughing! We left at 8am. The trail was unbelievably beautiful, and I had several funny encounters with other Korean hikers, as it appeared I was the only foreigner on the mountain that day. Know one knew, but we unfortunately picked the very hard trail. Part-way up I was remembering explaining the nuance between "hiking" and "climbing the mountain" to my adult students. I explained that "hiking" was the term native speakers use. However, on this hike, I started to think, "maybe Korean people really do "climb a mountain!" when they go out!" The trail was so hard, there were ropes secured along it in places to pull yourself up! (And we did this for three hours up and two hours down!) My friends explained that none of them had climbed a trail that was this hard before! They just didn't realize this trail was the hard trail! I knew I was going to be sore, so I went to the bathhouse the next day!
From top to bottom:
My lovely boss, Lee Jong Suk (JJ), taking a breather.
Fantastic sites from a ridge trail we hiked/climbed.
My co-workers after climbing the rocks using a rope!
My friend Pok Jin Hee (Jinhee), who never ceases to amaze me with her serenity.
And rock sculptures built by hikers as part of a prayer/offering custom. The tradition comes from the idea that the rocks have spirit, as does everything.