The hike up Seoraksan begins early Friday morning, the weekend of Buddha's birthday. Spring had only just begun on this side of the mountain, dusting the treetops with purple flowers.
Thomas
Yellow melon
The peak--mid-afternoon
The lodge near the top
Families, groups of friends, lovers, brothers, and sisters gathered round the lodge as evening set, cooking dinner on small stoves and drinking from the precious supply of water and beer that someone hauled up the mountain. We watched the sunset from this perch.
Talk circulated til the early hours of the morning, but I had little trouble sleeping after climbing the mountain. We rolled out our sleeping bags under the stars, the walking path to one side of us and a tent of friendly men to the other.
Thomas
sunset on seoraksan
We rose sometime between 4 and 5 to walk up the peak for sunrise. Sunrise over the sea.
Early risers getting ready for a day of hiking
Military boys taking a nap on the mountainside
The tree that knows no thirst
