Seorak Mountain

Seoraksan is the highest mountain in the Taebaek mountain range in the Gangwon province in eastern South Korea.

"The Yukdam waterfall and the Biryeong waterfall are located on the left side of the valley, about a forty minute walk from the main car park. Ulsanbawi is a rock formation in the Seoraksan national park. The shape of Ulsanbawi is unique in the area. To reach the rocks you need to follow a hiking path and climb over 800 steps. On the way there, there are two temples and a spherical rock which is located on top of a larger rock. This rock is about 5 metres (16 feet) high and can be moved with some effort. Thousands of people have already tried to push down Heundeulbawi, but nobody gets further than waggling the rock.

According to the legend Ulsanbawi comes from the city of Ulsan in the south east of Korea. As Kumgangsan was built, Ulsanbawi walked to the north as the representative of the city. Unfortunately Ulsanbawi arrived too late and there was no more room. Ulsanbawi was ashamed and slowly trudged back to the south. One evening the rock went to sleep in the Seorak area. Ulsanbawi felt it was so beautiful around there that it decided to stay for good."

~Wikipedia Information

We traveled to Sokcho and stayed in a motel right on the beach! In the morning, we would get up, walk to the beach, and cook breakfast together. There were about 30 of us.
We enjoyed the mountain together, although I decided to skip the peak hike, and Jessika and I hiked along the river valley to a "cave" that was really a hole in the side of the cliff face (see pic 2). We climbed gruelingly steep steps to reach the little shrine that was in there, at we greeted the lady-monk who lived in a shack thwas build precariously at the edge of this cave, then took off our shoes and found ourselves inside a little cave. It smelled strongly of incense; there was a recording of monk chanting repeating itself in the background.
While our friends hiked up a most beautiful scenic (and incredibly windy, I'm told) peak, we made our way back to the river and enjoyed tuna-cheese-jalepeno sandwiches, chatted and took naps in the afternoon sun.
by the dinner time.

Family enjoying the afternoon at the waterfall in Seorak Nat'l Park

We were dirty from the hike, but we were cheerful and well-rested as we met our friends by the bear statue. Apparently, William didn't know I'd left the group... he'd been calling my phone. but my phone was off. All was figured out by 5pm, and we gathered together at a BiBimBap restaurant to dine and share our days' activities.