Going around our first park closure. Camping near the San-shin and Baekdu Daegan monument at Neul-Jae.
The San-Shin (mountain spirit) Dang at Neul-Jae (pass). Clouds filled the valley in the morning giving everything a mystical feel.
I think there had recently been some sort of ceremony here as the trees were wrapped in scarves.
The steep climb up from the pass (for two hours!) allowed us to quickly get above the clouds and look down into the valley.
Jeff enjoying one of many vantage points on the climb up.
Not sure what this shrine is, but it had a great view. It says something about the Baekdu Daegan, but that is the only Chinese characters I can read.
After two hours of climbing we finally reach the peak and dive into the fall color spectacle taking place on the ridge.
I think this is the same flower I took a picture of in Jirisan, now open.
The Chinese characters for Baekdu Daegan.
Hye-ak San, just outside of the national park.
Roger and Andrew's Ribbon - the first we've found, just above the second clousre in Songnisan NP.
The amount of garbage we've found on the trail has been hard to deal with. Most of it is "micro-trash" - candy wrappers and such. Some is really blatent, like milk cartons and water bottles. This goes beyond all of that.
Jeff knows how to relax.
Our breakfast savior lady. After waiting for a bus in the middle of nowhere, we found her shop in a parking lot. She fed us and called a cab for us.
You never realize how refreshing water is until you go a long time without it. Hiking in the valleys becomes treat because of the mountain streams.
Chris finally gets to swim.
But oh that water is COLD!
Jeff couldn't just walk in.
Just dipping the feet is good enough for me.
We finally got a chance to set up camp early and catch a sunset on a peak.
Still Life with Spam.
Amazing oak forest with sunlight playing on the grass.
Does this need a caption?
Took a wrong turn trying to stay on the ridge and round some army missle launch site/training ground? Probably weren't supposed to be there!
The Pepper Man!
