Post date: Apr 9, 2009 2:11:00 PM
Mountain climbing has become my new favorite sport since I have been in Korea. Born and bred in the plain area of east China, I have limited chances to climb mountains throughout my childhood. Mountains used to be so mysterious to me that I believed there might be fairies living there.
Mountain climbing is very popular in Korea, especially among aged people. It is believed to be the best means to enjoy the closeness to the nature and to exercise in a relaxed way. There are few paved paths in the mountains and people always favor new routes. Climbing along those paths is not a easy task for the Sunday afternoon ramblers. It requires careful planning and sometimes foresight of military operations. Precautions of this sort are necessary, for many kinds of difficulties may confront the climbers. As a result, most climbers in Korea are fully equipped with climbing suits, stout boots, caps with a light, and at least one stick. This kind of apparel always reminds me of the fact that most Korean men have served the army. Maybe they miss the barrack life so much that they want to relive their memories through the exercise and the uniforms. The similar reason may apply to me as well, since I always appreciate the military life but get no chance to experience it in my own country.
Two years ago, my professor led the whole lab to climb the Seolak Mountain in the winter. Before the departure, I was so curious why my Korean lab-mates were preparing special pants and boots for the activity, since at that time I had no knowledge of mountain climbing in Korea. Though I doubted the need for such careful planning, I followed them to buy all the equipments, even not forgetting buy myself a cap. The preparation finally turned out so vital. Even the cold strong wind at the bottom of the mountain made me hard to breath. After a 4-hour journey, we arrived at the top of the mountain. The air there was so clear that we could see as far as the east sea and the beautiful city besides the shore. However, the temperature at the top was so low that none of us could stay there for more than five minutes. The path to climb down the mountain was covered by deep snow. So we had to slide down the slope all the way, which was really exciting. It was only since that joyful moment that I have become a fan of mountain climbing.