Mont Seorak is the new Montserrat!

Oyez, oyez! Climbers of the world, this post is for you! (Climbers of Catalonia, Spain and the French Pyrenees, this post is even more for -and dedicated to- you; that’s why we wrote it in English: just so in case you’re not comfortable with the language, you'll get to practice a little bit! ;)

there's something happenin' here. What it is ain't exactly clear - remember that? I'm sure you do, but just in case...

Climbers of the world, y’all deserve to know what’s on every mouth on this side of the planet. (Okay, we’ll leave the discussion about the concept of "sides" on a spheroid body for another day if you don’t mind: it was just an easy way to refer to the part of the world we’re in at the moment, i.e. East Asia. Specifically South Korea and to be even more precise: Chiaksan. Chiaksan is one of this small green country’s 16 (sixteen!!!) National Parks. But Chiaksan will be the subject of our next episode!). For now, let's go back to the topic of the day: on this side of the planet, what's on every mouth is Mount Seorak! Montseorak? Montsewhat?  Montserrak? Of course, any resemblance to an actual holy mountain of Catalonia, living or dead, is purely coincidental... Or is it not?

We've been here for slightly under a week, but so far, in any Korean's heart, Seoraksan is like when Mr. White used to sing: the first, the last, the everything. It's the oldest, the most famous and sure enough the most beautiful of all National Parks. It's so this, that one could actually think it was a risky move of ours to visit it first - one is true! It puts a lot of pressure on the rest of the trip and on the rest of NPs). Anyway: Mount Seorak is THE national wonder, THE national pride and THE national jewel in the crown. It's somehow THE cherry on top of all South Korean wonders. It's the holiest mountain, the most sacred rock face, the most valuable (and the most valued) pile of stones. It's their Gasherbrum, their Matterhorn and probably their Unicorn too. So, when it's summertime and when the weather is fine, you're supposed to have Seorak on your mind!

Of course - and in case it wasn't clear enough yet - as the name suggest, it is also the eastern doppelganger of our beloved Catalan summit! Here are some of their most strikingly similar features, in pictures and in a not-so-random order:

- you can recognize the emblematic shape of the mountain from the highway: check!

- there's a suggestive pinnacle in the middle (even though it's not suggestively named "Cavall Bernat"): check!

- first thing you have to walk through when you get there is a gigantic car park: check!

- if it was empty when you arrived, it'll be full of cars and buses when you get out after your hike: check!

- you really should get there early in the morning because it soon gets insanely crowded: check!

- and you really want to avoid weekends, bank holidays and school trips: check!

- if you don’t wanna pay for the car park, you’ll walk an extra 2 km, before reaching the main gate: check!

- passed the gates, you discover the touristic facilities: bars, restaurants, gift shops: check!

- there is, indeed, an iconic cable car ready to take you higher: check!

- it's difficult to say whether people come to hike, to pray or to have lunch and buy crappy souvenirs: check!

- there's a very holy black figure (okay, it’s a giant Buddha, not a small virgin but): check!

- if you're patient enough (and  wait til lunch time), you'll have your two seconds and a selfie with him/her: check!

- reaching the sky and saving one's soul is mainly a matter of climbing LOTS of stairs: check!

- it could be a remote, confidential hikers' paradise but it's hopelessly full of seagulls: check!

- there are many tiny chapels, hermitages and shrines scattered across the mountain: check!

- sure enough they are inhabited by some local hairy (or bald) hikers/monks: check!

- once you get there, the views are absolutely stunning, as long as it's not too foggy: check!

- the main trails look like highways but wilderness is just around the corner: check!

- there are always good causes to defend and getting involved is a duty (and a pleasure): check!

- and of course, (almost) last but (certainly) not least: it's a rock climbing Heaven on earth: check!

We spent only two days in and around Mont Seorak: enough to hike the main summit and see the most famous and emblematic views ; enough to meet way too many hikers, tourists, seagulls and pilgrims ; enough to make us crave for more ; enough to see the sun AND experience a lot of fog, mist and rain ; enough to get soaked from head to toes, backpacks, tent and sleeping bags included ; and enough to build huge expectations on South Korea's Natural Parks grandiose beauty and magnificent sceneries (which later proved to be a dangerous and tricky state of mind... Ha ha. Hum. But that's another story - or maybe several others!). We'll finish this short and enthusiastic post with a few more pics and the promise to be back soon with more Korean adventures: take care and be prepared!

green on granite ; bouldering paradise ; a friendly fellow quite used to being fed!

suffering is part of the game... ; nature reclaiming what's Her's ; another friendly fellow used to being fed!