Comments on: The 2007 Baekdu-daegan Expedition http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/08/15/the-2007-baekdu-daegan-expedition/ Korea... in Blog Format Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:32:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: sanshinseon http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/08/15/the-2007-baekdu-daegan-expedition/#comment-102184 sanshinseon Sat, 18 Aug 2007 02:22:12 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/08/15/the-2007-baekdu-daegan-expedition/#comment-102184 Well, if anyone at the RAS-KB had any idea, that would probably be me :-) And i don't... Well, if anyone at the RAS-KB had any idea, that would probably be me :-) And i don’t…

]]> By: sewing http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/08/15/the-2007-baekdu-daegan-expedition/#comment-102155 sewing Fri, 17 Aug 2007 17:50:19 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/08/15/the-2007-baekdu-daegan-expedition/#comment-102155 I'd bet a bunch of bananas they'll be the first foreigners, but of course I can't certify that. (Then again, it's <i>conceivable</i> one or two foreigners have done it on their own in the past, without publicizing it or writing a book, but unlikely given the time and resources required without drawing interest from outside parties.) Would anyone at the RASKB have any idea? I’d bet a bunch of bananas they’ll be the first foreigners, but of course I can’t certify that. (Then again, it’s conceivable one or two foreigners have done it on their own in the past, without publicizing it or writing a book, but unlikely given the time and resources required without drawing interest from outside parties.)

Would anyone at the RASKB have any idea?

]]> By: sanshinseon http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/08/15/the-2007-baekdu-daegan-expedition/#comment-102111 sanshinseon Fri, 17 Aug 2007 09:45:13 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/08/15/the-2007-baekdu-daegan-expedition/#comment-102111 Re #11: Oh, i know that some Koreans have done it, members of those "sanak-hoi" associations and trips sponsored by the mountain-hiking magazines -- there is even at least one "Baekdu-daegan Sanak-hoi" -- but i was rather asking if anybody reading this blog *knows* anybody who's done it, personally. I do wonder if my friends will become the first "foreigners" to do it, if we can legitimately claim that... Perhaps i can ask those magazines, they would probably know. Re #11: Oh, i know that some Koreans have done it, members of those “sanak-hoi” associations and trips sponsored by the mountain-hiking magazines — there is even at least one “Baekdu-daegan Sanak-hoi” — but i was rather asking if anybody reading this blog *knows* anybody who’s done it, personally. I do wonder if my friends will become the first “foreigners” to do it, if we can legitimately claim that… Perhaps i can ask those magazines, they would probably know.

]]> By: sewing http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/08/15/the-2007-baekdu-daegan-expedition/#comment-102069 sewing Fri, 17 Aug 2007 05:22:32 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/08/15/the-2007-baekdu-daegan-expedition/#comment-102069 Minor, utterly pedantic correction to my comment #3, for anyone who cares... The sign on the gate appears to say 鳥嶺第三關 (Joryeong Jesamgwan; Joryeong barrier/checkpoint (as it were) #3), not 鳥嶺第三門. The last character is 關 (관계할 관), not 門 (문 문). ...And of course, the whole thing is written right to left, so in fact it's 關三第嶺鳥! ;) Minor, utterly pedantic correction to my comment #3, for anyone who cares…

The sign on the gate appears to say 鳥嶺第三關 (Joryeong Jesamgwan; Joryeong barrier/checkpoint (as it were) #3), not 鳥嶺第三門. The last character is 關 (관계할 관), not 門 (문 문). …And of course, the whole thing is written right to left, so in fact it’s 關三第嶺鳥! ;)

]]> By: sewing http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/08/15/the-2007-baekdu-daegan-expedition/#comment-102067 sewing Fri, 17 Aug 2007 05:13:06 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/08/15/the-2007-baekdu-daegan-expedition/#comment-102067 Has anyone ever done it? Beats me. Surely one of the Korean mountaineering clubs would know the answer to that one.... Or how about the guy who runs the <a href="http://www.angangi.com/" rel="nofollow">백두대간 첫마당</a> website? Has anyone ever done it? Beats me. Surely one of the Korean mountaineering clubs would know the answer to that one…. Or how about the guy who runs the 백두대간 첫마당 website?

]]> By: sanshinseon http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/08/15/the-2007-baekdu-daegan-expedition/#comment-102034 sanshinseon Fri, 17 Aug 2007 01:34:43 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/08/15/the-2007-baekdu-daegan-expedition/#comment-102034 Does anyone here know ANYone who has done this entire hike, Korean or non-? I'd like to talk with them... I've thought about it myself for 20 years, but the only time i've ever had two months off work has been summers & winters, no good -- it's pretty much gotta be autumn or maybe spring... Not so many people EVER get two months totally free, i guess. And now i'm no longer in the kind of amazing physical shape that'd be required... hard to believe that ever i once was... :-( Does anyone here know ANYone who has done this entire hike, Korean or non-? I’d like to talk with them…

I’ve thought about it myself for 20 years, but the only time i’ve ever had two months off work has been summers & winters, no good — it’s pretty much gotta be autumn or maybe spring… Not so many people EVER get two months totally free, i guess. And now i’m no longer in the kind of amazing physical shape that’d be required… hard to believe that ever i once was… :-(

]]> By: sanshinseon http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/08/15/the-2007-baekdu-daegan-expedition/#comment-102033 sanshinseon Fri, 17 Aug 2007 01:27:45 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/08/15/the-2007-baekdu-daegan-expedition/#comment-102033 No, they shouldn't, sure -- could even stay overnight on it's Temple-Stay program... I've done that and it was great. The Abbott Geunil-seunim is one of the great contemporary enlightened masters, and a real nice guy in casual person... No, they shouldn’t, sure — could even stay overnight on it’s Temple-Stay program… I’ve done that and it was great. The Abbott Geunil-seunim is one of the great contemporary enlightened masters, and a real nice guy in casual person…

]]> By: sewing http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/08/15/the-2007-baekdu-daegan-expedition/#comment-102006 sewing Thu, 16 Aug 2007 17:38:59 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/08/15/the-2007-baekdu-daegan-expedition/#comment-102006 Especially not if they're Scots Irish (which I am 1/4, so I'm allowed to make the comment ;) ). Sanshinseon, I also posted a more detailed comment on their blog, but as of yesterday, it was sitting in moderation. In addition to Mungyeong Saejae, there is of course Buseoksa on Sobaeksan, which they cannot miss under any conditions! Especially not if they’re Scots Irish (which I am 1/4, so I’m allowed to make the comment ;) ).

Sanshinseon, I also posted a more detailed comment on their blog, but as of yesterday, it was sitting in moderation. In addition to Mungyeong Saejae, there is of course Buseoksa on Sobaeksan, which they cannot miss under any conditions!

]]> By: sanshinseon http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/08/15/the-2007-baekdu-daegan-expedition/#comment-101938 sanshinseon Thu, 16 Aug 2007 06:57:22 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/08/15/the-2007-baekdu-daegan-expedition/#comment-101938 > I suggest you folks capture the attention > of the National Geographic, if you can. Yup, an attempt to interest them in this is already in process... > For guaranteed media coverage, just > punch someone in the face every day! But Max, these expeditioning gentlemen are Kiwis of solid Scottish or Irish heritage -- you certainly cannot be suggesting, Sir, that such people might ever be immoderate in alcohol consumption or prone to scrappy fisticuffs... :-) > I suggest you folks capture the attention
> of the National Geographic, if you can.

Yup, an attempt to interest them in this is already in process…

> For guaranteed media coverage, just
> punch someone in the face every day!

But Max, these expeditioning gentlemen are Kiwis of solid Scottish or Irish heritage — you certainly cannot be suggesting, Sir, that such people might ever be immoderate in alcohol consumption or prone to scrappy fisticuffs… :-)

]]> By: sanshinseon http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/08/15/the-2007-baekdu-daegan-expedition/#comment-101937 sanshinseon Thu, 16 Aug 2007 06:52:26 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/08/15/the-2007-baekdu-daegan-expedition/#comment-101937 Thanks McGenghis, Trot and sewing! I really hope that we can make something good out of this, and boost Korea's hiking-tourism-reputation just a tad... > Hopefully, they’ll take time to explore some of > the most notable temples, hermitages, and gates (Mungyeong) Yes, that is definitely a main part of the plan. They want to come down off the ridge to see as many of those kinds of places as they have time or energy to do (very few of those sites are on or right next to the ridge). If you think about how many truly amazing places they'll be passing close by, it's staggering... I will try to include a list of best of them in my writings, pointing out themes in the history of Korean culture with those treasures as examples. I hope that this expedition and all its resulting publications and publicity can serve in themselves as a gentle rejoinder to the unexperienced or mindless bored-because-boring fools who always post "Korea has nothing interesting to do or see" every time there's a tourism thread here on the Hole... Thanks McGenghis, Trot and sewing!

I really hope that we can make something good out of this, and boost Korea’s hiking-tourism-reputation just a tad…

> Hopefully, they’ll take time to explore some of
> the most notable temples, hermitages, and gates (Mungyeong)

Yes, that is definitely a main part of the plan. They want to come down off the ridge to see as many of those kinds of places as they have time or energy to do (very few of those sites are on or right next to the ridge). If you think about how many truly amazing places they’ll be passing close by, it’s staggering… I will try to include a list of best of them in my writings, pointing out themes in the history of Korean culture with those treasures as examples.

I hope that this expedition and all its resulting publications and publicity can serve in themselves as a gentle rejoinder to the unexperienced or mindless bored-because-boring fools who always post “Korea has nothing interesting to do or see” every time there’s a tourism thread here on the Hole…

]]>