In June, I went camping with some friends in Baekdam Valley, which is right outside Seoraksan National Park. Planning is always a bit difficult because of the language barrier, but after a few hundred phone calls and the printing of just as many bus schedules, we were on our way.
The bus didn't exactly stick to the schedule and we found ourselves in Sokcho, one city past our destination. Giving our driver my most useless and pitiful face, he backed up the bus and took the three of us back towards Baekdam Valley. We thanked him with the a big bag of veggies, which he seemed to appreciate :)
Side note: Sokcho is one of the gloomiest cities I have ever seen. It's quite far up the mountain and while driving there you pass through a long tunnel. Before the tunnel, all was blue skies and sunny, but the Sokcho side of the tunnel saw darkness and gloom.
We were unsure where the camp was located, so the camp owner had a friend come and pick us up so we wouldn't get lost. Korean hospitality at its finest.
Here was our home for the weekend ~Baekdam Valley. Such a beautiful spot!
Bliss!!
A village was near, so we fetched some eats and headed back to have a BBQ. We rented a grill on site, but once all set up we couldn't seem to get a fire going.....
...because we didn't think to bring a blow torch. Ha! He had our fire going in no time.
And dessert? S'mores! Our neighbours seemed to enjoy them as well :) They brought us over some kimchi and samgyeopsal earlier in the evening, so we decided to share our s'mores. And of course, it didn't take long for our new friends to share their soju with us. Soju...soooo good once it hits your lips. Then the night gets a little...fuzzy...
The next day we headed to Baekdamsa. The short bus ride there was treacherous as our driver was CRAZY! I had been warned by a friend that it was a little nuts, but in no way was I prepared to be travelling at high rates of speed along a tiny, winding mountainside road. A few times I thought we were going to plummet into the valley to our deaths...but lived to tell.
Peace out, Baekdam!
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