I have been guiding foreign visitors to Korea on mountain hikes for fifteen years. I know the topography of this land very well. I know hot to get around Korea pretty well. I know where to stay, where to eat, and how things work in the provinces. It is my full-time gig. My interest in Korea does not end at guiding. I have published six serious books on Korea's mountains. Before Covid19 my work took me to North Korea, where I photographed mountains of the Baekdu-daegan. I held several photo exhibitions of those works with my South Korean collection all over Korea, including Pyongyang, Kyoto and New Zealand. My work symbolized Korea as one nation. With MBC TV, I also made two good documentaries about those visits to the North. I am well known in the Korean hiking community for my work on the peninsula. My guided mountain hikes are multi-day adventures with an SUV, hiking new peaks everyday, staying in different towns each night, trying new foods, and getting to see another beautiful side to Korea. You will get an experienced and professional service from me. Please check my career details here.
This October 2024, I released an English Language Guidebook on Korea's National Trail, the 300km Jirisan Dulle-gil
. With the Korea Mountaineering Support Center, the 132p, 14 x 22cm softcover guidebook was made available as a free edition at the 2024 Asia Trail Conference held in Jirisan, South Korea. There are limited editions of this book available. I will work with relevant organisations here in Korea to get the guidebook made widely available as a sold item in bookshops and online. Meanwhile if you wish for an edition of this guidebook, you can contact me directly at [email protected].
For a copy inside South Korea a 10,000₩ packaging and postage fee with an address will need to be made. For any overseas orders a $30USD fee should be made.
You can see some sample pages at this link, Jirisan Dulle-gil Guide Book sample link.
Duke of Edinburgh Award Adventurous Journeys are conducted as backpacking adventures by HIKE KOREA in South Korea as an External Activity Provider and is L2 Delivering the Award qualified. I have over 10 years experience delivering adventurous journeys in South Korea to international schools from both Korea and overseas. If you are an international school participating in the DofE Award Program and are interested in seeing your students in South Korea for an outdoor backpacking experience, please contact me. I have a range of Bronze, Silver and Gold Medal courses waiting for you.
Oxfam Trailwalker Korea: Roger Shepherd of Hike Korea is a Public Ambassador for the Oxfam Trailwalker event in South Korea.
Jirisan Dulle-gil English Guidebook 2024: Is a 132p, 14 x 22cm soft cover book with maps, elevation charts, and information about how to backpack the 300km trail. The guidebook was supported by the Korea Mountaineering Support Center @k_omount , and released as a free book at the 2024 Asia Trail Conference in Korea.
About 750 copies were printed, a lot went to the conference, and the rest will go to Dulle-gil centers etc. I have about fifty copies I can sign and send out. In Korea you should deposit 10,000₩ into KEBHana 101-893415-38207 and DM here with your postal address or email to [email protected]. This is to cover postage and handling.
I am planning on getting another run/print of this guidebook and have it more readily available next time through retail bookstores. There is a shift of senior staff at Komount. So I`ll have to rework that connection. But I was still very appreciative of the opportunity to make this book with them. Hopefully we can make more English guidebooks on the National Trails of Korea, or even an edition of Shep`s 50 best hikes of Korea. Ha ha. Knob. Chur. Thank you. #지리산둘레길영문가이드북 #지리산둘레길가이드북 #로저셰퍼드 #하이크코리아 #jirisanguidebook
Jirisan Dulle-gil English Guidebook 2024: Is a 132p, 14 x 22cm soft cover book with maps, elevation charts, and information about how to backpack the 300km trail. The guidebook was supported by the Korea Mountaineering Support Center @k_omount , and released as a free book at the 2024 Asia Trail Conference in Korea.
About 750 copies were printed, a lot went to the conference, and the rest will go to Dulle-gil centers etc. I have about fifty copies I can sign and send out. In Korea you should deposit 10,000₩ into KEBHana 101-893415-38207 and DM here with your postal address or email to [email protected]. This is to cover postage and handling.
I am planning on getting another run/print of this guidebook and have it more readily available next time through retail bookstores. There is a shift of senior staff at Komount. So I`ll have to rework that connection. But I was still very appreciative of the opportunity to make this book with them. Hopefully we can make more English guidebooks on the National Trails of Korea, or even an edition of Shep`s 50 best hikes of Korea. Ha ha. Knob. Chur. Thank you. #지리산둘레길영문가이드북 #지리산둘레길가이드북 #로저셰퍼드 #하이크코리아 #jirisanguidebook
An enjoyable afternoon opening at the @172g_gallery_ in Gwanghwamun,Seoul. I even did my intro in L2 Korean. A good turn out and nice to meet the other artists. Also a special thanks to my Hanguk chingus that turned up. We went and ate boiled chickens in the alleyways of Dongdaemun after. Chur.
An enjoyable afternoon opening at the @172g_gallery_ in Gwanghwamun,Seoul. I even did my intro in L2 Korean. A good turn out and nice to meet the other artists. Also a special thanks to my Hanguk chingus that turned up. We went and ate boiled chickens in the alleyways of Dongdaemun after. Chur.
Day 4: After leaving the traditional home in a small village near Beolgyo, we drove south on the Goheung peninsula and arrived at the foot of the spectacular Palyeongsan national park. The weather was glorious again. Neunggasa temple sparkled in the morning light.
The views from the eight peaks of Palyeongsan were outstanding across the azure blue waters of the South Sea of Korea, dotted with an uncountable number of islands and islets.
We drove from Goheung over the strings of empty suspension bridges that connect it to the peninsula of Yeosu to the east. I got rushed out in a friendly manner from a village sauna house by a couple of old ladies, who told me that today was ladies only day for a sauna. They pointed north in a coastal way where another sauna could be found. It was a palace of a sauna.
For dinner we ate a delicious serving of charcoal grilled freshwater eel. The service was excellent. We then drove in the dark north to Gurye and I put my guests in the Hwaeom267 Hotel at the base of Jirisan.
Day 5: The next morning we drove up to Seongsamjae and did a walk up to Nogodan 1505m enjoying the views of Jirisan and the morning river fog stuck over Gurye township next to the Seomjingang (river).
Before taking them to their accommodation in Jeonju, I stopped at a Hansik Buffet sikdang in Namwon. I`d been there before. They loved the Korean country style buffet. All the food was superb on this tour, even the Kimbap Nara`s serve outstanding hot breakfasts.
It was Friday afternoon by the time I navigated the large black van through the tight streets of Jeonju where I dropped the crew off at their luxury Hanok jip. I am sure they will have a good time in Jeonju tonight. Quite the place.
A really enjoyable group of medical professionals. We had a lot of laughs on this 4N/5D hiking tour of Jollado, and were blessed by the weather and the warmth of the people of the provinces. Chur. #팔영산 #고흥군 #대나무장어구이 #여수 #화엄267호텔 #구례읍 #노고단 #지리산 #전라남도 #남원 #전주시 #전라북도 #하이크코리아 #로저셰퍼드
Day 4: After leaving the traditional home in a small village near Beolgyo, we drove south on the Goheung peninsula and arrived at the foot of the spectacular Palyeongsan national park. The weather was glorious again. Neunggasa temple sparkled in the morning light.
The views from the eight peaks of Palyeongsan were outstanding across the azure blue waters of the South Sea of Korea, dotted with an uncountable number of islands and islets.
We drove from Goheung over the strings of empty suspension bridges that connect it to the peninsula of Yeosu to the east. I got rushed out in a friendly manner from a village sauna house by a couple of old ladies, who told me that today was ladies only day for a sauna. They pointed north in a coastal way where another sauna could be found. It was a palace of a sauna.
For dinner we ate a delicious serving of charcoal grilled freshwater eel. The service was excellent. We then drove in the dark north to Gurye and I put my guests in the Hwaeom267 Hotel at the base of Jirisan.
Day 5: The next morning we drove up to Seongsamjae and did a walk up to Nogodan 1505m enjoying the views of Jirisan and the morning river fog stuck over Gurye township next to the Seomjingang (river).
Before taking them to their accommodation in Jeonju, I stopped at a Hansik Buffet sikdang in Namwon. I`d been there before. They loved the Korean country style buffet. All the food was superb on this tour, even the Kimbap Nara`s serve outstanding hot breakfasts.
It was Friday afternoon by the time I navigated the large black van through the tight streets of Jeonju where I dropped the crew off at their luxury Hanok jip. I am sure they will have a good time in Jeonju tonight. Quite the place.
A really enjoyable group of medical professionals. We had a lot of laughs on this 4N/5D hiking tour of Jollado, and were blessed by the weather and the warmth of the people of the provinces. Chur. #팔영산 #고흥군 #대나무장어구이 #여수 #화엄267호텔 #구례읍 #노고단 #지리산 #전라남도 #남원 #전주시 #전라북도 #하이크코리아 #로저셰퍼드
I’m having a fantastic last tour of the year with six gentlemen from the island of Hawaii.
We started in Naejangsan three days ago. Even if it was a Monday, there was a full on autumn festival still raging at its entrance. It was a mental and exciting way to start. I had no idea it would be that packed still after a weekend, when it woulda been nuttier. But cool and funny in a unique way. Korea.
But there was hardly anyone hiking up in the grand mountains of Naejangsan on a Monday once we got to Sinseonbong 763m. We got down on dark and walked for 30 more minutes to the car park before getting into the Staria van.
We ate a large 산체비빔밥정식 at one of the entrance sikdangs before driving to the Buan Tourist Hotel for the night. It was a good hotel with friendly staff and a free breakfast in a hall.
Next day we drove to Bulgapsan 516m in Yeonggwanggun. Of course a beautiful and remoter area in Jollanamdo. The charming entrance area was shining and the friendly locals selling their roasted chestnuts in thick jolla dialect. Nice.
The horseshoe course was a brilliant hike, staying on the ridge, on some tricky ledges was fun.
From there we drive to Naju and went to #하이스파사우나, a sauna, and enjoyed soaking in that experience. The light mountain winds are already getting icy. We stayed at the Maruo Hotel. The rooms again spacious and clean. Naju is an innovation city stuck in the middle of rice farms. It’s an interesting contrast.
Today we got up and ate some breakfast across the road at a 24eMart before hitting the road to Wolchulsan 810m. The weather was still November sublime.
We climbed up the steep broad Wolchulsan, crossing the vermillion orange cloud bridge. It was such an awesome day to see the oriental mountainscape of moon rise mountain. One of the top peaks in Korea. I never get sick of it.
We went to 설울대중사우나 in Yeongnam. A really lovely little sauna about the size of half a tennis court, with the quiet and accepting locals. This is non touristy areas. County saunas are part of autumn tours now.
Sun Tzu: May we live in interesting times. #부안관광호텔 #내장산 #불갑산 #월출산 #영암
I’m having a fantastic last tour of the year with six gentlemen from the island of Hawaii.
We started in Naejangsan three days ago. Even if it was a Monday, there was a full on autumn festival still raging at its entrance. It was a mental and exciting way to start. I had no idea it would be that packed still after a weekend, when it woulda been nuttier. But cool and funny in a unique way. Korea.
But there was hardly anyone hiking up in the grand mountains of Naejangsan on a Monday once we got to Sinseonbong 763m. We got down on dark and walked for 30 more minutes to the car park before getting into the Staria van.
We ate a large 산체비빔밥정식 at one of the entrance sikdangs before driving to the Buan Tourist Hotel for the night. It was a good hotel with friendly staff and a free breakfast in a hall.
Next day we drove to Bulgapsan 516m in Yeonggwanggun. Of course a beautiful and remoter area in Jollanamdo. The charming entrance area was shining and the friendly locals selling their roasted chestnuts in thick jolla dialect. Nice.
The horseshoe course was a brilliant hike, staying on the ridge, on some tricky ledges was fun.
From there we drive to Naju and went to #하이스파사우나, a sauna, and enjoyed soaking in that experience. The light mountain winds are already getting icy. We stayed at the Maruo Hotel. The rooms again spacious and clean. Naju is an innovation city stuck in the middle of rice farms. It’s an interesting contrast.
Today we got up and ate some breakfast across the road at a 24eMart before hitting the road to Wolchulsan 810m. The weather was still November sublime.
We climbed up the steep broad Wolchulsan, crossing the vermillion orange cloud bridge. It was such an awesome day to see the oriental mountainscape of moon rise mountain. One of the top peaks in Korea. I never get sick of it.
We went to 설울대중사우나 in Yeongnam. A really lovely little sauna about the size of half a tennis court, with the quiet and accepting locals. This is non touristy areas. County saunas are part of autumn tours now.
Sun Tzu: May we live in interesting times. #부안관광호텔 #내장산 #불갑산 #월출산 #영암
On the last day of the Jirisan traverse the November rain arrived at Jangteomok. So after frying up some smoked duck and brewing some Kanu stick coffee, we set off to the summit of Cheonwangbong 1915m once some light arrived. It was pointless leaving in the rainy dark for a sunrise we wouldn’t see. It took us the mandatory hour to arrive at the wet windy empty peak. It was Jiri.
It wasn’t that cold. It’s been much colder up there in warmer months. We started our descent down the wet mountain. I love November as a hiking month in Korea. Its rains boldly confirms the colours of the rocks and forests. Particularly the coppers and blacks.
We did it in good time, not stopping to mess around. The Rotary shelter is under renovation. It looks like it will be nice, like the new one at Nogodan.
We got back to my car which had been delivered to Jungsanri from our start point back at Hwaeomsa. Changed into some dry kit in the public toilets and headed to Danseong and had a good hot sauna there. After that we ate a delicious mountain vegetable bibimbap with pajeon and makoli at #예담원 Hanok village.
From there it was a drive to Jinju where I dropped my guest @haydencunneen at his guesthouse #손길게스트하우스.
An enjoyable three days of hiking the Jirisan ridge with him. Chur chur. #hikekorea #하이크코리아 #로저셰퍼드 #금강블레스사우나 #장터목대피소 #중산리 #단성 #진주
On the last day of the Jirisan traverse the November rain arrived at Jangteomok. So after frying up some smoked duck and brewing some Kanu stick coffee, we set off to the summit of Cheonwangbong 1915m once some light arrived. It was pointless leaving in the rainy dark for a sunrise we wouldn’t see. It took us the mandatory hour to arrive at the wet windy empty peak. It was Jiri.
It wasn’t that cold. It’s been much colder up there in warmer months. We started our descent down the wet mountain. I love November as a hiking month in Korea. Its rains boldly confirms the colours of the rocks and forests. Particularly the coppers and blacks.
We did it in good time, not stopping to mess around. The Rotary shelter is under renovation. It looks like it will be nice, like the new one at Nogodan.
We got back to my car which had been delivered to Jungsanri from our start point back at Hwaeomsa. Changed into some dry kit in the public toilets and headed to Danseong and had a good hot sauna there. After that we ate a delicious mountain vegetable bibimbap with pajeon and makoli at #예담원 Hanok village.
From there it was a drive to Jinju where I dropped my guest @haydencunneen at his guesthouse #손길게스트하우스.
An enjoyable three days of hiking the Jirisan ridge with him. Chur chur. #hikekorea #하이크코리아 #로저셰퍼드 #금강블레스사우나 #장터목대피소 #중산리 #단성 #진주
Kia ora koutou!
Date 2024.11.11. (Mon) 15:00.
A special exhibition 특별전 is being hosted by the 상생과평화 Harmony and Peace society and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism 문화체육관광부 this November 11 to 15th.
Five of my paintings will be on display at this exhibition to be held at the 172G gallery in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. Nine other artists works will be on display too. The theme of the exhibition is ‘artists exposed to conflict and dispute’. I’m not sure why they asked me to submit works, perhaps I am damaged in some ways, but it is a privilege to do so. Two of my pieces which are owned privately, are landscapes of North Korea. And the other three I painted this year, are byproducts of the war in Ukraine and what I briefly described as cryptic contemporary scenes in Korea. If you think about what is happening right now, I don’t think I was far off in the end.
I will be at the opening on Nov 11th at 3pm. If you would like to attend the opening then please let me know in advance; either here or in DM. Otherwise feel free to visit the gallery anytime during the exhibition dates. I’d like to get back there on Friday the 15th. I gotta at least have a drink in Seoul for this.
A little bit about the Harmony and Peace Society. Their founder is Han Yang-won (1923-2016) who was a religious leader and led the inter-religious dialogue movement in modern and contemporary Korean religious circles. He was a unification activist who devoted his life to peaceful unification and has been active in DPRK too. He was also a moral practitioner who took the lead in rectifying a national spirit for Korea. For foreigners, he can be described as a kind of traditional scholar. In Korea he is seen as a true patriot.
Thank you.
#상생과평화 #문화체육관광부 #172ggallery #로저셰퍼드
Kia ora koutou!
Date 2024.11.11. (Mon) 15:00.
A special exhibition 특별전 is being hosted by the 상생과평화 Harmony and Peace society and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism 문화체육관광부 this November 11 to 15th.
Five of my paintings will be on display at this exhibition to be held at the 172G gallery in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. Nine other artists works will be on display too. The theme of the exhibition is ‘artists exposed to conflict and dispute’. I’m not sure why they asked me to submit works, perhaps I am damaged in some ways, but it is a privilege to do so. Two of my pieces which are owned privately, are landscapes of North Korea. And the other three I painted this year, are byproducts of the war in Ukraine and what I briefly described as cryptic contemporary scenes in Korea. If you think about what is happening right now, I don’t think I was far off in the end.
I will be at the opening on Nov 11th at 3pm. If you would like to attend the opening then please let me know in advance; either here or in DM. Otherwise feel free to visit the gallery anytime during the exhibition dates. I’d like to get back there on Friday the 15th. I gotta at least have a drink in Seoul for this.
A little bit about the Harmony and Peace Society. Their founder is Han Yang-won (1923-2016) who was a religious leader and led the inter-religious dialogue movement in modern and contemporary Korean religious circles. He was a unification activist who devoted his life to peaceful unification and has been active in DPRK too. He was also a moral practitioner who took the lead in rectifying a national spirit for Korea. For foreigners, he can be described as a kind of traditional scholar. In Korea he is seen as a true patriot.
Thank you.
#상생과평화 #문화체육관광부 #172ggallery #로저셰퍼드
Wild hikes with Hike Korea.
Been a top couple of days on the Jirisan traverse with my Ozzie guest @haydencunneen. We started at Hwaeomsa temple yesterday and made the grueling 4hr climb up to Nogodangogae before hitting the ridge proper. It was a 10hr hike before we reached the Yeonhacheon shelter and got stuck into a big meal of pork belly and chicken and vegetable soup. A restless night in the stuffy shelter, but it was enough for the pins to recover. A big breakfast and we set off the next morning for Jangteomok shelter. Conditions today were a little better for an 8hr hike. Lots of good light on the mountain. Another big dinner, this time a sausage casserole, after the always good sunsets you get over Banybong from Jangteomok. Early tomorrow morning we’ll hike for an hour up to the peak of Cheonwangbong 1915m in what is forecasted as a little rain. But we hope the forever wind on the highest chilly peak of mainland South Korea 🇰🇷 will help clear an opening for a good sunrise. As one fellow local hiker said, the exchanging Cheonwangbong weather. After that we’ll make the 3.5hr descend to Jungsanri and drink a big fucking bowl of makoli. The weather in this hike hasn’t been cold, and the sunlight is glary and warm, but I can feel that pre winter alpine wind sneaking its way through the nooks and crannies. We did see two large and stunningly beautiful pine martens dash across our trail. They were big about a meter long with their bushy black tails and harvest yellow coats. I’ve never seen them that yellow. They normally a copper brown. I did a check and see they must have been the yellow throated pine marten. An endangered species. Chur.
Been a top couple of days on the Jirisan traverse with my Ozzie guest @haydencunneen. We started at Hwaeomsa temple yesterday and made the grueling 4hr climb up to Nogodangogae before hitting the ridge proper. It was a 10hr hike before we reached the Yeonhacheon shelter and got stuck into a big meal of pork belly and chicken and vegetable soup. A restless night in the stuffy shelter, but it was enough for the pins to recover. A big breakfast and we set off the next morning for Jangteomok shelter. Conditions today were a little better for an 8hr hike. Lots of good light on the mountain. Another big dinner, this time a sausage casserole, after the always good sunsets you get over Banybong from Jangteomok. Early tomorrow morning we’ll hike for an hour up to the peak of Cheonwangbong 1915m in what is forecasted as a little rain. But we hope the forever wind on the highest chilly peak of mainland South Korea 🇰🇷 will help clear an opening for a good sunrise. As one fellow local hiker said, the exchanging Cheonwangbong weather. After that we’ll make the 3.5hr descend to Jungsanri and drink a big fucking bowl of makoli. The weather in this hike hasn’t been cold, and the sunlight is glary and warm, but I can feel that pre winter alpine wind sneaking its way through the nooks and crannies. We did see two large and stunningly beautiful pine martens dash across our trail. They were big about a meter long with their bushy black tails and harvest yellow coats. I’ve never seen them that yellow. They normally a copper brown. I did a check and see they must have been the yellow throated pine marten. An endangered species. Chur.
Top weekend launching the Jirisan Dulle-gil Guidebook at the Asia Trail Conference in Gurye. And catching up with staff from North London Collegiate School on Jeju and showing them some ideas in the Jirisan ranges and valley of Akyang-myeon in Hadong-gun for outdoor student experiences and Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journeys. #dofekorea #dukeofedinburgh #지리산둘레길 #mogwolbread #악양면 #형제봉 #신선대
Top weekend launching the Jirisan Dulle-gil Guidebook at the Asia Trail Conference in Gurye. And catching up with staff from North London Collegiate School on Jeju and showing them some ideas in the Jirisan ranges and valley of Akyang-myeon in Hadong-gun for outdoor student experiences and Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journeys. #dofekorea #dukeofedinburgh #지리산둘레길 #mogwolbread #악양면 #형제봉 #신선대
Last weekend I went to Korea Backpacker`s Day held in Jucheon EcoPark in Jinan-gun. A very country backdrop area near the Jinangowon-gil that I through-hiked about three years ago? I was lucky to meet some of the volunteers of that trail at the KBD event. They used some of my IG reels from that walk. Jinan-gun, sits on a plateau flanked by the Baekdu-daegan and the Geumnam and Honam jeongmaeks. The peaks are frequent like a cheese grater, and you can see the tops of them more, because you are closer to them from the plateau.
It was a good event, and I got to see many peoples faces I hadn`t seen since corona. Some decent made in Korea brands on display. Basically, about 400 people turn up with all their backpacking gear and set up their tents in the middle of an athletics track, surrounded by Fir pinetrees and mountains. By the afternoon, groups go out on casual hikes and return by the late afternoon and start to cook dinner with drinks. Some people, just set up and chill, eat and drink. Kids and dogs there too. All done in a mature way.
On Sunday, before leaving the area, I climbed a peak called Seongchi-san 670m for some exercise for last nights drinks. It looked much better from the eco-park. I even thought it was part of the Guemnam Honam-jeongmaek I thru-hiked back in 2009, how fucked was I to think that, when it was nowhere near it, I found out much later. Dementia in the hills.
I took the long way home through the sharp peaks of Jollabukdo, but without supertramp. It was a drive I have likely done before, but depending on the season, or how many times I might have been somewhere else before that, I am never sure. Such is the windiness of Korea.
The weather is still warm for now, and the countryside was taking its time to lose its coat. The persimmon trees are lolling with fruit. The leaves will dry out and fall before the retarding cold gets them. The sky becomes achromatic and the ridges blue.
If any`s would like to come to next years Korea Backpackers Day, please let me know, and this time I will get it on board. Chur.
#koreabackpackersday @zerogram_gear @graywhale.woodworks @gopddan @shell_corp @insooth_official @nomadicbrewingco @gasoron
Last weekend I went to Korea Backpacker`s Day held in Jucheon EcoPark in Jinan-gun. A very country backdrop area near the Jinangowon-gil that I through-hiked about three years ago? I was lucky to meet some of the volunteers of that trail at the KBD event. They used some of my IG reels from that walk. Jinan-gun, sits on a plateau flanked by the Baekdu-daegan and the Geumnam and Honam jeongmaeks. The peaks are frequent like a cheese grater, and you can see the tops of them more, because you are closer to them from the plateau.
It was a good event, and I got to see many peoples faces I hadn`t seen since corona. Some decent made in Korea brands on display. Basically, about 400 people turn up with all their backpacking gear and set up their tents in the middle of an athletics track, surrounded by Fir pinetrees and mountains. By the afternoon, groups go out on casual hikes and return by the late afternoon and start to cook dinner with drinks. Some people, just set up and chill, eat and drink. Kids and dogs there too. All done in a mature way.
On Sunday, before leaving the area, I climbed a peak called Seongchi-san 670m for some exercise for last nights drinks. It looked much better from the eco-park. I even thought it was part of the Guemnam Honam-jeongmaek I thru-hiked back in 2009, how fucked was I to think that, when it was nowhere near it, I found out much later. Dementia in the hills.
I took the long way home through the sharp peaks of Jollabukdo, but without supertramp. It was a drive I have likely done before, but depending on the season, or how many times I might have been somewhere else before that, I am never sure. Such is the windiness of Korea.
The weather is still warm for now, and the countryside was taking its time to lose its coat. The persimmon trees are lolling with fruit. The leaves will dry out and fall before the retarding cold gets them. The sky becomes achromatic and the ridges blue.
If any`s would like to come to next years Korea Backpackers Day, please let me know, and this time I will get it on board. Chur.
#koreabackpackersday @zerogram_gear @graywhale.woodworks @gopddan @shell_corp @insooth_official @nomadicbrewingco @gasoron
I saw and checked a final master copy today. It has been a steady effort to get this 133p, 14x21cm guidebook finished. We all only agreed to do it in April this year, and it had to be released by October 25th. I couldn’t do anything but think about how to make it for the first three months, because Hike Korea was busy with guests. But that is almost as good as doing it, if that is all you can do about it.
Then, at the start of that wicked summer we are still having, from July 1st, I sat down and grafted a good manuscript in ten weeks. Complete with all my own photos, Adobe Illustrator designed maps, and several trips to the field. But it was my experience in Korea that mostly did it I think.
For the past month the book has been with the publisher who has created the final design and layout, and it looks much better. None of the content I wrote was altered. And in the introduction I wrote quite colorfully about the creation of Korea and its mythological beginnings with mountains. Referenceable material.
The overall course map for the 300km Jirisan Dulle-gil is a double page rendition on Koreas famous wood block printed Taedongyeojido. So cool there. It would make a good poster I think.
The guidebook will be released next Friday at the opening of the International Asia Trail Conference to be held in Jirisan, Gurye, Jeollanam-do, which starts Oct 25th and runs till the 27th.
I will talk more about the backers and the Legislated National Trail concept for South Korea once the book is readily available.
I am unaware of any cost at this time for the guidebook or the number of copies that will be available and how it will be distributed later. But it will most likely end up in the bookshops.
It is the sixth serious book I have made on Korea. Chur. #지리산둘레길 #하이크코리아 #로저셰퍼드 #hikekorea #jirisandullegilguidebookproject #산림청 #한국등산트레킹지원센터 #hikinginsouthkorea #jirisannationalpark #jirisantrail #jirisandullegil #백두대간 #glorytokorea
I saw and checked a final master copy today. It has been a steady effort to get this 133p, 14x21cm guidebook finished. We all only agreed to do it in April this year, and it had to be released by October 25th. I couldn’t do anything but think about how to make it for the first three months, because Hike Korea was busy with guests. But that is almost as good as doing it, if that is all you can do about it.
Then, at the start of that wicked summer we are still having, from July 1st, I sat down and grafted a good manuscript in ten weeks. Complete with all my own photos, Adobe Illustrator designed maps, and several trips to the field. But it was my experience in Korea that mostly did it I think.
For the past month the book has been with the publisher who has created the final design and layout, and it looks much better. None of the content I wrote was altered. And in the introduction I wrote quite colorfully about the creation of Korea and its mythological beginnings with mountains. Referenceable material.
The overall course map for the 300km Jirisan Dulle-gil is a double page rendition on Koreas famous wood block printed Taedongyeojido. So cool there. It would make a good poster I think.
The guidebook will be released next Friday at the opening of the International Asia Trail Conference to be held in Jirisan, Gurye, Jeollanam-do, which starts Oct 25th and runs till the 27th.
I will talk more about the backers and the Legislated National Trail concept for South Korea once the book is readily available.
I am unaware of any cost at this time for the guidebook or the number of copies that will be available and how it will be distributed later. But it will most likely end up in the bookshops.
It is the sixth serious book I have made on Korea. Chur. #지리산둘레길 #하이크코리아 #로저셰퍼드 #hikekorea #jirisandullegilguidebookproject #산림청 #한국등산트레킹지원센터 #hikinginsouthkorea #jirisannationalpark #jirisantrail #jirisandullegil #백두대간 #glorytokorea
Some good conditions today in Seoul for some Saturday hiking with @_travel_connoisseur_ guest Job from Guatemala and America.
We took the Bibong spur up to Munsubong. There was plenty of photo ops. There’s also no way, other than in Korea, when it comes to a developed nation allowing citizen hikers to climb to the Kubrick obelisk at its nip. I could hardly believe it up there with woman my age.
An incredible circuit with Job who reveled in the uneven terrain.
Seoul is abuzz tonight. Jongnosamga is the place for downtown Seoul. I said it before. Just before it gets dark is the last time to see their cowboys before the tents are swamped with young freeists doing old school drinking and eating.
Glory to all Korea.
Some good conditions today in Seoul for some Saturday hiking with @_travel_connoisseur_ guest Job from Guatemala and America.
We took the Bibong spur up to Munsubong. There was plenty of photo ops. There’s also no way, other than in Korea, when it comes to a developed nation allowing citizen hikers to climb to the Kubrick obelisk at its nip. I could hardly believe it up there with woman my age.
An incredible circuit with Job who reveled in the uneven terrain.
Seoul is abuzz tonight. Jongnosamga is the place for downtown Seoul. I said it before. Just before it gets dark is the last time to see their cowboys before the tents are swamped with young freeists doing old school drinking and eating.
Glory to all Korea.
Hiking tour payments can be arranged through Wise or PayPal or in-person with a Visa/MasterCard on my wireless card-terminal (EasyCheck) in Korea. 
I had a fantastic time hiking with Roger during three days in Deogyusan National Park and on Daedunsan. He is a very experienced, knowledgeable, responsible guide, and fun!
May 15, 2023
Jirisan South Korea - Excellent trip and tour with Roger! Tailored everything to our interests. One of the highlights of my many trips to South Korea
May 15, 2023
Hike Korea if you want to Hike Korea! - There are few people that know the mountains of South Korea like Roger Shepherd, so if you are looking for something different, something authentic and something memorable, then he is... read more
May 14, 2023
