Been There, Don't Do it!

• Location: Seoul Trail, South Korea
• Date: March 2022

During the final six months of my time in Korea, I made friends with a group of avid hikers, which quickly turned into a new hobby for me. At the time, I wasn’t particularly fit, but hiking up mountains brought a sense of reward that I couldn’t quite explain. Each hike was a challenge, but it was one I was eager to take on. We began tackling the Seoul Trail, a path that circles the city with various checkpoints where you can collect stamps. If you complete the entire trail with all the stamps, you can submit your book and receive a certificate. That became our goal, but the trail was longer than expected, and we had other priorities that got in the way.

I had a personal rule while in Korea: always say yes to an activity. However, one night, this rule backfired. I had agreed to meet some friends for drinks, even though I knew I had to join the group at 2 a.m. for a sunrise hike up Gwanaksan Mountain. I tried my best to keep the drinking light so I could make it through the hike, but I definitely overestimated my abilities. That hike turned out to be the hardest one I’ve ever done, and hopefully, it will remain that way! Despite the struggles, it’s always a fun story to tell.