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Newer Page 18 of 1276 Older Full Trip Report
Korea Busan Hiking Hoedong

18 April 2023

Long lap of a lake

Hiking around Hoedong Suwonji

If you enjoy pictures of lakes you will enjoy today's presentation.
If you enjoy pollution, strap in for a lot of it.
And if you like both together, you may need to take this in small doses to contain your excitement.

Today I went to Hoedong Suwonji, I suspect Suwonji means reservoir.
I have walked around large lakes before, and they are best appreciated in autumn. Indeed I suspect Hoedong Suwonji would be spectacular on a clear autumn day, but because today is neither clear nor autumn, I can only declare it my fourth best long hike around a lake. It sits behind Lake Okutama near Tokyo, the west lake of Hangzhou in China and Sun Moon lake in Taiwan.

As for how long, about 5.5 hours, 33k steps and 23km. The ratio of steps and time to km are different to my other hikes as it was mostly flat, so faster and bigger steps. Also less calories burnt than mountain hikes.

OK, too many pics as always, lets go.

Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - I started the watch about here, the walk up to the start of the hike is along a drain.

I started the watch about here, the walk up to the start of the hike is along a drain.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - As always, this passed the old persons exercise area. There was lot of gentrification of this drain going on, bike paths being constructed on both sid

As always, this passed the old persons exercise area. There was lot of gentrification of this drain going on, bike paths being constructed on both sides etc.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - After maybe 2km, I arrived at the dam area, and there are giant rocks just below the dam.

After maybe 2km, I arrived at the dam area, and there are giant rocks just below the dam.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - That is not actually the main dam, strangely I could not get a shot of the main dam, the path veered up into the hills behind trees before there was a

That is not actually the main dam, strangely I could not get a shot of the main dam, the path veered up into the hills behind trees before there was a clear view.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - Now for a horrible development. 100+ of these fools have awarded themselves a blue sash and are slow walking around the path talking loudly. This is r

Now for a horrible development. 100+ of these fools have awarded themselves a blue sash and are slow walking around the path talking loudly. This is really obnoxious behaviour. Nothing good ever happens when sashes are involved, hens nights, beauty (rape) pageants, and now this. My tip to improve planet earth, ban sashes.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - OK, here is the lake, it will be our constant companion for the next 40 or so photos. I guess you can kind of see the dam in this one.

OK, here is the lake, it will be our constant companion for the next 40 or so photos. I guess you can kind of see the dam in this one.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - Looking the other way, and that is by no means the entire lake, it curves around a few times and is much bigger than it at first appears.

Looking the other way, and that is by no means the entire lake, it curves around a few times and is much bigger than it at first appears.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - This is what most of the path looks like. There are a few shortcuts that I did not take. Unfortunately I passed the blue sash brigade on one of their

This is what most of the path looks like. There are a few shortcuts that I did not take. Unfortunately I passed the blue sash brigade on one of their many breaks, then they took a shortcut and got in front of me again.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - This is an offshoot bit of the lake. The pollution does not look so bad from this side, but just wait.

This is an offshoot bit of the lake. The pollution does not look so bad from this side, but just wait.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - There were occasional swampy bits, but since it is a reservoir, it was mostly swamp free.

There were occasional swampy bits, but since it is a reservoir, it was mostly swamp free.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - There are many places to stop and sit, especially on the much more popular first half of the hike.

There are many places to stop and sit, especially on the much more popular first half of the hike.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - I am back at the main body of water now, so why not another superfluous photo.

I am back at the main body of water now, so why not another superfluous photo.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - Another view that is not too polluted looking. Sky pollution that is, the water was clean.

Another view that is not too polluted looking. Sky pollution that is, the water was clean.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - There are a few spots where a road meets the lake, some with bus stops. Most spots have a few cafes and restaurants, but no convenience stores to buy

There are a few spots where a road meets the lake, some with bus stops. Most spots have a few cafes and restaurants, but no convenience stores to buy simple water or snacks suitable for hiking, so stock up before you start (I did).


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - The next small section was the special red mud for bare footers looking to re-ground themselves spiritually or some such nonsense.

The next small section was the special red mud for bare footers looking to re-ground themselves spiritually or some such nonsense.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - There is a bypass for this bit, and maybe if you are leaving your shoes on (which of course I did), you are supposed to bypass it, but I insisted on d

There is a bypass for this bit, and maybe if you are leaving your shoes on (which of course I did), you are supposed to bypass it, but I insisted on doing the whole damn lake!


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - After red mud, time for some bamboo. I like bamboo.

After red mud, time for some bamboo. I like bamboo.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - Look! A human sizer. Such a thing would never fly in the west any more, it would be called a public fat shamer.

Look! A human sizer. Such a thing would never fly in the west any more, it would be called a public fat shamer.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - I had become distracted, but then remembered, lake, must go around the lake.

I had become distracted, but then remembered, lake, must go around the lake.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - It was however time to now head up a steep hill. There is no way to bypass this, so it is not all flat fun and games.

It was however time to now head up a steep hill. There is no way to bypass this, so it is not all flat fun and games.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - View #1 from the top of the small mountain. Check the pollution! The AQI reading was over 400 according to the warnings on my phone, which is 'extreme

View #1 from the top of the small mountain. Check the pollution! The AQI reading was over 400 according to the warnings on my phone, which is 'extremely unhealthy'. I think this is the direction from where I had come.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - View #2. There is a tiny bit of actual cloud today, but you can clearly see here pollution vs cloud. The wisp of real cloud is at the top.

View #2. There is a tiny bit of actual cloud today, but you can clearly see here pollution vs cloud. The wisp of real cloud is at the top.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - And view #3 - the bit of the lake still to come.

And view #3 - the bit of the lake still to come.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - The cliff on the right here is why the path went up over the small mountain with the pollution view.

The cliff on the right here is why the path went up over the small mountain with the pollution view.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - The second half of the lake looks bigger from lake level.

The second half of the lake looks bigger from lake level.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - You can see here that the lake gets narrow at one point, and then gets big again.

You can see here that the lake gets narrow at one point, and then gets big again.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - Bonus view with pontoons and a rock.

Bonus view with pontoons and a rock.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - Here you can sit and enjoy the view.

Here you can sit and enjoy the view.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - At the far end of the lake there is a bus stop, cafes, and an instagram advertisement.

At the far end of the lake there is a bus stop, cafes, and an instagram advertisement.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - This area has been made-over for the blossom hysteria, but we are well past blossom time here now.

This area has been made-over for the blossom hysteria, but we are well past blossom time here now.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - Wherever you go in Korea, there will be plastic characters.

Wherever you go in Korea, there will be plastic characters.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - The view from the far end of the lake, time to start the lonely journey back.

The view from the far end of the lake, time to start the lonely journey back.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - Like I mentioned, in all those buildings, no convenience store. I feel as though one would make a killing here. Also a lot of the photos today have we

Like I mentioned, in all those buildings, no convenience store. I feel as though one would make a killing here. Also a lot of the photos today have weird colours, which is because of the terrible pollution, apparently still courtesy of Mongolia.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - This is the one shortcut I did take, this little bridge over a tentacle of water off the side of the lake.

This is the one shortcut I did take, this little bridge over a tentacle of water off the side of the lake.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - This bridge is the end point of the day for nearly everyone, after this point I had about half the journey to go but saw maybe 3 other people on the w

This bridge is the end point of the day for nearly everyone, after this point I had about half the journey to go but saw maybe 3 other people on the way back.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - A view from a bridge. Once again, that is not the main body of water of the lake, just an offshoot.

A view from a bridge. Once again, that is not the main body of water of the lake, just an offshoot.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - I had to cross one stream. It had rocks positioned for this purpose.

I had to cross one stream. It had rocks positioned for this purpose.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - As a reminder, this is what the path looks like for most of the journey, hence you can make quick progress.

As a reminder, this is what the path looks like for most of the journey, hence you can make quick progress.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - That cliff is the mountain view I was on top of earlier.

That cliff is the mountain view I was on top of earlier.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - On the journey back, some of the path was a forestry truck trail, and it snaked up the hill at times, giving a slightly higher vantage point.

On the journey back, some of the path was a forestry truck trail, and it snaked up the hill at times, giving a slightly higher vantage point.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - Looking back from one of the higher bits on the return leg.

Looking back from one of the higher bits on the return leg.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - This is where I stopped to drink my remaining water. There was no one else around.

This is where I stopped to drink my remaining water. There was no one else around.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - For reference purposes, here is where I exited the trail and joined a road.

For reference purposes, here is where I exited the trail and joined a road.


Korea-Busan-Hiking-Hoedong - It was about a kilometre along a thankfully not very busy road before I rejoined the drain you saw at the start. Another day of way too many photos of

It was about a kilometre along a thankfully not very busy road before I rejoined the drain you saw at the start.
Another day of way too many photos of the same damn (dam) thing.


NewerPage 18 of 1276OlderFull Trip Report