New Zealanders Roger Shepherd and Andrew Douch, fully in the thrall of the Baekdu Daegan range, completed a 70-day hike along this mountainous backbone of Korea and spent the next two years writing the manuscript. A further year of editing resulted in this guidebook, which includes not only the information necessary for the journey itself, but also explains the importance and the unparalleled characteristics of this mountain chain as a hiking course.
The authors believe that the Baekdu Daegan has the same potential to develop into a popular mountain-climbing destination for international tourists like the American Appalachian mountain range.
As well as explaining its historical, cultural and ecological importance, the 452-page “Baekdu Daegan Trail: Hiking Korea’s Mountain Spine” will arouse the interest of non-Korean readers with its more than 200 photos of fascinating religious site scattered here and there along the trail and lookouts boasting stunning views.
Meticulous research for a trouble-free hike
This book divides the 735km-long stretch of mountain range from Mount Jirisan’s Cheonwangbong Peak to Hyangnobong Peak in Gangwon-do (Gangwon Province) into 17 sections, and then subdivides these up into one-day treks, making it possible for hikers to approach the enormous undertaking little by little.
Furthermore, the specific routes of each course and their main points along the way are clearly illustrated using diagrams and maps throughout the book, so that even non-mountaineers can hike the distances without trouble.
What’s more, there are GPS co-ordinates for sources of drinking water – one of the most important things when hiking a mountain – and details of camping sites or overnight accommodation. For hikers who want to leave the path to visit a nearby village or city before resuming the walk later, the guidebook gives transport information, too.
Kiwi who fell in love with the Baekdu Daegan
“You could go anywhere in the world and you still wouldn’t find a beautiful mountain and awesome cultural space that compares with the Baekdu Daegan. I really hope that people from around the world hear about it and come here to see it.”
These are the words of the book’s co-author Roger Shepherd. Until last year he was in charge of the New Zealand police force’s elite diplomatic escort unit, before resigning early this year and relocating to Korea.
After hiking the entire length of the Baekdu Daegan in 2007, he fell completely in love with it. “The Baekdu Daegan is not only beautiful, but it is also a place rich in cultural and historical significance,” he explained. “I wanted to become the first westerner to make the Baekdu Daegan known to the world, like those who first made the Himalayas globally famous,” he said, showing his high hopes for this book.
source:Korea.net
Roger Shepherd
Born in New Zealand’s Porirua, when Roger was still young he took off on a trip to Africa. For nine years he traveled through South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia and so on, working as a national park ranger and safari guide. In 1998 he left Africa and in 2000 he visited Korea for the first time.
Returning to New Zealand in 2001, Roger began a career in service for his country as a policeman. In 2006 he took six months leave and visited Korea, where he heard about the Baekdu Daegan from his friend Andrew Douch and first attempted to hike its length. It was then that he realized the need for an English language guidebook.
After resolving to put together such a guide, he asked Andrew Douch for his help, and while they were researching the book they met an expert on Korean mountain spirit culture -- David Mason, a professor at Kyung Hee University. Prof. Mason supported them in their expedition to the Baekdu Daegan, and made his own research materials available to them. In September 2007 Roger and Andrew completed the 735km trek after 70 days. Roger delivered a presentation to the Royal Asiatic Society in Seoul at the end of that month to tell the story of the hike and show some of the many photos taken along the way.
For the next two years, the duo threw themselves into the writing, and David Mason went over their manuscript and offered suggestions. At the beginning of this year, Roger resigned from the diplomatic escort unit of the New Zealand police, came to Korea and took up a role as the honorary ambassador for the Korea Tourism Organization. He is now preparing to promote Korean mountain culture and tourism abroad.
Andrew Douch
Andrew grew up in a town near a mountain on the North Island of New Zealand. In 1998 he graduated from the University of Waikato with a degree in social science and came to Korea to teach English, living in various cities of Gyeongsang-do (Gyeongsang Province) including Daegu, Andong, Pohang and Yangsan. During his more than ten years in Korea, Andrew has spent much time trekking the mountains and is quite a recognizable figure to the residents of mountain villages.
Currently he is living in the city of Yangsan near Tongdosa Temple. Each weekend he travels to a different mountain and he is putting together a new guidebook on mountaineering in Korea.
David Mason
David Mason, Professor of Tourism at Kyung Hee University, is widely known as an expert in the culture of Korean mountain spirits. Born in the American state of Michigan, he first came to Korea in the early 1980s and achieved a Master’s Degree at Yonsei University, specializing in Korean religious history. He has since written six books on Korean culture and tourism. He maintains a well-visited website in English on Korean mountains, Buddhism, folk culture and mountain spirits.
There is now an English language website on the Baekdu Daegan itself, with basic information and links to other relevant site, while you can see more information about the book and sample pages here.
