As I huffed and puffed my way upwards towards Baegundae Peak, I encountered another hiker who was ever so gradually overtaking me in pace. I stepped off the trail to let him pass and we had a great interaction largely involving body language and the mutual understanding that I didn’t speak Korean and he didn’t speak much English. He smiled and told me in Korean 천천히 (cheoncheonhi). “Slowly,” he said. I nodded and we both understood. Later, I would run into him closer towards the top and he offered me a pair of gloves to help navigate the steel wires bolted into the rock. Such a simple gesture that will remain a favorite memory of my time in Korea, forevermore! 🐢