If you ride the subway on a weekend morning, it's packed with people in colorful hiking clothes. Their backpacks are filled with gimbap and makgeolli. The foreign student asks, "Is everyone going to Everest?" That's what he asked. In fact, they're just on their way to a small mountain near their homes. ## The Mountain Is Right Next Door They say nearly 70% of Korea's land is mountains. So even the cities settled in among the mountains. In Seoul there are Bukhansan, Inwangsan, and Namsan, and you can get to the trailheads by subway or bus. For Koreans, a mountain isn't a place you set out for after making a big decision; it's where a walk around the neighborhood just gets longer. ## Gimbap, Makgeolli, and Hiking Gear It's hard to make a fire on a mountain. So kimbap, which is easy to carry and tastes good even when it's cold, was a great fit. Makgeolli is a drink that farmers have been drinking since long ago. Having it with pajeon at a restaurant at the foot of the mountain feels like the perfect way to end the day. They say hiking clothes are worn because they dry sweat quickly and are lightweight. Many people also think that since everyone dresses similarly, they became "clothes for going to the mountains." ## For First-Timers - Wear sneakers with non-slip soles. Rocks covered in fallen leaves are slippery. - There are hardly any trash cans on the mountain. Carry your trash down in your bag. - The sun sets early in autumn. Come down before it gets dark. - Weekends in the fall foliage season are crowded. It's much easier if you leave early.