In Pursuit of Autumn Colours In Korea 2011

 Capture the silvery, delicate beauty of  eulalia or pampas grass ( Haneul Park in Seoul. /Newsis)  

Stunning maple reds are expected to be in full display between 18th and  20th October in Seoraksan. Brace yourselves for crowded trails and be prepared to share the beautiful scenery with hordes of visitors and wait in line to snap photos of your loved ones posing beside a particularly pretty tree.

The trees in Yeouido in Seoul are already changing colour also.

Fall foliage is expected to peak around 22nd of October.

Check out the photos of Korea's autumn colours on this blog for some inspiration.

Some hints from an amateur for great shots:

1. Go early to avoid heads intruding into your photos.

2. Head for the temples in the national and provincial parks.

3. Balance close-ups and wide-angle shots.

sources:

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/10/11/2011101100390.html

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/10/03/2011100300354.html
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/10/115_96329.html
http://www.pbase.com/dbh/autumn

Autumn Leaves Schedule for Korea, 2011

Here's the 2011 Fall Foliage Schedule, lifted from the KTO website.

"The Korea Meteorological Administration recently announced that the autumnal tint will be making its appearance 1-6 days later than it has in previous years. Leaves on Jirisan Mountain and the central regions of Korea are expected to start changing between October 3rd and 19th, while the southern regions will start experiencing the seasonal bursts of color between October 13th and 30th.

The first foliage* of Seoraksan Mountain is predicted to start around October 3rd, and will reach its peak** around October 18th. The peak time of fall foliage on Naejangsan Mountain will be around the 7th of November. Last but not least, the autumnal tint will peak in the central regions and Jirisan Mountain around middle to late October, and in the southern regions around late October to early November.

2011 Autumn Foliage Schedule ( I've just selected some national parks. For the full schedule, click here.)

How to Read the Info Below:
National Park - Date for First Foliage - Date for the Peak Foliage

NOTE:

*First foliage = 20% of a given area’s foliage has changed color
**Peak foliage = 80% or more of a given area’s foliage has changed colors


Seoraksan  in Gangwon-do (설악산) 10.3 - 10.20
Bukhansan  in Gyeonggi-do, nearest to Seoul  (북한산) 10.19 -  10.28
Naejangsan, a popular place for viewing maple reds (내장산) 10.26 -  11.7
Jirisan - one of the biggest national parks (지리산) 10.13 10.23
Hallasan on Jeju-do (한라산) 10.17- 10.28

See earlier posting on shorter autumns in Korea

sources:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?cid=1391042
Courtesy of: Korea Meteorological Administration

Autumn Leaves Have Reached Seoraksan!

Autumn leaves have started to appear in Seoraksan! Head for Gangwon-do to catch the fall foliage.

Mountain climbers find autumn has arrived at Mount Seorak in Gangwon yesterday. Cool temperatures seem to have spurred fall colors to appear on mountains in the middle of the Korean Peninsula. [YONHAP]

For earlier postings on Seoraksan, click on the headings below:

Part 1 - Not So Easy Getting Away From It All

Part 2 - Beware of Traffic Jams On Mountain Roads

Part 3 - Osaek In The South Corner

Part 4 - Lessons For The Novice Hiker

Part 5 - Sample The Waters At Osaek

Part 6 - Where To Stay In Osaek

sources:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2926391
http://www.korea.net/news.do?mode=detail&guid=50243
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=651225
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=257506

ETA for Autumn Leaves 2010 - Latest Update

Here's the latest info copied from the KNTO website:
"We all might have to wait just a little bit longer this year to be dazzled by Korea’s brilliant fall foliage. The Korea Meteorological Administration recently announced that the autumnal tint will be making its appearance 1~11 days later than it has in previous years. Leaves on Jirisan and the central regions of Korea are expected to start changing from October 3rd to 18th, while the southern regions will start experiencing the seasonal bursts of color around October 17th to the 30th.

The first foliage of Seoraksan Mountain is predicted to start around October 3rd and will reach its peak around October 20th.* On Mt. Naejangsan, the peak time will be around the 6th of November. In the middle regions and Mt. Jirisan, the autumnal tint will peak around late October; in the southern regions, early November.
*First foliage = 20% of a given area’s foliage has changed colors
*Peak foliage = 80% or more of a given area’s foliage has changed colors

Mountains 2010 Autumn Foliage Schedule


Place  - First Foliage Date  / Peak Time Date

Seoraksan (설악산) - 10.3   /  10.20
Odaesan (오대산)   - 10.6   / 10.28
Bukhansan (북한산) -10.22 / 11.1
Chiaksan (치악산) - 10.15  /  10.31
Woraksan (월악산)- 10.19  /10.27
Songnisan (속리산)- 10.18 / 10.26
Gyeryongsan (계룡산)-10.18 /  10.30
Palgongsan (팔공산) - 10.24  / 11.1
Gayasan (가야산) - 10.18  / 11.3
Naejangsan (내장산) - 10.28 /  11.6
Jirisan (지리산) - 10.17 /  10.29
Mudeungsan (무등산) - 10.27  / 11.12
Duryunsan (두륜산) - 10.30  / 11.11
Hallasan (한라산) - 10.22 / 11.9

The information above comes from the Korea Meteorological Administration and it can be found on the KNTO website.

At the same time, bear in mind, that the weather has been playing mind games with the KMA in recent years. It's getting harder and harder to predict what Mother Nature is going to do, especially when we've not been showing her enough respect. Expect her to behave more capriciously.
 
For instance, just today, the nation is experiencing its first frost this year - temperatures in Gangwon-do have dipped to around zero degrees Celcius.Farmers already badly affected by heavy rains and typhoons are bracing themselves for another attack on their crops because of this unanticipated frost.
 
According to KBS, the "Korea Meteorological Administration has forecast that afternoon highs will hover around 20 degrees Celsius, with strong winds expected to subside later in the afternoon. But the weather agency added that the cold weather is expected to continue through Friday before autumn rains hit the nation on the weekend."

Goodness knows what effect the early frost will have on the autumn leaves.
Please also check out this posting. ( from 2009 as an indication of things to come)