On a nippy Sunday morning in February many years ago, I was on a train to go to Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province. I was going to climb Mount Jaeyak, not far from Miryang city. In my mid-70s and still somewhat thriving, I had not fully recovered from the flu. It had completely exhausted me for two weeks. But I was determined to challenge the high mountain. Like always, I was alone.