I spoke too soon. The cold is coming, according to the weather service. And in just a few days, too. We can expect nighttime temps to get down to near-freezing or really freezing, and daytime temps won't be higher than 12ºC (about 54ºF). If I'm out walking around 4:30 or 5 a.m., away from the heat of big cities, I'm going to need to dress for winter. This means I might need a bigger backpack than the one I've been using. I think the Gregory would still be too big, at 85 liters, but I could overstuff it with a winter coat and other poofy winter items (gloves, scarf, etc., even a mask to keep my breath close to my face). Of course, I'll be starting off in Daegu, which will be a few degrees warmer, but as I move up to Sangju and then, eventually, to Andong, I'll be losing southernness as a protection.
I just checked temps in Andong. They're not looking any better. And I'm not leaving until the 29th. There could be a whole new set of hazards with this walk. It turns out that a blistered foot might be the least of my problems. God, here's hoping it doesn't snow.
Snow would be better than ice, but neither is conducive to a long-distance trek. I'd err on the side of bringing too much warm-weather gear rather than not having enough. Mother Nature is in charge, weather you like it or not. (Sorry, I couldn't resist)
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