Hiking Bukhansan
For the longest time I had been wanting to do some hiking. I have this long list of hiking places, yet I hadn't even done a single one after months of living in Korea. Being out of shape and only mentally prepared, I wondered if I would be able to survive the hike.
Bukhansan is one of the national parks in northern Seoul. I decided to hike the Bukhansanseong trail to get to the highest peak of the park called Baegundae Peak. Thankfully transportation was quite convenient as we took the metro to Gupabal station and then a bus close to the entrance of the park.
I would say the most of the hike is fairly leisurely until you reach the rock formations of the mountain near the top. There are quite a few temples on the way up that people stop at before continuing on their hike up the mountain.
There were rest areas on the way up so I was able to stop there briefly if I wanted to drink some water or munch on my snacks. Continuing up the mountain, there was a stream that added to the peaceful atmosphere.
The hike gradually became more difficult. One part was steep enough that there was a rope to help hoist yourself up that section. Some of the boulders were quite high and I had to almost crawl on my hands to get to the next one.
The rock peak is quite dangerous if not wearing proper shoes. I would also have felt more secure if I had purchased some gloves with a good grip. However, once I got to the top it was all worth it. There was a 360 degree view of Seoul and the surrounding area. Hikers were all enjoying drinking makgeolli (an alcoholic beverage) and food while enjoying the scenery.
Korea is so nice that it offers so many hiking options. The culture is quite interesting as well because for the younger generation it is less popular whereas, it is quite common for the older generation to go during the week.
I recommend going in the morning to enjoy the peace and quiet without the noise of other people. I plan on hopefully doing more hikes this autumn.