A Day Hike on Cheonggyesan Mountain: Preparing for Hallasan
Before heading to Hallasan next week, I decided to take a practice hike and break in my new hiking boots. So, on August 31st, I went to Cheonggyesan Mountain.
I live near Indeokwon Station, so I woke up at 4 AM, took a shower, and left home around 4:30 AM. After exiting Indeokwon Station through Exit 3 and walking a short distance, you'll find a bus stop. I took bus number 441 from there. The first bus usually arrives around 5 AM, it seems.
Take this blue bus and get off at Yangjae AT Center/Yangjae Flower Market.
Once you get off, cross the crosswalk directly in front of you and transfer to the green bus number 4432 at the opposite bus stop. Then, get off at the 'Cheonggyesan/Wonteo Gol' stop.
You'll see this underpass across the street when you get off.
Go through here.
There's a gimbap shop at the entrance of Cheonggyesan Mountain that opens at 3 AM on weekends. I figured I'd be hungry at the summit, so I bought a tuna gimbap roll and an energy bar. Then, I followed the other hikers up the hill.
After walking for about 5 minutes, you'll reach the Wonteo Gol entrance. I took a picture of the map beforehand, just in case I decided to descend towards Uiwang or Gwacheon.
This is the beginning of the trail, and I could already tell it was going to be tough.
Since I was hiking alone, I checked the photo I uploaded earlier to make sure I didn't get lost, and I also memorized the order of the numbers. But, contrary to my worries, the signs were very well marked, so you can easily reach the top just by following other hikers or the signs!
It was so hard that I couldn't even take pictures in the middle. I barely made it up the hellish hill course and received plenty of energy at Dolmun Rock near the summit. Then, I mustered a little more strength.
I passed Maebawi Rock and arrived at Maebong Peak!
Since it was early in the morning after a rainy day, I could even see Lotte Tower in the distance!
I boiled the ramen I brought from home with hot water from my thermos and ate it with the tuna gimbap I bought from the Cheonggyesan gimbap shop. It had been seven months since I had ramen due to my diet, but it didn't taste as special as I thought it would after such a strenuous hike. Still, I didn't want to leave any food waste, so I forced myself to finish it. I put the remaining trash in a plastic bag I brought, tied it up, and put it in my hiking backpack.
A kind hiker had brought a can of tuna and gave it to a mountain cat, which devoured it in an instant, probably because it was hungry.
When I descended, I headed towards Oknyeo Peak and came down towards Gwacheon, which is closer to my house. But the path was in bad condition, so it was quite difficult. Therefore, I highly recommend descending back down through Wonteo Gol!
I didn't go to Seoul Land, but instead went down towards Gwacheon Sambu Village because I was so exhausted. But that area is a bit remote in Gwacheon, so I didn't know the way well and followed Naver Maps. I took a local bus to Gwammun Sports Park, then arrived at Indeokwon Station and returned home.
I checked my Apple Watch's workout function when I got home, and it showed that I burned a lot of calories. I felt pretty accomplished.
I'm planning to hike Bukhansan Mountain this week. Lastly, here are some preparation tips:
1. Definitely freeze your water or sports drinks – at least two bottles!
When hiking in the summer, you inevitably sweat a lot. I froze one bottle of sports drink, but I finished it at the summit, making the descent quite difficult. However, near Oknyeo Peak, I found a cooler with Pocari Sweat inside, like finding an oasis in the desert. I was so happy to drink it and sent 4,000 won via bank transfer. I really admired the people who carried that heavy cooler all the way up there.
2. Bring an energy bar, sausage, or a gimbap roll.
3. Wear hiking boots!
Everyone probably knows this already. I bought a Salomon wide-fit model half a size larger than usual, and my feet were comfortable and I could climb safely thanks to wearing hiking boots.
I hope my post has been helpful in some way. Thank you for reading!
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