Korea yet again for the 7th time - March and April 2026 - Page 8

To get here is easy, take the purple line to the end, where the station is named the same as the mountain, Geomdansan. Weird church structure visible.

The hike starts immediately, not really, they put some hessian bags down and planted some trees along the highway. But really it is only about 300m to the trail starting point, with a convenience store in between.

It is not far to the trail, but you still get to cross a nice drain.

The start of the loop course trail to Geomdansan is more of a road. There were a lot of other people on the loop part of the trail today, but not many at all 'beyond the loop'.

More hessian bags. You really cannot get lost on the loop course.

Stairs or hessian bags, they are proud to offer both.

Lots of shade today, and other people.

Rocky staircases, with ropes to steady yourself.

I am standing against the rope. These people have foolishly gone outside the rope. They could plummet at any moment.

First view of the day. Squint at the very centre of the screen and you can see the observatory across the river, which was a feature on the first hike I did on this trip 3 weeks ago.

I took a great photo in autumn of very colourful leaves the last time I was here in this exact spot.

The hike up the left side of the loop to the main summit is a lot of steps, quite relentless.

Finally a ridge.

Not quite the summit, but other people and summit furniture at the faux summit.

Last push. I went very hard up to the main summit.

This guy has set up a noodle stand. There were 3 such businesses running on the way up, I am sure one of them was selling moonshine.

Do they ever use these? They really do not look big enough for any helicopter to land on.

Behold the summit, and others beholding the view.

Another noodle stand.

People enjoying the view back towards Seoul.

Just a small part of Seoul below.

Another chance to get conjunctivitis.

More river view without fixed binoculars getting in the way.

Last view shot before I continue, beyond the loop.

I went along ridges to 2 more peaks, Gochubong and Yongmasan. As you shall see, neither has a great view.

Probably the only decent view along the stretch from Geomdansan to Yongmasan. You can see Lotte tower in the smog here, I will go there on one night, they have a cherry blossom festival, which is past it's peak by now.

Rocks and purple flowers oh my.

Looks like I lied, there is another view spot.

Gochubong peak, turning point for men in the Hanam trail race. I could use turning point for men.

This is where I waded through leaves in autumn last time. It does not look like it but it is very steep downhill. Not as leafy this time. Yongmasan peak visible in the distance.

A lot of down and up again today, hence the high calories burned.

Yongmasan peak, almost no view. Strange colour in this shot.

No view in the direction of Seoul, but you can catch a glimpse down the far side of the river.

Not my best stance, light was wrong. I was sweating a lot.

Time to head back along the same trail to the loop, a very green bit here.

Ancient penis fossil.

Back at the loop course, and immediately other people. I will now go down the other side of the loop.

Staircases the whole way down.

There is a plateau for the people that want a picnic, there are probably 100 or so people behind me doing just that.

On the way down you can glimpse Seoul a bit more.

Another plateau area shows how green things now are, 3 weeks ago this was all just dead and brown.

The rest of the way down looks like this, nice and forested, and other people.

Finally back at the farm line.

And then last of all, the martyr shrine (probably). A surprisingly long hike today, just the loop would have been too short, so I am glad I longered it, yeah longered.

I have never actually seen one of these before. Until now there was still the possibility they are just an elaborate joke.

A taxi! No really behind me is the world Taekwondo headquarters, refer to previous trips for photos. Tonight it is relevant because I nearly died in a wedding fight earlier, so I am studying up on the moves.

Many tall buildings to behold. I saw behold a lot lately.

Horsie time.

Now for the main entertainment street at dusk, heading towards Sinnonhyeon station. It annoys me greatly that cars can drive down here, but even worse are the scooters.

My aforementioned dinner of Sichuan beef noodle soup with knife cut noodles. Excellent and only $9.

Cars even drive down here. Good luck pedestrians.

Last one of the entertainment street.

I fled back to the main road with the wide footpaths. Much safer.
Tomorrow is not a hiking day, I have no plan, less sun would be good.