Korea
Hallasan - Page two -
- down the mountain via the Yongshil trail - - in a sometimes strange light with half mist/half sun -
Page initiated: 2021-10-24
Page updated: 2021-10-25
1991-10-029 - leaving Hallasan in the mist - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1991-10-030 - Hallasan - and all the spirits turned loose - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1991-10-032 - Hallasan - As seen from the Yongshil trail - - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1991-10-034 - - getting smaller and smaller - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1991-10-035 - Hallasan - a final view of the mountain before it disappears in the distance - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1991-10-038 -
Hallasan - on the Yongshil trail, - into an enchanted forest - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1991-10-039 -Hallasan - out of the forest, - and a great view into a valley below,- where I had to find a road and a bus - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1991-10-040 - Hallasan - a vertical wall blocking the way, - had to walk around it - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1991-10-042 - Hallasan - a view to the other side -
Take note of the vertical stone pillars on the ridge behind to the left -
They are some of the "10.000 Generals" , - a strange natural phenomenon - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1991-10-049 - Hallasan - "The wall", - where the lava flow stopped in the misty past - Great scenery from the Yongshil trail, - but I had to find a way down - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1991-10-051 - Hallasan - and another great view - - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
( - and I have to reach the valley far, far below, - and find a bus -, before it gets dark - - )
1991-10-055 - Hallasan Strange volcanic rocks along the trail - - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1991-10-056 - Hallasan - strange light on a strange mountain - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1991-10-057 - Hallasan - passing the area with "10-000 Generals", - the strange vertical rocks - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1991-10-060 - Hallasan - Volcanic rocks in magnificent late afternoon light.
( - and I have to reach the valley far, far below, - and find a bus -, before it gets dark - - ) (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1991-10-064 - Hallasan - down the "wall" - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1991-10-066 - Hallasan - back in the tree zone again - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1991-10-067 - Hallasan - a look up the "wall" - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1991-10-070 - Hallasan - down to the valley along the Yongshil Trail - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Take note of how narrow the trail is - and not very worn -, and at certain places it was difficult to find it in the vegetation - - -
On the way up - and on the way down -, I met NO one - I had the trail to myself! The whole mountain to myself - - -
This is strange, because on the cone of the volcano - and on the top - there were lots of people, but as soon as you move away from the cone - nobody? Where are all the people?
Well, - obviously there MUST be more trails up the slope of the mountain?
By coinsident I just happened to follow trails not really in use for visitors - - - - There are most likely other trails, - not so steep, - not so narrow, - not so wild - so that visitors have a more easy access up the mountain - and down again - - -
But I had no map -, just followed the trail in a direction towards the cone - and on the way down I followwed another trail going down - - - Then I could not be completely lost - - -
That way it became quite a long hike - very exhausting too -, but I had no problem finding water on the mountain, - and water is very important when you explore unknown land - - -
And the reward was fantastic - - - "Mother Nature" at her best - VERY beautiful scenery everywhere, - stunning views - - -
1001-10-068 - Hallasan - on the magnificent Yongshil trail - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1991-10-070 - Hallasan - a look back to the "10.000 Generals" - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1991-10-071 - Hallasan - entering the forest on the lower slopes of Hallasan - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1991-10-074 - Hallasan - with pleasant small streams and wonderful forest - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1991-10-076 - Hallasan - finally in the valley below, - looking at the "wall" in the distance - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
Note:
I did NOT manage to reach the road in the valley before darkness, - and no bus lines operated so late. No village around, - and everything was empty, dark and deserted - - - -
Therefore I had already prepared myself to spend the night under open sky until the next morning, when the daylight and the buses came back again - - -
But luckily enough a private car with a Korean family suddenly appeared out of nowhere on the totally deserted road, and when seeing a foreigner walking in the darkness, the driver stopped in order to see what that was all about.
In spite of communication problems, I managed to explain to him, that I had crossed the Hallasan by foot, but actually lived in Cheju, - but had missed the bus.
They were impressed and happy when they understood, that I really loved and enjoyed Korea so much, and now I had even conquered their greatest mountain, - the Hallasan.
Immediately the friendly family offered me a free ride with them back to Cheju!
That's Korean hospitality - - - Guess who slept VERY good that night???? :-)
1991-10-080 - Hallasan - a final view of some of the "10.000 Generals" - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
End of my story about conquering the mighty Hallasan -