22 April 2023
Less rocks and no rain
Cheolmasan from Jinjeop to Onam stations
2nd to last hike. No rain. Shorter. The stats are probably not worth the effort, but ok, I will check anyway...
3 hours 20 minutes, 19k steps, 879m ascent. Not quite the whole story as there is about a 4km walk from the end of the trail back to Onam station that I did not include.
Today's hike featured very little view, it was all dense trees, green trees not dead trees. There is however a large military vehicle compound under construction, which made for a different sort of view.
As for other people, a few at the start, then none, then a few at the end.
The hike exited at a reservoir, but since I walked around a much larger reservoir a few days ago, I was already over reservoired.
On the subway I read some more about the smoking situation in Korea, as seemingly normal looking people all had persistent coughs, expelling lung fragments throughout the train. Despite huge social stigma and suspected under reporting, Korea has the highest smoking level of any country in the OECD. Urine analysis of people not aware they were being tested for smoking revealed an even higher percentage than is reported by the government.
There is also something called chronic psychological cough which seems to only exist in Korea, and started around the time of the MERS virus scare, when everyone thought coughing was the cure!
This is not where my hike is today, but it is where I had to change trains. It may now be my final hike of this trip because it looks pretty good.
The hike today started no more than 50m from the subway exit at Jinjeop, which is the last station on the line. There is a convenience store in the station itself, and a couple outside. Very convenient.
The start of the hike was the lovely hessian mats, and of course the old people exercise equipment.
There were a lot of signs in the station and on the trail warning that some trails are closed due to the construction of a military vehicle compound. Here it is. They have certainly hidden it in the hills.
One of the rare view shots for the day. Low down.
That mountain over yonder is Cheonmasan. Very similar name to Cheolmasan which I am climbing today. I have climbed Cheonmasan twice. You can actually hike from Cheonmasan to Cheolmasan. I would like to do that.
Eventually on all hikes, there will be steep bits with ropes.
Also rocks. Lots of rocks. Well not as many rocks today.
None the less, still some pretty cool rocks.
This is the main summit today, it is hard to get a good view.
I had to stand on a rock to get a view shot.
The only other view possible from the summit area.
Some time later after descending on some relatively smooth trails, and this is summit area number 2. No view at all.
Time to go down on some wonderful rock free trails.
Very fast progress.
That is my summit from earlier.
Most of the way down now and I got to the only other view spot. That is the reservoir below.
There is an old people smoking hut at this view spot.
The trail was probably suitable for bikes even.
And after not very long at all, especially compared to the previous hike, I was down at the reservoir.
Cheonmasan in the distance.
The floating thing is a fountain, which never fountained while I was there.
Below the reservoir and it is not farm land, but instead some busy streets with a lot of churches.
That is all for now.