I found a new-to-me route up Gwanaksan mountain, from the Seoul National University campus to the peak. This avoids the slightly sketchy route from Nakseongdae I used to take. Actually, there was only one sketchy part to that route; it was right under the peak and involved traversing sideways on a sheer rock face albeit with chains and ropes. I’ve done it about five times but it never got any easier. Anyway…I found the entrance to this route while exploring a stream in the area a few week before.
After a few false starts (some trail heads literally aren’t there any more depending on which map app you’re using) I made my way up to a rickety temple. I didn’t stop to explore, but I did make a stop at a toilet which was infested with sleepy wasps…I noticed this after I’d started peeing. The trail goes pretty solidly up on granite rock and affords great views backwards relatively soon. This is quite rewarding!
There are of course times where you need to go down to continue going up and a few spots I had to wonder if I was going the right way. And there are also a few memorable places, like the ‘salt rock’, the tree isolated pine trees, sheer climbing faces, scrambles on sideways 45 degree slopes, and one descent where I had to hug a rock. It’s challenging in a nice way.
At the top, you pass the the heli-pad and get views of the massive radio / broadcast / army building at the top.
At the peak is a small hermitage which overlooks the valleys below. I headed down the way that bears basically east, past a large temple and then a valley trail past lots of rocky streams to a place called Gwacheon. At the end of the trail is a stream-side restaurant which sells usual post hike dishes; pajeon and baeksuk. It’s good, bt this time I just had a beer and relaxed by the stream.