Halla Mountain's Yeongsil Trail and Azaleas

June at Halla Mountain is a season of azalea fields. It was my first attempt at hiking Halla Mountain. I woke up early in the morning, prepared myself, and drove to the starting point of the Yeongsil Trail. The road leading to the entrance was already stunning, with beautiful trees and a serene mountain path. At the trailhead, I was greeted by charming short bamboo plants. As I trudged through the monotonous beginning and endless stairs, I started to feel exhausted. But then, new landscapes began to unfold—an open sky, mountains, and trees. The steep stone stairs made me groan, and the thought of climbing even more stairs ahead was daunting. However, the scenery of unique rock formations and low-growing azaleas gradually emerged, making me forget the fatigue. The white junipers, the low-lying azaleas, and the strong mountain breeze were breathtaking. As I climbed closer to the summit, the azaleas became more abundant, and the trees changed to new varieties. After the endless stairs, I reached a flat decked area, and there it was—the magnificent azalea field. It was so stunning that I felt like my breath was taken away, and I couldn't help but marvel at the view. Although the photos couldn't fully capture the beauty, it was truly mesmerizing. That day, there was a light drizzle and some mist, which added to the magical atmosphere. I could see Baengnokdam, the crater lake at the peak of Halla Mountain. Achieving one of my bucket list goals—hiking Halla Mountain—made me incredibly happy. Although I didn’t make it all the way to Baengnokdam, I still felt proud of myself.