Mt. Hallasan (Halla)

The top picture on the left is to show how tired we were from the 8 1/2 hour hike...but me made it!!! The picture on the right is from the top. Everyone can sick and relax and eat a snack, while watching the beautiful view. We were at the level of the clouds! There was a little building for information about Mt. Halla and with officers to make sure we left the top by 2:30, or else it would be too dark and late for the hike back down (another 3 or so hours).

Above to the left is the lake at the top of Mt. Halla. Hallasan is a massive shield volcano which forms the bulk of Jeju Island and is often taken as representing the island itself. There is a local saying stating that "Jeju Island is Hallasan; and Hallasan is Jeju." The mountain can be seen from all places on the island, but its peak is often covered in clouds. The mountain has been designated Korea's Natural Monument no. 182.

There is a crater lake on Hallasan called Baengnokdam, which means "white deer lake" There is a legend attributing the name of the lake to otherworldly men who descend from heaven to play with white deer. Depending on the season, the circumference of the lake is up to 2 kilometres with a depth up to about 100 metres.

The Korean man with me in the picture up above to the right is someone who spoke English with us most of the way up (and might take it scuba diving sometime).

This is the course we took...Gwaneumsa course, which was 8.7 km!!

More Korean friends that we met!

All the people hiking up the last part of the mountain! It was very steep!


A korean lady that was wearing the same "ojama" hat that I was wearing!!

The rocky hills/ paths that we hiked.


Stopping for water, sushi 9kimbop is the type of sushi that is popular in South Korea) and almonds.

Where we filled up our water bottles.

The beginning...posing for a pre-hike pic and very excited to start our big adventure! And me sporting my new "ojama" hat! :)

One of our first weekends in Jeju Keith and I decided we wanted to go climb Mt. Halla....the highest mountain in South Korea! We went with two EPIK friends, Justin and Liz, and also met lots of Korean and English friends on our way up and down. There are four paths on the mountain, two take you up about halfway and take about 4 hours for the trip. The other two paths take you up to the very top to see the little lake and the beautiful view all around you. One is very difficult and people say you have to train before hiking it. The other path is a little difficult but very popular for people to take. Both take about 8 or so hours going up and down, with small rests on the way up and a lunch break. We took this last path since the day we were going was supposed to be clear (which is necessary because at the top you are at the height of the clouds and if you want to see the lake at the top and the beautiful view it should be somewhat clear that day).

We got to the path to begin our hike by 9am, packed little snacks and brought layers because we had heard that the top was very cold (since you are so high up, I think around 8,000 ft. high) The hike was difficult and challenging because we were not used to such steep hills, and because there were a lot of rocky parts which made it so that you had to be watching your feet the whole time or you would trip and fall. The entire hike took 8 1/2 hours up and down, with our little stopping breaks to rest and look at the scenary, and with our lunch break, where we ate noodles (they had a lunch area where you could buy them) and almonds that I brought. It was an amazing feeling to have accomplished such a hike and see such beautiful views within only the second weekend we were there! One Korean man that is in the picture above who we met and spoke with most of the way up might take us scubadiving sometime (after we get certified).

My hat, they call ojama hats, was one that I had bought on my way up in order to fit in and block the sun. It was funny though, because I found out later that some people think of the ojama hat as a hat that grandma's wear....but my co-teacher said "ojama" meant married lady. Oh well, I like it and am going to bring the fashion back!! :)