Today was finally the time to go hiking in Bukhansan National Park! The day started when we met at the hotel lobby at 6:00am, filled up on snacks for the day, and after a long subway ride, we finally made it to the base of the hike. Our group consisted of about 9 of our team members, and we were all super stoked to be on the trip. Nick, our leader and the one who organized it in the first place led the team up the 2 mile stretch to the peak.

This hike was intense. While it was rather short trail-wise, only spanning about a mile to the peak, the elevation gain during this time made up for it. The entirety of it was an uphill battle, forcing us to climb dozens of staircases, steep rock formations, and narrow pathways. Even so, the group still had tons of fun during the course of the hike. We talked a ton and bonded with our friends from Camp Casey, whom we’ll be visiting tomorrow afternoon.

Once we got to the top, this ended up becoming one of the best hikes I’ve ever taken in my life. The top was magnificent. You were able to see the entirety of Seoul from the mountain and all the interesting landmarks scattered throughout the city. On top, there were tons of people relaxing, looking at the view. An entire 360 panorama of the surrounding greenery, city views, and Buddhist temples was beautiful to look at. The end of the hike was the worst for me. Going down took a big strain on my knees, and I felt like an old grandpa by the end of the hike. We ended the day with Shake Shack, which became the most delicious burger I’ve ever eaten.