Hiking from Yeongchuksan to Sinbulsan in the Yeongnam Alps
The first mountain I climbed in the Yeongnam Alps was Yeongchuksan. After camping overnight at the base of Yeongchuksan, I set off on my second destination, Sinbulsan. This post focuses on the journey between these two peaks.
Leaving behind the distant peak of Yeongchuksan, I continued my journey toward Sinbulsan.
Although this wasn’t exactly the middle of the path, it was a trail that followed the ridge of towering peaks.
This route is famously known as the “Sky Reed Path.” However, by early November, the graceful swaying of the reeds was long gone, leaving only the withered stalks behind. 😢
But since my main purpose wasn’t to see the reeds but to challenge myself after a long time, I felt at ease.
From time to time, I caught glimpses of Yangsan in the distance.
Moving along the ridge wasn’t overly challenging, but the real issue was my heavy pack.
Carrying a parachute bag on my back, without even a proper waist belt, made the hike much harder than expected. 😭
As I climbed higher, I glanced back to see the peak of Yeongchuksan, now obscured by clouds.
The trail from the summit of Yeongchuksan to the summit of Sinbulsan follows the ridge and takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Capturing the Journey on Camera
On the way, I took the time to film the serene mountain scenery.
Crossing one ridge, I spotted another steep staircase in the distance.
I had thought the first staircase would be the end, but to my dismay, there was another challenging climb waiting beyond it.
At one point, I reached a wide clearing on the mountainside, where many hikers stopped to rest. Looking back now, the sight of the steep terrain still gives me chills. 😅
The Sinbulsan Summit
Finally, I reached the summit of Sinbulsan, standing at 1,159 meters.
Considering that I rarely climb even the small hills near my home, I found it remarkable to have summited two mountains over 1,000 meters high within two days.
The Descent to Ganwoljae
From the summit of Sinbulsan, I descended toward Ganwoljae. What awaited me, however, was a series of daunting staircases.
Honestly, if it weren’t for the stairs, the route wouldn’t have been too bad. The steep stairs made me worry more about those climbing up from the opposite direction.
At Ganwoljae, I could see the beautiful view of Eonyang and the Deungeok area in Ulsan.
Looking back, if I were to hike here again, I might start from Deungeok, taking the route from Ganwoljae to Sinbulsan and then to Yeongchuksan. This seems like a more manageable course.
For now, I’ll leave the details of Ganwoljae for another post.
Yeongnam Alps Hiking Guide:
- Trail: From Yeongchuksan summit to Sinbulsan summit
- Duration: Approximately 2–3 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate, suitable for amateur hikers
#YeongnamAlps #Sinbulsan #Yeongchuksan
