Hallasan is the highest mountain in Korea. I wanted to hike to the summit with my children, so I made a reservation to enter the trail. It’s important to keep tabs on the situation, as climbing to the top may not be possible depending on the weather conditions.
Everyone in our family is a newbie when it comes to hiking, so we started the climb first thing in the morning. Even at that early hour, there were lots of people.
There were elderly people, young people climbing at a brisk pace, and visitors from abroad climbing in groups. Our youngest child was the youngest hiker there at just 7 years old, and received a lot of encouragement from passersby.
We climbed and climbed until we reached the summit, Baengnokdam. The crater lake was filled with water thanks to the rain a few days earlier, so we were able to take some great photos. On our way down the stone steps, I carried our youngest child who had become irritable from fatigue.
When I asked the kids about their thoughts on the hike, they replied. “It was so hard that we’ll never go hiking again.”
summit - the highest point of a mountain
keep tabs on sth/sb - to watch something or someone carefully
brisk - quick, energetic, and active
irritable - becoming annoyed very easily
한라산은 우리나라에서 가장 높은 산이다. 나는 아이들과 함께 정상에 오르고 싶어서 등산로 입산을 예약했다. 기상 상황에 따라 정상 등반이 불가능할 수도 있기 때문에 상황을 잘 파악하는 것이 중요하다.
우리 가족은 모두 등산 초보자라서 아침 일찍부터 등산을 시작했다. 그 이른 시간에도 사람들이 많았다.
나이 지긋한 어르신들, 빠른 속도로 등반하는 젊은이, 단체로 등반하는 외국 관광객도 있었다. 그중 우리 막내가 7살로 최연소 등반객이었는데 지나가는 사람들로부터 많은 응원을 받았다.
우리는 정상인 백록담에 도착할 때까지 오르고 또 올랐다. 며칠 전 내린 비 덕분에 백록담에 물이 차서 멋진 사진을 찍을 수 있었다. 나는 돌계단을 내려오는 길에 피곤에 지쳐 짜증을 내는 막내 아이를 업고 내려왔다.
아이들에게 하이킹 소감을 물었더니, "너무 힘들어서 다시는 등산하러 가지 않을 거예요."라고 대답했다.
- Our plans may change depending on the weather conditions. / The mood changes depending on the weather conditions.
- I usually make some coffee first thing in the morning. / We have to leave first thing in the morning.
- Kids who receive a lot of encouragement often perform better. / I didn’t receive a lot of encouragement from my parents.
A: Have you ever been to Hallasan?
B: I went in my early twenties but haven’t been there since.
A: I went with my family last week, and it was great.
B: Your kids are so young! They went on the hike with you?
A: Yes, they had a hard time, but I think it was a good experience for them.
B: I’m sure it built character and will stick in their memory.
