🇰🇷🇨🇳🏔The Baekdu Mountain Cheonji West Slope Course, 1442 steps, and the snow ❄️ that looks so refreshing now

Travel period: 25.06.05~06.08 Visit date: 25.06.06 Under the title (Yanji Live), I shared vivid updates while traveling. I also wanted to share the journey of climbing Baekdu Mountain, so I'm writing this additional post. The trip started on June 5th, but my first visit to the Baekdu Mountain course was on Memorial Day (Hyeonchung-il). So it was an even more unforgettable, meaningful day. There are three routes for climbing Mount Baekdu (Changbai Mountain). It was a package tour that visited the North Slope and the West Slope. I looked up other people's travel reviews, and it seems the South Slope is a route that was developed recently. I heard that only a small, pre-reserved number of people are allowed in.

We climbed in the order of the West Slope Trail (Seopa) 》》 North Slope Trail (Bukpa). As we set off in the morning, our guide told us about the weather conditions, and apparently the North Slope was closed to hikers that day due to heavy snow.. ㅠㅠ We were truly relieved that we were able to climb the West Slope Trail. But they said that if the weather isn't good, you might not even get to see Heaven Lake (Cheonji)..

6 in the morning... Since we had to leave early, we had a simple packed lunch box for breakfast..

The guide books the entrance tickets in advance. From the accommodation, it takes about 1 hour by tour bus to reach the West Tourist Center. Then we transfer to a shuttle bus and travel for about another hour. After that, we switch to a small shuttle bus and go up for about 20 more minutes... But that's not the end. We still have to climb stairs to reach the summit lol The journey to Baekdu Mountain is no easy feat either, haha.

The weather at Mount Baekdu really changed all the time.. The sky was clear and pure so I felt great, but then out of nowhere it got foggy and cloudy in the middle, and I started to get surprised!! Everyone started to worry too..

But as we kept climbing for a long while.. As the clouds cleared and the sky began to grow bright, the magnificent sight of snow-covered Mount Baekdu started to appear!! Everyone let out gasp after gasp of admiration. The view of Mount Baekdu as the clouds slowly parted was truly spectacular!! Even looking at the photos again, it's just so amazing!!

It's a sad reality... In China, it's called Changbai Mountain. There are stairs going up next to the information sign. From here on, an extreme experience awaits you, lol. The west slope course requires climbing 1,442 steps. If you often go hiking or keep up with exercise and physical conditioning, you can easily make it in under 30 minutes. But for those with poor stamina like me, repeatedly stopping and going, it'll probably take about 40 to 50 minutes, lol.

If you look closely, you'll be able to see people climbing up the stairs~~ haha. Once again, I'm captivated by the wonderful view of Baekdu Mountain that appears here and there off to the side.. Doesn't it feel like the Alps of Korea??

The summit is finally in sight~~!! I was so out of breath I felt dizzy, and there were so many moments in between when I wanted to give up. But when else would I ever get the chance to climb Baekdu Mountain? I'm so proud of myself for not giving up through all that hardship and making it to the top on my own strength~~ I still feel like crying just thinking about how I made it up here without giving up, all by my own effort~

Could you take a certification photo at the 2470m Baekdusan summit for me?

This is the Cheonji summit stone marker, and it's a place where you pay to take a photo.

The snow started melting from mid-June. Cheonji covered in snow is also so gorgeous~~! To take a commemorative photo together with Cheonji, we had to fight fiercely over the spot~lol This is Cheonji of Baekdu Mountain, which they say you can only see if three generations of your family have done good deeds!! I was so moved to be able to meet it on my very first try!

On the way back down again!! The cloudy sky in the distance, and the scenery, are just gorgeous! But my legs are all knotted up and shaky...😭 The people wearing red jackets are palanquin carriers. For those who find it hard to climb up on their own, you can also come up by riding a palanquin... They say it costs about 80,000 won per person going up, and about 60,000 won coming down..

Look at the snow piled up as high as a person! It's incredible!! They say it snowed a lot the day before too.

The scenery going back down by bus is a work of art too~ 👍 I think I took some pretty good photos too~ lol The higher up you go, there's only grass, and as you go further down... you start seeing bare, scraggly trees, and can you see how it gradually turns green~? haha It's such a fascinating natural environment. Right now the greenery must be even more lush, and it's probably the season when wildflowers bloom too.. I'm so curious about the other sides of Baekdu Mountain... They say the best time to travel there is between mid-June and September. If any of you are planning to visit Baekdu Mountain, please keep this in mind! Thank you for reading this long post.