A Snow-Flower Trip to Hallasan

Last weekend, a heavy snow advisory was issued for Hallasan. I knew it had snowed a lot, but the 1100 Road had been closed so we couldn’t go. As soon as the restrictions were lifted, we headed to Hallasan to see the snow flowers.

Our destination was Seogwipo Natural Recreation Forest on the slopes of Hallasan. We drove hard along the Sanrok Road and arrived—only to find it closed due to the heavy snow. Suddenly, we were left without a plan and started wandering. Wherever you go on Hallasan, the white snow welcomes you, but where should we go?

Then Jonjaam popped into my mind. Not long ago in autumn, I had climbed up to Jonjaam, and the view from there had completely captured my heart. All at once, I wanted to see Jonjaam buried in pure white snow.

On the Hallasan Yeongsil Trail, entry is restricted once it hits 12 o’clock. We arrived at the Yeongsil parking lot after noon and boldly said we were going to Jonjaam—but we could see a path that no one had taken. We weren’t here to hike today, and we weren’t prepared. I did bring crampons just in case, but I wasn’t even wearing hiking boots. It didn’t look realistic to push through knee-deep snow and climb for 30 minutes, so we gave up.

Leaving Jonjaam behind, we started walking toward the Yeongsil Trail entrance. When this much snow falls, the parking lot at the entrance is closed and you have to go on foot. With a blanket of pure white snow covering the road, it felt like there was no better walking path.

The rime glittered beautifully. Since it was already past noon, hikers who had started early in the morning were coming down one by one. We walked for a long while. The air was cold, but thankfully there was no wind today, so it didn’t feel too freezing.

After leaving the Yeongsil Trail, we headed higher up Hallasan. As we neared the 1100 Highland, we started seeing countless cars parked along the left side of the road. We joined the crowd and began looking around the 1100 Highland.

Long ago, a devoted son came to Hallasan to obtain the blood of a white deer to cure his mother’s illness. Just before he loosed his arrow, the mountain spirit appeared and, instead of the deer’s blood, gave him the medicinal spring water of Baengnokdam.

At the 1100 Highland on Hallasan, there is a white deer statue—and this is the legend handed down about it.

We walked through the wetland across from the 1100 Highland. The softly piled snow on the wetland and the rime all around made my heart feel pure, too. So much snow had fallen that the boardwalk was cut off halfway, but even that was more than enough.

Next time it snows, I’m going to climb up to Baengnokdam. Do you think I might get a cup of that medicinal spring water too?