"Life is naturally steep" IREAH faces 'real hiking' while climbing Bukhansan Baegundae

Artist IREAH challenged herself to climb Bukhansan Baegundae, revealing the exhaustion of the hike and the natural scenery without filter. This hike shared by IREAH was a 'full-scale' mountain trek on a different dimension from her usual experience of visiting local mountains.

"Life is naturally steep"... The reason for choosing the steep Baegundae course

IREAH began her hike with a friend to tackle the Bukhansan Baegundae course. From the beginning of the hike, IREAH moved energetically, expressing anticipation for the makgeolli and food she would enjoy after descending. As the serious uphill climb began after passing the 1,600m altitude point, IREAH chose the steep path instead of the gentle one. She expressed the situation of facing the steep slope with a joke, saying, "Our lives are naturally steep."

As the hike progressed, physical limits were reached. IREAH experienced shortness of breath while climbing the steep path, and in the rugged sections filled with rocks, she honestly confessed her feelings, saying, "I have the will, but actually I don't," revealing her struggling state. In particular, as the intensity of the aerobic exercise increased while passing through rough rocks and unpaved sections, IREAH was seen catching her breath while looking for resting spaces.

Scenery near the Baegundae summit and unexpected encounters

After passing the difficult sections, IREAH marveled at the scenery of Bukhansan. Although the path was rugged, well-maintained routes and ever-changing natural landscapes continued. There were also brief encounters with animals met on the path during the hike. IREAH showed herself communicating with a cat she met on the way by feeding it, not missing the joy provided by nature despite the exhaustion of the hike.

In the process of heading toward the summit, various situations occurred during the hike, such as exchanging brief greetings with foreign tourists. As she got closer to the summit, the slope became even steeper, and IREAH reacted to the scenery near the summit, asking, "Isn't this heaven?" During the hike, the craving for food like kimbap or ramen grew, creating a scene where the pain of hiking and appetite intersected.

"The best makgeolli I've had in my life"... The reward that came after the grueling hike

After completing the summit climb, IREAH felt a greater physical burden during the descent than during the ascent. The descent was not easy, to the point where she said, "I don't dare to come down as much as I went up." However, the food encountered at the end of the hike was enough to reward the arduous journey.

Regarding the food eaten after descending, IREAH expressed satisfaction, evaluating it as "the most delicious makgeolli I've had in my life." In particular, during the meal accompanied by pork belly, she emphasized the value of food eaten immediately after a hike, saying, "I thought most meat was similar, but the meat here is truly delicious." For IREAH, who experienced the difficulty of Bukhansan, which was distinctly different from local mountains, this hike concluded as both a physical challenge and a gourmet journey.

Source: original video (YouTube)