Geumosan ; spring arrives not in a hurry, but in soft layers of light and air. Breathing deeply, I could almost taste the season itself—fresh, green, and fleeting.

The trail was filled with damp air, heavy with the scent of earth and leaves. Yet somewhere along the climb, everything changed.

Then, without warning, the view opened wide. Beyond the trees stood an immense rock face, rising quietly yet overwhelmingly before me. For a moment, I simply stopped and looked, grateful for the surprise the mountain had been keeping until now.

Along the trail, small azalea blossoms appeared here and there, quietly welcoming those who passed by.

A soft spring haze was this gentle veil that made the season feel unmistakably present to a traveler passing through.

Hikers who paused beside the summit marker for a photograph, made me wonder if the picture was less about the mountain itself and more about holding on to a fleeting moment that would soon become a memory.

At this time of year, the foot of the mountain seems to glow with their own quiet light.