[삼척 덕항산] 환선굴 9.5km 원점회귀 코스 7시간 산행 / 마등령이 생각나는 최악의 하산길 /

To climb Deokhangsan Mountain on April 26th, I started my hike from the Hwanseongul Cave parking lot, a place no one goes to. Typically, I climbed the shortest route toward Yesuwon, but I was curious about the Hwanseongul Cave route, so I decided to try it out myself. Hikers must pay the 1,500 won entrance fee at the Hwanseongul Cave ticket booth. Continuing up toward Hwanseongul Cave, I arrived at the valley in front of the cave entrance. The hike begins at the valley. From the valley to the rest area where all Deokhangsan trails converge, the steep, rocky sections continue, reminiscent of the Hwanggol Trail on Mt. Chiak. Because it's surrounded by trees, I recommend visiting in the spring when the azaleas are in bloom. From the rest area to the summit, the path is flat and easy, taking only 10 minutes to walk leisurely. This course climbs Hwanseonbong Peak, which is higher than Deokhangsan Mountain, then descends to Jaamjae Pass and returns to Hwanseongul Cave. The problem is that the descent from Jaamjae Pass to Hwanseongul Cave is extremely rough. It's not just the rocky sections that are as rough as a dinosaur's, but the steep, slippery ground of sandy soil keeps the descent steep, requiring extreme caution. Personally, I found it more difficult than the descent from Madeungryeong Pass. The total hike was 9.5 km and took 7 hours. It took 7 hours, but it felt like 8 hours. The descent from Hwanseongul Cave makes me a bit hesitant to return to this route. I hope they improve and refine the trail.