The author describes their recent experience hiking Mount Lao Jun, which was surprisingly enjoyable despite initial reluctance. They initially considered a night hike, but due to weather conditions, opted for a daytime climb. Using a bamboo stick as a walking aid made the hike less tiring. They took a cable car for the first part of the ascent, which saved time and energy. The mountain's high altitude provided cooler temperatures, making the climb more pleasant. After about two hours, they reached the summit, known as Jin Ding, which was crowded and enveloped in mystical fog. The author also mentions the affordability and quality of local accommodations and food, praising the area as a great place to visit. Overall, the experience was unexpectedly delightful and satisfying.
Laojun Mountain
Intro
To be honest, it had been a long time since I'd last gone hiking. In my memory, hiking was just heat and exhaustion. I'd planned a night hike, but the night-hiking trail was closed because of the weather, so I had to go during the day.
But Laojun Mountain turned out to be an unexpectedly pleasant climb. I grabbed a bamboo stick to use as a hiking pole, which made things a lot less tiring. Laojun Mountain is high enough that it wasn't so hot up there. Everything just felt good again.
The Climb
Laojun Mountain is split into two sections, and walking up the first one takes quite a while, so I took the cable car. By the time I got up the mountain, the altitude had risen a lot and the temperature had dropped.
With my bamboo pole, I powered up the mountain.
Golden Summit
After a little over two hours of climbing, I reached the Golden Summit.
It was crowded. Clouds and mist swirled around the summit all day, and the Golden Summit took on a new look every few seconds — utterly surreal.
Outro
Maybe because it was the off-season, the accommodation on Laojun Mountain was genuinely cheap and good. For just over a hundred yuan, the guesthouse was really nice.
Food nearby was cheap and tasty, too. Henan really is a great place.