Fitness Check After 60: Hiking as a Personal Health Test

― Reflections from Jokduri Peak in Bukhansan ―

As we get older, we become increasingly aware of how important it is to maintain our health.

Yet in everyday life, there are surprisingly few opportunities to objectively gauge how well our physical fitness is being maintained.

For me, hiking is more than just a hobby.
It serves as a kind of “personal health test” to check the condition of my body.

Recently, while hiking Jokduri Peak in Bukhansan in Seoul, I was reminded of this once again.

Bukhansan: A Mountain You Can Reach from the City

Seoul is home to a famous mountain called Bukhansan.

Because it is easily accessible by subway and bus from the city, it is known as a popular hiking destination for local residents.

This time I climbed Jokduri Peak, one of the lower peaks in the Bukhansan area.

You can walk from the subway station to the trailhead.
However, the entrance to the trail can be a bit difficult to find.

First-time visitors might get slightly lost.

In addition, the streets around the trailhead are quite steep.

While walking up, I suddenly thought:

“People who live around here must get great exercise every day.”

By the time I reached the trailhead, it already felt like I had done a light workout.

Hiking as a Personal Health Test

Since it had been a while since my last hike, I quickly found myself short of breath after starting the climb.

“I guess I’m a bit out of shape…”

That thought crossed my mind as I continued walking.

For me, however, hiking is not simply about loving mountains.

Rather, it has a stronger meaning as a

“self-test” to check my physical strength and overall health.

In daily life, there are few chances to objectively measure our physical condition.

Shopping or taking a walk rarely pushes our bodies to their limits.

But hiking is different.

Once you start climbing, it’s not easy to simply stop halfway.
Even when it becomes difficult, you tend to keep pushing toward your destination.

Naturally, a mindset kicks in:
“I’ll just try a little harder.”

Hiking is also a full-body workout that combines aerobic exercise with muscular effort.

You use your cardiovascular system while strengthening the muscles in your legs, making it easier to recognize your current level of fitness.

That is why I believe hiking is a great indicator of your physical condition.

Another Kind of Motivation on the Mountain

There is another thing that often leaves an impression when hiking.

That is seeing people older than you climbing energetically.

It is not uncommon to see hikers who appear to be in their 70s moving along the trail with light and steady steps.

Seeing that naturally makes you think:

“If I keep at it, I can stay strong too.”

Unlike training at a gym, hiking provides this kind of motivation from other people.

That is also one of the joys of walking in the mountains.

Another Enjoyment: Photography

For me, hiking has another purpose as well.

That is photography.

Mountains offer scenery that you simply cannot see in the city.

The shapes of the rocks
The beauty of the ridgelines
And the wide open sky

The view that unfolds when you reach the summit always feels special.

At the top of Jokduri Peak, where I climbed this time, there was a massive rock formation.

It stood there almost as if it were guarding the mountain.

Its presence drew my attention, and I couldn’t help pointing my camera toward it.

Hiking offers many benefits:

• It provides great exercise
• You can check your physical condition
• There is a strong sense of achievement
• You can also enjoy photography

When you think about it, it is a remarkably well-rounded hobby.

Thoughts After Turning 60

As we age, everyone begins to feel a decline in physical strength.

However, if we stop moving our bodies,
that decline only accelerates.

What matters most, I believe, is

checking in on your physical condition from time to time.

For me, hiking serves that purpose.

It does not have to be a particularly difficult mountain.

Even an easy hike is fine.

Just climb once in a while.

Even that is enough for your body to respond honestly.

During this hike as well, I clearly realized that I had not been exercising enough.

That is exactly why I intend to keep hiking regularly.

As a modest “personal health test” to help maintain my well-being.

In Closing

Once you reach your 50s and 60s, managing your health becomes increasingly important.

Hiking offers several advantages:

• You can objectively assess your physical fitness
• It provides a sense of accomplishment
• You gain motivation from people your age or older
• You can enjoy scenery and photography

There are many ways to stay fit,
but I believe it is important to have

“an opportunity to test your body.”

For me, that opportunity is hiking.