GuideBlackyak Club Day 2025: Family Light Trail Review
A family review of the 2025 Blackyak Club Day Light Trail at Elysian Gangchon, including the Geombongsan course, kid-friendly moments, and challenges.
π At a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | 2025 Blackyak Club Day |
| Date | September 27, 2025 |
| Venue | Elysian Gangchon, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do |
| Course | Light Trail |
| Team | With brother-in-law and nephew |
β° Hour-by-Hour Itinerary
| Time | Location | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 10:40 | Elysian Gangchon venue | Registration and bib pickup |
| 11:00 | Start line | Light Trail flag-off |
| ~12:20 | Geombongsan ascent | Slow climb matching kids' pace |
| ~13:37 | Geombongsan summit | Blackyak certification + family photo |
| ~14:20 | Finish line | Post-cutoff finish β cheers all around |
π‘ Alarm Clock Strategy: When hiking with kids, motivate them before the tough climbs. Try the "sweeper game" β tell them those staff members behind you are "devils" who'll catch you if you slow down. Works every time.
Back in April, I had a blast at the Blackyak Trail Run. The energy was so contagious that I wanted my family to experience it too, so we all signed up for the 2025 Blackyak Club Day this September β even my sister-in-law's family joined in.
I was the only one with trail running experience, and with kids in tow, the Light Trail β the easiest option β was the obvious choice.
π Event Info & Location
π Elysian Gangchon (Event Venue)
- Event Name: 2025 Blackyak Club Day
- Date: September 27, 2025
- Location: Elysian Gangchon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do
- Course: Light Trail
π¨βπ©βπ§βπ¦ Before the Start β A Buzzing Race Village
A week before the event, we got wonderful news: my sister-in-law was expecting her second child! Great timing for celebration, not so much for hiking β so it ended up being just my brother-in-law and nephew joining us.
When we rolled into Elysian Gangchon, the 20K race was already in full swing. The energy was electric. As we picked up our bibs, we caught the Team Summit athletes taking off β quite the sight.
We found a spot, broke out our snacks, snapped some photos, and took our sweet time getting ready. When they called for Light Trail participants, we headed over β and immediately became the center of attention. Apparently, we were the only ones crazy enough to bring a little kid along.
π€ Monthly San Interview
That's probably why 'Monthly San' wanted to interview us! I ended up doing most of the talking, but the article featured a fantastic shot of my brother-in-law and nephew. (Classic!)
View Related Article: Monthly San - 2025 Blackyak Club Day Scene
π The Race Begins β Running the Slopes!
At the starting gun, the kids took off like rockets up the ski slope, completely caught up in the race fever.
...And that lasted about as long as the slope itself. (Surprise!) The moment we hit the uphill forest trail, reality kicked in hard. Walk, rest, walk, rest β you get the picture. With the sun beating down harder than expected, we let the kids set the pace.
When we hit a flat stretch before Geombongsan, my nephew suddenly found his second wind and shot ahead. Funny how flat ground works magic on little legs.
β°οΈ The Hardships of Geombongsan and the 'Devil' Sweepers
Once we hit Geombongsan proper, we started meeting 20K runners bombing down from the opposite direction. The trail was narrow, so we hugged the sides and took plenty of breathers on the steep sections.
Before long, the sweepers (the staff who bring up the rear) were breathing down our necks. Time for some creative motivation: "See those guys? They're devils who eat slow hikers! Better keep moving!" Hey, whatever works, right?
Near the summit came the dreaded stairs. I rushed ahead to get my Blackyak certification stamp, but the line at the official rock was ridiculous. Just as I was about to bail, a staffer saved the day: "Photos by the banner count too!" Perfect. We rounded up the crew and got our summit shot.
π§ Steep Downhills and the Final Step
After a solid rest, we tackled the descent. Turns out "Light Trail" doesn't mean "easy trail." The downhill was so steep we needed the fixed ropes, and the kids were really struggling. Watching them, I wondered if I'd bitten off more than they could chew.
Finally hitting the road, everyone let out a collective "Thank God!" β premature celebration. Plot twist: we still had to climb back up the slope and descend again to reach the finish.
We dug deep and crossed the finish line hand in hand. Sure, we'd missed the cutoff and the awards ceremony was already happening, but the crowd's cheers had the kids beaming with pride.
We weren't chasing a ranking anyway. Our only goal was 'getting everyone across the line in one piece' β mission accomplished.
π± Finishing the Race
We grabbed our photo at the results board, caught our breath, then headed for food. Let's just say the meal didn't quite live up to the price tag. Next time? We're eating elsewhere, for sure.
My nephew's post-race declaration? "I'm NEVER hiking with Uncle again!" But you know what? We're already laughing about it. That's what makes it a perfect fall memory.
π Gear Checklist
| Must-Have | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Trail shoes (for kids too) | Trekking poles (great for descent with kids) |
| Water 500ml+ | Hat (fall sun protection) |
| Energy snacks (kids' portion too) | Spare socks (muddy trails) |
| Blackyak app (certification ready) | Waterproof jacket (weather can shift) |