Seoul Dobongsan Mountain Climb in Korea -Jawunbong Summit Course - Hike

  
 
1.     Date and Time : April 13, 2018 11:00~17:30 (6 hours and 30 minutes including half an hour break).

2.     Location : Dobongsan Mountain in Seoul.

Distance and Course : About 12.24km. Course is to start Dobongsan Information (DI)=>Eunseogam (Hermitage) => Darak Ridge=>Podae Ridge Observation (PRO) =>Shinseondae-726m Altitude(SSD) => Seokgulam (Hermitage)=>Dobongsan Ranger Station (DRS)=>Dobong Shelter (DS)=>Dobongsan Information. Please refer to attached route or course map attached. As introduced at KNPS (Korea National Park Support) linked at below, you may shorten time and distance to 3 hours and 20 minutes and 6.4 km respectively in case you climb directly from Dobongsan Information (DI) to SSD and back to DI through the same route. http://english.knps.or.kr/Experience/ParkContent.aspx?SEQUEN=25&ParkDiv=01&HikDiv02=01&MenuNum=1&Submenu=Npp&Third=HikingCourses&Fourth=01 ,

3.     Access :

As introduced at Walking Map from Dobongsan Station (DS) to DI at the Photo, it would take about 26 minutes from Dobongsan Station (Gate 1) with distance 2.6km. You can turn left at Gate 1 and cross Dobong Road and turn left at end of crossing and walk up to three-way junction and turn right. Thereafter you can walk strait to DI as introduced at relevant photos. You shall take the same route in reverse direction on the way back to DS for taking subway Line No. 1.

4.      Overall Remarks.

Shinseondae Course is the most hard and difficult route at Dobongsan mountain which you have to climb and walk steep hill and sometimes on the rock with rope support as shown at relevant photos. But there is a good enough compensation against this so hard effort, amazing scenery and view of rocky peak and hill. If you choose KNPS recommended route, you could not take an opportunity to enjoy these spectacular scenery so closely while you climb the narrow rocky pass.    

5.     Detailed Course Information

As shown at the photo of DI, I walked hill side and found Kwangryunsa Temple at right and reached at the three way junction where Darakwon direction at right, harder and longer distance and Jawunbong direction at left, short cut and easy way. I took a right direction and passed by the DRS at left and continue to walk up through stairs as you see at photo. I met landmark saying 3.2km to JWB and continue JWB direction on Darak Ridge with somewhat slope. I reached landmark saying 2.3km to JWB and visited Eunseogam (Hermitage) after 5 minutes walking. It seemed they are installed under rock or cave. Walked on Hilly pass sometimes and met wooden stairs leading after 40 minutes walking and took a nice photo on the way up as see at the attached. There are Mangwolsa at right on the way climb up JWB and passed narrow and small pass under big rock as see at attached photo. I found landmark saying 1.2km to JWB after 20 minutes walking from there. It started to climb so hard and difficult route soon after I passed by this landmark and move up rock pass with steel rope support and reached next landmark saying 400m to JWB after 50 minutes climb. I walked on wooden stairs soon and eventually standing on the PRO after 15 minutes climb from previous landmark and took so nice photo and movie around Podae area. There was landmark at Podae Observation saying 300m to Jawunbong where nearby SSD. It was the most hard and difficult highlight afterward I must pass Y Valley, steep and narrow pass between almost vertical rock between two side as see at the photos and finally reached SSD (726m altitude), climb to JWB not allowed. We should enjoy SSD nearby Jawunbong alternatively. I climbed up the SSD on top and took a so nice photo of Bukhansan Mountain far way and indicating relevant peak as see at the photos. It was time to go down to DI and I decided to take other short cut route as seen at DI junction Landmark when started to climb before and downhill and turn right at junction heading to DI direction and walked down on easy stairs road as see at the photo. I met landmark saying 2.6km to DI and 300m to DRS and shortly visited Seokgulam (Hermitage) on the way down and continue to walk down to reach DRS after 30 minutes. I found DS after 25 minutes from DRS and walked down with comparably easy and good road for about 40 minutes and eventually met DI again. It was easy and comfortable to walk down on paved road  from DI to Dobong Station through the same way as I used to come to DI this morning for about 30 minutes walking and luckily take subway line No. 1 at 18:00 hours.