Life is a different Wave moving by Time and ending at Shore: 2월 2019

2019년 2월 24일 일요일

Gyeongbuk Bongwha Cheongnyangsan Janginbong Mountain Hike – Ha Cheongnyang Course

1. Date and Time : Feb 18, 2019 10:00 ~14:00 (4 hours including one hour break).

2. Location : Bukgok-ri, Myeongho-myeon, Bonghwa-District, Gyeongsangbuk Province in Korea

3. Distance and Course : About 6.67km. Course is to start at Ha Cheongnyang Parking Lot => Dudeul Village Junction => Gorge Junction => Cheongnyangsan Janginbong Summit (870m Altitude) => Gorge Junction => Sky Suspension Bridge => Gorge Junction and back to the Parking Lot through the same ascending course. Please see “Gyeongbuk Bongwha Cheongnyangsan Hike Map” and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3mKXmPw3EM&t=19s

4. Overall Mountain Explanation.

It is located 29km away to the southeast from Bonghwa-eup and 24km away to the northeast from Andong-si (city). It is a representative attraction of Bonghwa-gun visited by over 20,000 tourists per year. It is a noted mountain which is called little Geumgangsan (Mt.) since time immemorial because of its graceful natural views. Cliffs with fantastic rocks are made up of 6 peaks and Nakdonggang (River) is flowing along the mountain from Taebaeksan (Mt.)

There are 27 sites of temples and monk's cells in the mountain and also a lot of historic relics; Yuribojeon (Tablet) established by Great Buddhist Priest Uisang, Cheongnyangjeongsa (Temple) where Yi Hwang, Toegyeo made a synthesis of philosophy while he was cultivating his minds, Goundae and Dokseodang (library), relics of Choe Chiwon, Gimsaenggul (Cave) where Gim Saeng studied, Goingminwangdang (Shrine) which King Goingmin hid in, and a fortress etc. In addition, Sinseondae where Taoist hermits played Paduk and Seonnyeobong (Peak) where fairies enjoyed singing and dancing. With all of them, this mountain was known as a mystic and beautiful place throughout the four seasons.

5. Detailed Hike Course Explanation.

It was my plan taking back to Seoul today after short hike to Cheongnyangsan less than 5 hours and trying to hurry up coming to Ha Cheongnyang at 9 o’clock. But I could not make it because transportation in Bongwha was not so easy driving road, narrow and sharp curvatures. I cane there just before 10 o’clock and rushed to start hike at Ha Cheongnyang as preplanned. I came to Cheongnyangsan Hike Course Map at the Cheongnyang Waterfall area and found landmark at starting area stating as 1.9km to Janginbong Summit and 2 km to Sky Suspension Bridge which means I could make it possible to hike to Janginbong less than 4 hours for round trip and started to move on somewhat inclined concrete paved road. As I walked this road for about half an hour, I reached Dudeul Village Junction stating as 1.5km to the Summit and 1.6km to Sky Suspension Bridge at Right and 50m to Dudeul Village at Left. I turned right at the Junction and heard so sweet and tender music somewhere at the Junction and also so lovely natural bird sing at bushes on the valley which became as a fantastic music together. I was really immersed to this unusual nature situation. If someone asked me as “Are you Happy?”. I was definitely Yes, Yes, Yes. As I started to move up the dried stream path, I found stony and rocky road on very sharply inclined uphill . But I was not so hard and difficult because of such so beautiful nature bird sing and tender lovely soft and attractive music. I walked on this road for about 10 minutes and found stair way arranging on closer to vertical uphill. I was no more hear so attractive music and bird sing and kept walking on this stair way and severely sloped bush road on uphill for about 20 minutes and reached Gorge Junction between Janginbong Summit at left and Seonhakbong Peak at right. There was junction at the junction stating as 300m to the Summit at left and 500m to the Sky Suspension Bridge. I took a short break at the junction and moved on left direction heading to the Summit and soon found one more sharply inclined steel stair way going to the Summit. I was slowly step by step and passing the Stairs and met continuously steep uphill and finally arrived at the top of 870m altitude Cheongnyangsan Summit after 2 hour and 30 minutes struggling hike. I was looking around the Summit for a while but was not able to see around due to taller woods fencing around. I so started to walk down through ascending road and found so beautiful Jasobong Peak in front on the way down and took a nice view on the camera. When I walked up to Seonhakbong Peak via Gorge Junction, I found landmark on the uphill stating as 400m to the Sky Suspension Bridge. But the road to the Bridge was also deeply inclined uphill and hard to move fast. I was therefore slowly step by step and moving forward for about 10 minutes. There was a cute small suspension bridge appearing in front which was connecting between Seonhakbong Peak and Jasobong Peak as see at the photo and Video. I was enjoyed nature beauty around the Bridge and started to descend the Cheongnyangsan Mountain via Gorge Junction, Dudeul Village Junction and Cheongnyang Waterfall. When I was almost walking down to Ha Cheongnyang Village, I saw frozen waterfall on the valley and immediately interpreted this waterfall should be a Cheongnyang Waterfall. I closer to the Ha Cheongnyang Village and moved to the Cheongnyang Waterfall and found suitable size waterfall for easily look at one shot, no need look moving eye here and there. Anyhow I took a photo and video properly and attached for your appreciation herein. I was eventually backing to the parking lot after 4 hours hike, up and down.

Parking Lot at Ha Cheongnyang Village

Landmark at Ha Cheongnyang Village; 1.9km to Janginbong Summit and 2 km to Sky Suspension Bridge

Typical Concrete Paved Steep Uphill Road to Dudeul Village

Dudel Junction; 1.5km to the Summit and 2 km to Sky Suspension Bridge

Walking Rocky and Stony Dried Stream Road on Highly Slped Uphill

Very Sharply Inclined Stair Way on Uphill

Deeply Slped Bush uphill Road

Closer to Gorge Junction

Gorge Junction; 300m to Janginbong Summit at Left and 500m to Sky Suspension Bridge

One More Heavily Inclined Steel Stair Way

Reaching to 870m Altitude Cheongnyangsan Summt

Beautiful Jasobong Peak on the Way Dwon to Gorge Junction

Landmark after Gorge Junction; 400m to the Sky Suspension Bridge

Small but Cute Sky Suspension Bridge. Jasobong Peak is Behind

Around View at the Bridge

One More Around View at the Bridge

Sky Suspension Bridge at different Angle

Closer View of Jasobong Peak at the Bridge

Completly Frozen Cheongnyang Waterfall

2019년 2월 23일 토요일

Choongbuk Boeun Songnisan Mountain Hike – Beopjusa to Cheonwangbong Course

1. Date and Time : Feb 17, 2019 10:00 ~17:00 (7 hours including one hour break).

2. Location : Naesongni-myeon, Boeun-District, Chungcheongbuk-Province and Hwabuk-myeon, Sangju-City, Gyeongsangbuk-Province in Korea

3. Distance and Course : About 17.68km. Course is to start at Beopjusa Parking Lot => Beopjusa Junction => Sesimjeong => Birobong Junction => Boeun Songnisan Cheonwangbong Summit (1058m Altitude) and back to the Parking Lot through the same ascending course. Please see “Choongbuk Boeun Songnisan Hike Map” and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZsGsBB3b18&t=52s

4. Overall Mountain Explanation.

Designated as a national park on March, 1970, it is one of the 8 views in Korea. Songnisan is located at the center of Sobaek mountain range deriving from Taebaek mountain range to the southwest, and is on the border of Boeun-gun, Goesan-gun of Chungbuk, and Sangju-gun of Gyeongbuk.

Songnisan (Mt.), at 1057m above sea level, is based on granites mixed with sedimentary metamorphic rocks. The part made of granites is sharp and that of metamorphic rocks deeply bowled so that they form a scenic masterpiece, which leads to other names such as Gwangmyeongsan (Mt.), Mijisan (Mt), or Little Geumgangsan (Mt.).

Unique peaks made of granites and vast forests covering the whole mountain form a splendid scenery along with Beopjusa (Temple), the ancient shrine since thousand years ago. There are 8 peaks, including Birobong (Peak), Gilsangbong (Peak), Munsubong (Peak), along with Cheonhwangbong (Peak), the highest peak at the center, and 8 stands such as Munjangdae, Yipseokdae, Shinseondae, and 8 stone gates.

5. Detailed Hike Course Explanation.

I left somewhat early in the morning on Feb 17, 2019 (Sunday) and trying to reach Beopjusa Parking Lot around 9 o’clock, But I could not arrive there target time schedule since there was unexpected traffic accident on the express way which made me delayed more than half an hour and accordingly caused some more delay at Boeun area and eventually arrived there just before 10 o’clock. I tried to prepare hike for shoes and cloth as quickly as possible and headed to Beopjusa temple direction and passed Beopjusa Main Gate after about less than half an hour walking on asphalt paved road. As I passed the main gate, I could take choice either way between asphalt paved road at right or King Sejong Road at left, well treated soil road. I took the King Sejo Road and walked for few minutes and found junction mark stating as 5.7km to the Cheonwangbong Summit at Right or 200m to Beopjusa Temple at left. I chose right way and continuously walking for about 5 minutes and met wide unpaved car transportation Road and kept going along with this road. I saw temple stay halls at left which were situating at cozy location under unpolluted pine tree forest. If I may have an opportunity, I would like to try to stay at this Beopjusa Temple Stay Program. I passed these temple stay halls and reached junction branching to forest small path from car 800m to Taepyung Break at left and kept walking beautiful pine tree forest for about 10 minutes and saw so quiet, neat and beautiful winter reservoir at right and appreciated this so fantastic landscape for a while. When I walked this pine tree forest road for about 10 minutes, I met next landmark crossing over the country road and joined again with King Sejo Road and walking snowy and somewhat slippery deck road for about half an hour and reached Sesimjeong Junction where I could go to the Cheonwangbong Summit by 3km at right or to the Munjangdae Peak by 3,3km at right. There was beautiful Korea traditional house behind the landmark and learned this was a Sesimjeong House selling light food and snack to hikers. But I took a right way and kept walking steeper uphill road, harder and more inclined which was different hike road from previous road so far. As I walked up this harder road for about 10 minutes, I reached junction between 600m to Sangwhanam Hermitage and 2.8km to the Summit at right and 1.5km to Sanggoam hermitage and 1.8km to Gyeongeopdae Rock at left. I turned right and carried on going up to the Summit. I found hike course completely changing from here and severely harsh and difficult, even scarcely breathing. When I was walking such so hard inclined path for about 20 minutes, I reached Sangwhanam Hermitage Unction stating as 2.4km to the Summit at left. I looked down downhill and around peaks and valley for a while at the junction and felt and found this opportunity was starting moment I could see and feel mature wonder beauty. I was starting to continue ascend so severely inclined uphill through rocky and slippery stone stairs or road and spent about half an hour for struggling these hard hike paths and touched next landmark stating as 2.1km to the Summit. When I saw huge and big rock at left, I found there was small and narrow path under this huge rock and passing this road and continuously walking the same hard and severe path for about 20 minutes and reached highly sloped uphill wooden stair road. As soon as I finished walking these stairs, I was smoothly connecting to ridge road, somewhat softly inclined. When I walked on this ridge road for a few minutes, I met next landmark; still 1.3km to the Summit. I was continuously walking snowy and slippery stair road for a half an hour and touched Birobong Junction; 600m to the Summit at right and 2.8km to Munjangdae Peak at left. I turned right and somewhat remotely saw Cheonwangbong Summit and carried on walking the snowy narrow path at the small bamboo bushes as see at the photo and found last steeper last wooden stairs approaching to the Summit. I spent for about half an hour more and finally touched down the 1058m Altitude Cheonwangbong Summit and started to appreciate splendid spectacular panorama of surrounding landscape and mountains at the Summit. It was one more opportunity I confirmed the reason why I spent effort and energy taking over the Summit. It is hard to express all these natures scenery in writing and beyond human expression. You could see either attached photo or linked Utube video. There were lot of hikers coming on top who were waiting for each turn taking these wonderful scenery on top. I so rushed to take a picture and video and jumping out from the so small and narrow the Summit and started to descend the Songnisan mountain and back to parking lot after seven hours hike including one hour break.