Life is a different Wave moving by Time and ending at Shore: Choongbuk Boeun Songnisan Mountain Hike

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.