Gyeonggi Gapyung Unaksan Climb in Korea- Updated and Corrected - Hike

1.     Date and Time : May 21, 2018 11:30~16:30 (5 hours including break one hours).

2.     Location : Gapyung at Gyeonggi Province in Korea.

3. Distance and Course : About 12.83km. Course is to start Unaksan Information (Hapanri) => Muwoo Water Fall => Eyebrow Rock => Screen Wall Rock => Maitreya Rock => Mankyungdae => Unaksan Summit (937.5m Altitude) => Phallus Rock => Elephant Rock => Hyundeungsa Temple => Muwoo Water Fall and back to Unaksan Information.

4.     Access :

There are various ways to the Dong Seoul Bus Terminal where you could use subway or bus or taxis depend on your situation. You could take intercity bus there at Dong Seoul Bus terminal which takes about one hour to Cheongpyung Bus Terminal. You should change the Bus to Local Bus connection with bus line No 1330-44 which take about one hour to Unaksan Information (Hyundeungsa Entrance). Please refer to the map of “Transportation from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal to Cheongpyung Bus Terminal”. I estimate total transportation time from the Dong Seoul Bus Terminal to Cheongpyung Bus Terminal as about 5 hours and some more for round trip. But you would reduce this transportation time to 3 hours for round trip in case you use private car or rent car which you could save two hours for the transportation. 

4.     Overall Remarks.

There are two major routes at the Unaksan Climb Courses referring to the Map of Wunaksan Climb Course”, the one Cheongryeong (Blue Dragon) Ridge at right and Baekho (While Tiger) Ridge situated at right. Cheongryeong is consisting with sharp and beautiful shaped rock on the way but Baekho with steep and sharply sloped hill. You could take choice, either first hard and beautiful and send steep hilly down or vice versa. I would this time like to explain some story relating to Eyebrow Rock and Screen Wall Rock which you would see on the way up to the Unaksan Summit. There is Eyebrow Rock at Cheongryeong Ridge which I could not succeed to take a photo since rock is so closer to me and tickly covered with three and green leaves. Therefore I took a photo of introduction of Eyebrow Rock as you see he photo.

1)     One upon a time one bachelor came across a group of fairy who taking bath at valley pond. He stole the celestial robe of one fairy and waited for some time. All fairies at the group flew over the sky but one fairy remain and looking for celestial robe. A bachelor appeared in front of this fairy and offered as let‘s go down to my home. The fairy answered “O.K. I will get down with you. But please think how I could get down with any cloth?” He then “ Yes, this is you cloth and let’s get down together” As soon as she finished dressing of celestial robe, she started to flow over the sky and left “ I could possibly back to see you” But she never appear in front of this poor man. He thereafter came on the pot and waiting for the fairy until he die with white eyebrow, turning from black to white according go time passing.   

2)     One Indian monk which came to Korea for learning some more and spent a lot time in Korea and came across this Screen Wall Rock which is almost no way climb over the wall. He interpreted as I might climb over the Wall Rock which is a part of Buddha’s Will. I tried to climb over the so steep and sharp rock without any special facilities at that time. He finally fell down on the way up the wall and die without any remaining. Provably “He was doing for nothing”.  
3) Phallus Rock; There was our old customs which married woman must deliver son instead of daughter since generation should be pipelined through son. Therefore many women tried to do anything for taking a son that they prayed for folk religion. It was story some woman  succeeded to take a son after she prayed to Phallus Rock and spread the story to other women. Thereafter many women, not pregnant used to come there to pray. I do know all these women succeeded or not but some succeeded.

5.     Detailed Course Information

As introduced at the Map of Wunaksan Climb Course, I have started to move up from the Wunaksan Information where I could check climb course again before the climb. As explained at above paragraph 4, there are two possibly way to climb up to the Wunaksan Summit; the one is from left to right and the other opposite way, from right to left. I took the one course last time and decided to take the other course this time. There is no difference from Wunaksan information to Muwoo Water Fall because I used the same way regardless the one or the other. When I climbed on Wunaksan last March this year, there was almost no water at water fall which I could not see water falling scenery. But there was fortunately somewhat heavy rain which makes water fall looks like real water fall this time. There is junction, 2.16km to Wunaksan Summit where you could move up through Cheongryeong Ridge or Hyundeungsa Course. I could now start to climb the somewhat steep hill when I turned right at the junction. I could reach the Eyebrow Rock after about 20 minutes passing somewhat steep hill and sometime wooden stairs. I made about one hour hard endeavor to climb over rocky and narrow path with rope or anchor support as see at the Photo after the Eyebrow Rock and reached junction saying 900m to the Summit. When I climb few steps more, I found so spectacular view of Screen Wall Rock looks like facing broad valley with beautiful rock screen as see at the photo. I could not unfortunately see this rock as beautiful like this time due to dust level high at the air last time.  As I continued to climb over more difficult rocky and hilly path for about 20 minutes, I faced beautiful Rock of Maitreya, back side view. I struggled for about half an hour to climb over harder and more difficult rock path which I could pass only under support of safety rope support or anchor and reached Mankyungdae where you could see much scenery around the Wunaksan. When you paid harder climb over for about ten minutes more, you could eventually touch down Wunaksan Summit (937.5km). I started to downhill after shortly looking around the Summit through Baekho Ridge which estimate 3.12km to Wunaksan Information. When I downhill about 15 minutes, I reached observation Point where I took a nice view of Phallus Rock, maybe better than before. As walked about another 15 minutes downhill I met junction indicating to Wunaksan Information at left. I met Elephant Rock after about 5 minutes downhill from the junction. I continued to downhill through for about 40 minutes and reached Hyundeungsa temple, indicating 1.85km to Wunaksan Information. There was a wide and clean road from the temple which I could easily and comfortably walking down. As walked about 40 minutes on this road, I found Baekryun Water Fall which last more than 100 years and kept water falling view at the photo. When I walked down about 20 minutes, I could eventually return to original place, Wunaksan (Hapanri) Information.           

Gyeonggi Gapyung Unaksan Mountain Climb in Korea - Hike

.     Date and Time : March 29, 2018 10:30~17:00 (6 hours and 30 minutes including break one hours).

2.     Location : Gapyung at Kyeonggi Province in Korea.

3. Distance and Course : About 6.62km. Course is to start Hapanri Information => Baekryun Water Fall => Muwoo Water Fall=> Hyundeungsa Temple=> Elephant Rock => Phallus Rock=> Unaksan Summit (937.5m Altitude) => Buddha Mieruk Rock=> Eyebrow Rock=> Hapanri Information.

4.     Access :

There is various ways to connect Subway Line No.2 which you are supposed to get off at Gangbyun Station and walking to Dong Seoul Bus Terminal through Gangbyun Station, Gate No. 2 changing to Inter City Bus bound for Cheongpyung Bus Terminal in reference to Bus Time Table attached herein. You are requested to stay on bus about one hour and to get off at Cheongpyung Terminal and to change the bus to local bus No. 1440-44 bound for Hyundeungsa Entrance. Please stay one more hour on the local bus and get off at Bus Stop ID:44-369, Hyundeungsa Entrance and walk about 2 minutes for 160m from the Bus Stop to Hapanri Information where Hapanri Village office, Climb Starting Point. I roughly figure it would take total transportation time including transit times as about 2 hour and 30inutes for one way. You are now in position to start climb Unaksan Mountain Course after taking right at the Hapanri office and turn left at next junction and continue to follow road gradually way up to the hill. You could on the way back take reverse way to your destination from Hapanri Information though Cheongpyung Terminal and Dong Seoul Terminal where you could change Inter City Bus to Subway Line 2. If you use private transportation, you could save at least one hour for one way transportation which comes 2 hours for round trip unless you are in traffic jam.   

4.     Overall Remarks.

Unaksan is one of so hard and difficult five mountains which Gyeonggi Province nominated. “Ak” in Korean means so hard and difficult to take over or tackle over which is included in “Unaksan”. There are two possible way to climb Unaksan Mountain; the one is to climb Unaksan through Elephant Rock and Baekho Ridge and down to Hapanri through Cheongryeong Ridge and the other to climb reverse way to Unaksan Mountain through Cheongryeong Ridge and down to Hapanri through Baekho Ridge. The one is to climb down to Hapanri Cheongryeong Ridge where so many rocks pass with supporting wire rope or anchor. The other is to climb these rocks first and walking down to Hapanri through Baekho ridge and Valley Stream Course, less hard than climbing down on the rocks. But I did not know this difference which one is less hard. Anyhow It remind me how I should take an action to use rope or anchor whenever necessary which I drilled long time ago, maybe nearly 40 years when I was on military compulsory period. I was surprised still instinctively to take such correct position or shape or holding proper force for walking on the rock and correct timing for necessary jump.  I praised myself as “Good Job” after easy and smooth completion of so hard climb course today and was proud of so hard military obligation for 3 year service which makes me strong in physical as well as mental.

5.     Detailed Course Information

When I walked about 10 minutes, I found ticketing booth for collecting entrance fee which they would not collect the fee any more. I walked on wide road easily and comfortably for 15 minutes after Hyundeungsa Temple Main Gate and reached three way junction branching to Unaksan summit either through Cheongryeong Ridge, right direction 2.61km or through Baekho Ridge, left direction 2.94km. But it should be the same for me since I walk round from right to left. I walked some minutes on the same road and met Baekryun Water Fall which is almost no water because of just passing dried season in Winter. When I walked some more, I met one more Water Fall as Muwoo Water Fall which was the same situation as Baekryun Water Fall, no water. It seems that Water Fall is normal somewhat sloped water stream at valley, no significant difference. There are landmark around the Muwoo Water Fall saying as 640m to Hyundeungsa Temple and Unaksan Summit 2.22km where I shall return to this junction after touching down Unaksan Summit later. However I reached Hyundeungsa Temple after 10 minutes walking from the Muwoo Water Fall and quickly looking around the temple. I walked for a while from the temple and found landmark saying as 1.63km to Unaksan Summit and moved just a bit and met Hamheodang Deuktong Stupa and Stone Lantern. When I walked for a while, I found it would be starting climbing up rocky and stone mixed steep valley stream, Jojongchun Upper Stream which I could not walk rather than slowly climb up. I felt it was getting harder and harder depend on more higher and higher after visiting Hyundeungsa Temple since there was no road or pass and instead rock and stone irregularly tangled. I was so hard struggling to climb this road or pass about 50 minutes and found landmark as 1.3km to Unaksan Summit. I should tackle over more harder course after the previous landmark than before and nearly climb fight against so sharp and rocky hill for about 40 minutes and saw delighted landmark showing as 800m to the Summit. When I climbed for 15 minutes more, I found “Elephant Rock” looks like elephant head and nose which is natural mystery. I continued to climb up for about 20 minutes and reached Baekho Ridge where landmark junction saying as 640m to the Summit and the other way to Daewonsa temple. When I walked for about 15 minutes more, I found Observation Point where I could clearly see Phallus Rock really looks like the same shape. I kept climbing up so steep stair road and rocky pass for 20 minutes and eventually touched down Unaksan Summit (937.5m Altitude) and took so deep breath and looking down to neighboring mountains around the Summit. It was so spectacular scenery which nature only could create in the world. I was pleasantly to climb down through Cheongryeong Ridge from now on through so harsh and dangerous zone. When I climbed down such difficult area for about half an hour, I met landmark showing as 2.82km to Hapanri Information. I met Buddha Mieruk Rock after climbing down some more which really looks like back shape of Buddha. When I climbed down on harder for a quarter minutes, I found splendid and spectacular view of Eyebrow Rock” which was mysterious scenery. I felt human is a just tinny dust or almost nothing in front of so great nature when I saw the Eyebrow Rock scenery. I saw landmark showing 1.72km to Hapanri information after half an hours climbing down. It was a particular points at the Cheongryeong Ridge there were some bigger rock obstacles on the way down on Cheongryeong Ridge to Hapanri information which we must detour to right way or left way. There were sometime some road was not so clear which way I should take to right or left sine there was no clear landmark or indicative ribbon or any other something for indication. When I faced one bigger obstacle rock in front of me, I carefully checked several times referring to some evidence or trace for human walking which way should be correct detour way, left or right. I finally choose right way and walking on pile of dead leaves in depth and slowly moved to right direction more and more. But there was trace or evidence for walking road. I decided to return to left direction through so highly deep piled dead leaves and suffered for this area and lost about 30 minutes only die to this mistake. Anyway I found three way junction landmark saying as 1.13km to Hapanri Information after half an hours walking down more from previous landmark where near to Muwoo Water Fall. I could easily and smoothly walking down for about 15 minutes on the wide and good road which passenger car could easily pass and returned Hapanri Information where I start to climb this morning.