Life is a different Wave moving by Time and ending at Shore: Gangwondo

1. Date and Time : Nov 13, 2018 09:00~16:00 (7 hours including one hours break).

2. Location : Donghae-si and Hajang-myeon (Town), Miro-myeon (Town), Samcheok-si (City), Gangwon-do (Province).

3. Distance and Course : About 13.83km. Course is to start at Dutasan Daedje Hill Parking Lot => Tonggoljae Hill => Dutasan Summit (1,352.7m Altitude) => Back to the Daedje Hill Parking Lot through the Same Ascending Course. Please refer to Donghae Dutasan Hike Course Mao and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmjFhU-nQFM

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 Samcheok Intercity Bus Terminal at Dong Seoul Bus terminal and get off at the Terminal 3 hour. But there is no proper public transportation from there to Dutasan Daedje Hill which takes about 40 hour only by taxi for more than 25 km. Therefore it would be too long way to take a taxi for the trip as well as heavy cost for booking taxi on the way back to the Samcheok Intercity Bus Terminal. So you would better take rent car instead.

5. Overall Remarks.

Dutasan (Mt.) forms the shape of a Buddha lying down It stands in front of Cheongoksan (Mt.) face to face with Bakdallyeong (Ridge) in the middle. Thick forests and old pine trees take deep root into extraordinary cliffs of Dutasan (Mt.) and it is designated as national tour site No.1 of Gangwon-do.

The word Duta means dismissing all agony and train for Buddhism. This leads to the conclusion of Dutasan (Mt.) being strongly related to Buddhism. Although there remain only 3 temples such as Samhwasa, Gwaneumam, and Cheoneunsa now, Mureunggye seems to have been the center of Duta where Buddhism flourished considering historical records that says there were over 10 temples before.

By going about 4km into the southwest from Samhwadong, the entrance of Dutasan (Mt.), there is a huge rock where more than hundreds of people can rest. This rock is〈Mureungban (rock)〉, from which the famous Mureunggye is unfolded. Upon the Mureungbanseok (rock) are carved the writings of Anpyeongdaegun, Han Ho (Seokbong), Kim Gu and Yang Saeon, one of the 4 greatest writers of the Joseon dynasty.

It's interesting that they are praising Dutasan (Mt.) with 12 letters which are 'Mureungseonwon Jungdaecheonseok Dutadongcheon (武陵仙源中臺泉石頭陀洞天)'. Mureunggye of Dutasan (Mt.) originates from the term 'Mureungdowon' (Paradise) in <Dohwaweongi> of Doyeonmyeong in the Jin dynasty of ancient China. It means that this place is a whole new world separate from the world. There is a site of a fortress, over 2Km in girth, at the entrance of Dutasan starting form Mureunggye. Inside Mureunggye exist famous rocks such as Mureungbanseok and Hoam, Beteulbawi (Loom Rock), Haksodae, Byeorakbawi (Thunder Rock), Byeongpungbawi (Folding Screen Rock), Daegweolteo (Site of a Castle), Munbawi (Door Rock). 3-tier Yongchupokpo (Waterfall), Ssangpok (Waterfall), Chilseongpokpo (Waterfall), Bakdalpokpo (Waterfall), Sangpok (Waterfall), Gwaneumpokpo (Waterfall) add savor to the scenery. These outstanding sceneries has lured poets and artists to Mureunggyegok of Dutasan (Mt.) since time immemorial. The peaks of Dutasan (Mt.) are overlapped with those of Cheongoksan (Mt., 1.403m). Although Dutasan (Mt.) is 51m lower than Cheongoksan (Mt.), people call the whole mountain Dutasan (Mt.).

About 6-kilometer-long ridge connecting Dutasan (Mt.) and Cheongoksan (Mt.) looks like a giant clothes rack, earning the nickname of Euigadeung (meaning hanger shaped peak). By following the ridge which connects Cheongok and Duta, you can realize the praises of old poets.

6. Detailed Course Information

As I was staying at Galisan Forest Recreation Lodge, not far away, I could come over to Daedje Hill early in the morning before 9 o’clock and parked the car at Daedje free parking area. I found foggy was deeper and heavier than yesterday at the Parking Lot. But I expected this foggy would be clear or lesser at afternoon in reflection to sun rise. I first of all checked Hike Course Map at the parking area and took a Course No. 1 which takes 3 hours for going up to the Summit which means 6 hours for round hike. But I personally estimated about 7 hours for round hike taking into account my age situation, well senior. Daedje Parking Lot was already elevating 800m altitude which means I could climb over 537m elevation in fact. But distance to the Summit was a different story which was nearly 14km for round hike, up and down. Anyhow I started to walk on easy and wider mountain transportation road from the parking lot for about 20 minutes and found this road was blocked with wood branch or log and opening narrow hiking path at right as see at the photo. I just followed indication and started to walk on slightly sloped uphill ridge road for about 10 minutes and reached first junction mark stating as 5.2km to the Summit at left and 500m to Haedaeddeung at right which I walked for about 900m from the parking Lot. This junction was situating on ridge road which was comparably soft and at pine tree and larch and oak tree forest. I generally could not feel so hard to walk up on this ridge road and walked on this ridge road for some more than a quarter minutes and met next landmark; 4.8km to the Summit at straight and 1.3km to the parking lot backward. I kept walking on the similar ridge road for about three quarter minutes without break, only photo and video and met next landmark; 3.9km to the Summit at straight and 2.2km to the Parking Lot at backward. I started to realize this foggy was getting deeper and heavier which was situating or moving to other direction than I expected before at the Parking Lot. But I was continuously walking on the road for about half an hour and faced next landmark stating as 3.3km to the Summit at straight and 2.8km to the Parking Lot at backward. I kept walking uphill and found Dutasan Summit was remotely revealed in front on the way walking which looked quite far there at that time as see at the photo. When I made somewhat hard walking for about 40 minutes and reached Tonggoljae Hill which was the most hard and difficult course today. The landmark was figuring as 2.1km to the Summit and 4.0km to the Parking Lot at backward which meant I walked more than half at complete hike course. I decided to take a short break there and carried on walking up the most hard and difficult uphill course and struggled for some more than half an hour and reached next landmark; 1.4km to the Summit and 700m to the Tonggoljae Hill which meant I came over here 4.7km from the Parking Lot. I started to recognize foggy getting worse and worse depend on time by time which were completely opposite direction from my expectation at early in the morning. As I pitched up to the Summit, I found it was not only dense foggy but also light hail around the Summit which made me a scare or concerned since there was nobody I met up here so far, even becoming somewhat darker. I was wondering for a moment if I would continue to climb the Summit under such scared situation and finally took a determination going up and touch the Summit goal that day and made last struggle for about three quarter minutes and finally touched down Dutasan Summit 1,353m altitude as see at the photo attached herein. But foggy was so deep and heavy I could not see around and quickly took a picture around the Summit and descended the Summit and back to the Parking Lot through the same course after 3 hours from the top, total 7 hours for up and down which I took this morning.

Samcheok Dutasan Mountain Daedje, 800m Altitude

Hike Start Way at the Parking Lot walking to Right Direction as Arrow Mark.

Walking Through Mountain Transportation Road, Easy and Wide at Beginning.

Turn Right at the Blogged Junction and Walking on Uphill Road

First Junction Mark; 5.2km to the Summit at Left and 500m to Haedaeddeung at Right

Turn Left at the Junction and Walking Comparably Soft Ridge Road

Walking on the Similar Ridge Road

Landmark; 4.8km to the Summit at straight and 1.3km

Keep Walking on Foggy Similar Ridge Road

Landmark; 3.9km to the Summit at straight and 2.2km to the Parking Lot

Continued to Walk on the Similar Oak Tree Forest

landmark stating as 3.3km to the Summit at straight and 2.8km to the Parking Lot

Dutasan Summit at Middle which was still far away

Still Carry on Walking the Similar Soft Oak Tree Ridge Road

Tonggoljae Hill Landmark, Hardest Course Zone; 2.1km to the Summit and 4.0km to the Parking Lot

Steeper Uphill Road Start

Steeper and Harder Uphill Road Start

Landmark; 1.4km to the Summit and 700m to the Tonggoljae Hill, 4.7km from the Parking Lot

Walking Through Last Pitch Uphill Road

Approaching to the Summit under So heavy Foggy and Hail

Donghae Dutasan Summit; 1,353m Altitude after 4 hours Ascending

Descending Through the Same Way under So Heavy Foggy

Back to the Daedje Parking Lot after 23 hours descending which means total 7 hours, Up and Down.

1. Date and Time : Nov 11, 2018 10:00~17:00 (7 hours including one hours break).

2. Location : Sangnam-myeon (Town) and Girin-myeon (Town), Inje-gun (District), Gangwon-do (Province)

3. Distance and Course : About 13.63km. Course is to start at Bangtaesan Forest Recreation Center Parking Lot No. 2 => Maebong Junction => Godanggi Valley => 1365 Junction => Bangtaesan Jueokbong Summit (1,444m Altitude) => Back to the Parking Lot No. 2 through the Same Ascending Course. Please refer to Inje Bangtaesan Mountain Hike Course and

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 Inje Intercity Bus Terminal at Dong Seoul Bus terminal and get off at the Terminal 2 hour and 10 minutes. But there is no proper public transportation from there to Bangtaesan Forest Recreation Center which takes about 1 hour only by taxi for more than 40 km. Therefore it would be too long way to take a taxi for the trip. So you would better take rent car instead.

5. Overall Remarks.

Baegunsan (Mt.) holds Donggang (River). Donggang (River) holding the "secret of ancient times" and "heavenly sight" flows quietly from the deep mountains of Gangwon-do. Considering this, the hike in Baegunsan (Mt.) gives you the feeling of becoming a fairy. To hike in Baegunsan (Mt.), you should cross Donggang (River). You should also cross the river back after the hike. But you can also ride in a boat to Seopsae after coming down from Chiljongnyeong (Ridge) to Munhee village without crossing the water. This is the way to enjoy both mountains and river at the same time. But, the hike to Baegunsan (Mt.) usually starts from Jeomjae village.
If you arrive at the saddle of the ridge after crossing the river through the village and across the cliff diagonally on the back, take the course to the ridge at the end of the cliff continuing endlessly. The scenery of Donggang (River) viewed from this ridge is magnificent. After the cliff road ends and the gentle ridge is passed, it is the top. It takes 2 hours from Jeomje to the top. From the top to Jejang village, a steep ridge composed of 5 peaks continues. Especially, this section is quite dangerous since the trail hangs at the end of the cliff. You must be cautious at all times and should not hike on rainy days or on wet grounds. In the saddle right before the last peak, there is a passage leading down to Munhee village. Since the road is gentle and wide, it seems like walking on park roads. 30 minutes' walk from the crossroad will lead you to the riverside.

6. Detailed Course Information

I was traveling down to Bangtaesan Forest Recreation Center in Inje District, Gangwondo Province early in the morning in Seoul at 07:00 hours on Nov 11, 2018 and arrived there about before 10 o’clock after less than 3 hours driving. When I passed PNS Ticket Booth, they requested to pay parking fee as KRW3,000- per car and heard there was Parking Lot No. 1 and 2 where Parking No. 2 was about 2km to Hike Starting Point, Parking Lot 1 was 2 km longer distance to Hike Starting Position. I drive the car to the Parking Lot No. 2 for about 5 minutes and parked the car there and checked hike course map. But there was no hike course map and only walking course map available. I could easily find the way to walk up to the hike since walking course was moving to Maebong Junction. I was just walking on hike the course for a moment and found there was so clean and turbulent rocky and stony stream at left which I should followed up with. I continued to walk this road for about 10 minutes for the Parking Lot and met Maebong Junction which I could take either way; 4.2km to the Summit at right or 2.7km to the Maebong Peak at left. I took a right road and kept walking up on the road for about 10 minutes more and reached next landmark stating as 3.6km to the Summit at right and 400m to Bangtaesan Forest Experience Field. I have walked there at the landmark without any hard or difficult so far but there was a foggy on the road and carried on walking on the similar road for half an hour and found somewhat steeper sloped wood stairs and oak tree forest. As I passed this road for about 10 minutes, I faced 2^nd wood stairs which was very heavily sloped wood stairs for about half an hour and continuously walking on steeper uphill road under support of rope guide rail for about 40 minutes more and reached softer rocky and stony ridge road at oak tree forest. When I made hard effort to climb on steeper uphill road for half an hour more, I was able to see 1365 Junction where junction mark stating as only 400m to the Summit at right and 1.4km to Guryeongdeok. I turned right and found there was a Summit in front which closely looked like touchable. I kept climbing on somewhat sloped road for about a quarter minutes and finally touched down the 1,444m Altitude Bangtaesan Jueokbong Summit looked around view at the Summit and could not see clear scenery of surrounding mountains due to somewhat heavy foggy around. I took a some photo around and descending the Summit through the same road that I used this morning and eventually returned Parking Lot No. 2 after about 3 hours descending from the Summit which means total 7 hours hiking.