| Cheonwangbong Peak 1915m/6284' |
January 2-4,
2006. This was a 3-day trip to Jirisan National
Park. Our first day was actually spent on the road and at Jungsan-Ri, where we spent the night. 2nd day was a hike to the highest point of Jirisan, Cheonwangbong Peak and an overnight stay at Saesok Shelter. Day 3 was an unexpected, but a good call descent via the valley of Georim. These knees are getting ready to retire.
We took an express bus at Nambu Bus Terminal to Sancheong. Then a local bus from Sancheong to Wonji. Then a local bus from Wonji to Jungsan-Ri. This is a good example of a multi-bus transfers that kills a lot of the traveller's time and energy.
The National Park's version of Jirisan map is only available at the park's gate. |
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(1) January 3. This is the minbak we stayed at in Jungsan-Ri. This area is also the bus' last stop. The small alley on the left leads to the park's gate.
(2) This area is the park's campground. It is about 30 mins from the bus stop. |
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  After another half hour, we reached a very important fork. After crossing the bridge, the trail to the left goes directly to Jangteomok Shelter (bypasses the summit). We took the trail to the right which passes by Rotary Shelter, Beopgyesa Temple, then goes to the summit. |
  (1) This is Rotary Shelter. About 1:15hrs from the above mentioned bridge.
(2) Immediately after the shelter comes the Temple. This is another fine place and worth visiting. We were treated very nicely here. Our packs were already full, but we definitely had to make room for some candies and a bag full of fruits that were given to us by the monks.
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  We were getting to a higher elevation at this point so everything around us were frozen. It was a nice winter scenery. It reminded me of our scrambles in the Canadian Rockies.
The map that I got from the net says, it will only take 3hrs from the trailhead to the summit. The map looks legitimate so I believed it. It also shows the trail NOT passing through the Rotary Shelter and the temple.
It's a wrong map, and we learned it the hard way.
Get the national park's version of the map. |
  Here's a salute to the second highest mountain of South Korea, Cheonwangbong Peak at 1915m/6284'.
It was too bad we had a crappy weather. It would've had a nice view of the range.
This ascent took us 4:30hrs from our minbak (bus stop), including lunch break. |
  After a brief moment with my presumably last Korean National Park, we continued our hike.
The ground was covered in ice and the surrounding was frozen... including the air.
(2) This is Jeseokbong Peak 1808m/5932'. It is about 45mins from the true summit. It is one of the many summits of Jirisan that is over 1000m. |
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