Daedun Mountain
Daedunsan Hiking Experience
As the bus heading to Deogyusan started, the hiking leader grabbed the microphone and began explaining the details of today's hike.
Currently, Deogyusan has received heavy snowfall, and both the Guchendong Valley and the Anseong Ticket Office are closed for entry. Only the cable car route to Hyangjeokbong is open.
The hiking leader also mentioned alternative hiking destinations, including Minju Mountain and Daedun Mountain. Minju Mountain is inaccessible via the Domaryeong Pass due to road closures, and the 13km-long Mulhan Valley is in poor condition, making it risky to get stuck on the snowy roads.
On the other hand, Daedun Mountain has relatively less snow, and hiking is possible via cable car. The hiking leader seemed to have already decided that Daedun Mountain was the best choice. However, the problem was that two people had already bought cable car tickets for Deogyusan, even paying extra for them.
Although those two agreed to change the hiking destination, changing the plan so suddenly became a significant burden for the hiking leader.
While the hiking leader tried to explain the situation to the hikers, the mood inside the bus was already leaning toward Daedun Mountain. Though some hikers may have wanted to go to Deogyusan, no one raised any objections. The hiking leader suggested that they would cover the cost of one of the two Deogyusan cable car tickets, and the other hikers would each contribute 1,000 won to help cover the rest of the cost. This was because the two would no longer be able to use their Deogyusan tickets and would have to buy new ones for Daedun Mountain. Although no one raised significant issues, I still felt disappointed about not being able to visit Deogyusan.
As the bus made its way to Daedun Mountain, the entry restrictions were lifted, allowing hikers to climb by foot. The situation was changing, and there was no longer a need for the hikers to contribute 1,000 won. The hiking leader gave a few more explanations about the hike as we traveled toward the mountain.
Eventually, the bus arrived at the Daedun Mountain parking lot, and all the hikers disembarked. We had five hours of hiking time, with the bus scheduled to depart for Seoul at 3 PM.
Leaving the parking lot, the view of the snow-covered mountaintop unfolded. The rocks at the summit were completely covered in white snow, and it was clear that there had been quite a bit of snowfall here too.
Although I wasn’t particularly keen on hiking Daedun Mountain, I resigned myself to it and headed straight to the cable car station. There was already a long line at the station, but since the cable car operates every six minutes, the wait wasn’t too long. If we had gone to Deogyusan, waiting for one or two hours would have been a given, so I thought to myself that this was a bit of a relief.
About 20 hikers boarded the cable car, and it began to slowly ascend toward the summit. The view below and above was entirely white. The scenery was completely different from the autumn foliage, and hikers were expressing their amazement as they saw the snow-covered branches and rocks.
The mountain before us gave the impression of being quite rugged. During the Korean War, it became the stronghold for communist guerilla activities in the Chungcheong Province, and earlier, it was the site of the final battle between the Donghak peasants' army and the government forces.
From these historical events, it’s clear that the mountain is deep and hard to access, making it difficult for outsiders to enter.
Today, our bus sought refuge from the heavy snow in Deogyusan and came to Daedun Mountain, but I think it wasn’t such a bad choice after all. The snow-covered Deogyusan scenery more than made up for it.
When the cable car reached the mountainside, I put on my crampons and finished preparing for the hike. The real hike was about to begin. As I reached the Cloud Bridge, there was a long line of people taking pictures. The bridge itself was beautiful, but the view of the summit and the Samseon Staircase behind it was stunning enough to be featured on a calendar.
cloud bridge
samseon stairsWhen I climbed onto the Cloud Bridge, the mountain peaks and the valley below came into full view. I couldn’t help but think that I was enjoying a rare and breathtaking landscape.
Next, the Samseon Staircase appeared in front of me. Despite the steep incline of over 50 degrees, hikers were lining up to climb it.
On a day like today, I thought it would be too dangerous to pass through that staircase, so I decided to just take a photo and turn to the side. However, seeing other hikers gave me confidence. I joined the crowd and began to climb, but the surrounding scenery didn’t register in my mind as my legs shook with exhaustion. I focused only on the steps of the person in front of me, taking one step at a time.
Although the steep staircase was terrifying, it was an experience that made my heart race. Most people who come to Daedun Mountain pass through this staircase. Despite being built over 50 years ago, the staircase still remains a landmark of Daedun Mountain. Among the numerous hiking trails in the country, there are few places as steep and intimidating as the Samseon Staircase.
After passing the Samseon Staircase, I reached the last steep hill. The steep path was covered with snow, and people going up and down were moving very slowly as they crossed paths. I had bought a round-trip cable car ticket with the intention of making things easier, but in this section, I could feel the sweat on my back and the strain in my thighs.
As I reached the summit, the peak was just around the corner. The summit was packed with hikers, so much so that there was hardly any room to stand. The view in all directions was so beautiful that it was almost blinding. Leaning against the railing at the edge of the cliff, I looked down at the white ridges below. As I traced the path I had just taken with my eyes, I could see the cable car and the swinging bridge far below. It really looked like a scene from a painting.
In the past, communist guerillas and the Donghak peasants' army hid here to escape from government forces. Today, we have come to Daedun Mountain to escape the heavy snow of Deogyusan. For them, this was the final battlefield where they faced death, but for us, it has become a happy choice to see the beautiful snowy landscape.
The hikers who reached the summit today are fully enjoying the beautiful scenery of Daedun Mountain, with snowflakes blooming all around. The peace and beauty that nature provides is truly a great happiness.
Cloud Bridge and Summit Scenery
