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Taejongdae Cliff at Naechiaksan Mountain |
2009-07-14 |
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Gangrim-ri Gangrim-myeon Hoengseong-gun Gangwon-do
Attractive observatory on the cliff by Gangrim Stream
Chiaksan Mountain comprises Oechiaksan and Naechiaksan, which are also called Jeonchiak and Huchiak. The rough mountain on the Wonju-si side is called Oechiak or Jeonchiak, and the smooth part of Chiaksan Mountain around Gangrim-myeon Hoengseong-gun is called Naechiak, or Huchiaksan Mountain.
Most hikers start from Bugok-ri Gangrim-myeon to hike up Nae (Hu) Chiaksan Mountain. Bugok-ri is a rather secluded mountainside village shaped like a big pot, as the Chinese character Bu (釜: big pot) and Gok (谷: valley) imply. This shape is made with Godeunchi on the southern part of Chiaksan Mountain, whose summit is Birobong (1,288 meters above sea level), Hyangrobong Peak (1,043 meters above sea level), Manggyeongbong Peak (1,182 meters above sea level) and another eastern peak that rises 1,001 meters above sea level.
On the slope of Nae (Hu) Chiaksan Mountain is a historical site, Taejongdae Cliff. While Taejongdae Cliff at Busan is located by the South Sea, Taejongdae Cliff here is by Gangrimcheon Stream. This Taejongdae Cliff has a nice view overlooking Grangrimcheon Stream and features an anecdote about King Taejong (Yi Bangwon) of the Joseon Kingdom and his private tutor, Ungok Woncheonseok.
King Taejong stayed here to visit his teacher
As King Taejo Yi Seonggye demolished the Goryeo Dynasty and established the Josoen Kingdom, scholar Ungok Woncheonseok of the Goryeo Dynasty gave up his official position in the Goryeo Kingdom and lived as a hermit at Heongseong Village, leaving the capital city of the Goryeo Kingdom, Gaeseong. Ungok made an alter on the summit of Chijaksan Mountain and held an annual consecration for the Goryeo Dynasty with 72 Goryeo scholars who lived as hermits at Dumundong Village on Gwangdeoksan Mountain Gaepung-gun Gyeonggi-do.
Prince Yi Bangwon became the third king of the Yi Dynasty and came to Gangrim Village to visit his old teacher Ungok in 1415, the 15th year of his reign. But Ungok hid himself and did not meet King Taejong. As the Goryeo scholar used to be a high ranking royal servant, he held animosity against the Yi Dynasty and was deeply dismayed at the "Insurrection of Prince" at the early stage of Yi Dynasty. King Taejong stayed at the spot that is called Taejongdae today. During the Yi Dynasty, the spot was called Jupildae, but its name was changed as Taejongdae later. In the Taejongdae Pavilion is a stone monument inscribed with the Chinese characters Jupildae, and on the cliff just below the pavilion is an inscription that was made in 1723 (the 3rd year of the reign of King Gyeongjong of the Yi Dynasty). At Gangrimcheon Stream near Taejongdae Pavilion is Noguso (Nogoso) Pond. An old woman committed suicide at the pond due to her deep sense of guilt over not having told King Taejong about Ungok's hiding place. It is said that Ungok was hiding at Byeonam Valley and Nujoldae Valley on the slope of Chiaksan Mountain.
Godeunchigol Valley with wonderful view of Bugokpokpo Cascade
The Taejongdae area is very attractive, with Gangrimcheon Stream and gorgeous rocky cliffs in the remote mountainside valley. As traffic conditions around this spot are not good, few people visit this place, while the Oe (Jeon) Chiaksan Mountain side is visited by many people all year round. Hoengjiam Valley near Taejongdae Cliff is very scenic but Godeunchigol (Godunchigol) Valley, which is 5 kilometers away from Tajeongdae, is much more attractive.
Bugok Valley near Gangrimcheon Stream is crowded with vacationers in summer but few people come to Godeunchigol Valley, which is the upper part of Gangrimcheon Stream. Only few hikers come to this remote secluded valley, Godeunchigol. One of the most attractive spot at Godeunchigol Valley is Bugokpokpo Cascade that is sometimes called Godeunchipokpo Cascade. Bugokpokpo Cascade falls along the high cliffs rising some tens of meters high. The thick forest around the cliffs provides cool and refreshing shade along the stream, and it is cold even on sultry summer days.
The hiking trail from Godeunchigol Valley up to the summit of Chiaksan Mountain is very attractive. It takes about one and a half hours from the Guide Post to Godeunchi Valley, and the course is rather smooth without any steep spots on the way. There are two little valleys on the way to Godeunchi Vally. The first little valley is called Darigol Valley and the second valley is called Wontonggol Valley. Sinmakgol Valley stretches from Wondtonggol to Godeunchi Valley. If you hike for about 40 minutes along the southern ridges at Godeunchi Valley, you will reach Hyangrobong Peak, and if you hike about two hours along the northern ridges you will reach the summit Birobong. |
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