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Daedunsan Mountain South Korea
I went to Daedunsan Mountain with Mr Baek. It was a beautiful day to climb the Mountain. We took the cable half way up the Mountain, then walked up and across the red bridge, and walked up to the very top of the Mountain where the Monument is. The walk was almost 4 hours... It is a steep, upward climb all the way, and not very easy. The view from the top is beautiful.
Though relatively small, Daedunsan is one of Korea's most scenic mountains.
The climb to the summit (878m) is along a steep stony track. There is a 50m Cable bridge stretched between two pinnacles, followed by a long and steep cable stairway. The hike up takes 2 hours if you take the Cable, and three hours if you walk. The first trip I walked the whole mountain, and as it is virtually uphill all the way, it is quite strenuous.The scenery is magnificent both directions.The one way 5 minute cable car halfway up to the summit can save you an hour uphill hiking. Going down is less strenuous but just as energetic as the whole path is created out of stones, and in wet weather, slippery too.
The major attractions of Mt. Daedunsan are the suspended Geumgang Gureum Bridge and the 127-step Samseon overpass. The bridge stretches across the mountains and it sways when people make it move and can be quite scary. The scenery is spectacular and on one side you see the full expanse outwards and the peaks below, and on the other side is the sides of the mountain. This part is approximately half way up the mountain as you can see from the Summit which looks almost straight down to this bridge.
The Geumgang Gureum, or Cloud, Bridge is suspended across a crevasse 81 meters high. The bridge itself is only about 50 meters long, but the thrill of walking across is comparable to any extreme sport. Its like walking across up through the sky, and looking down is quite a long way to the tree tops and cliff faces below.
The Stairway is a steep ladder up the side of the Mountain. This time I walked the track which is far better for photographs, and less scary. The path winds up to the Summit with many spots to stop and contemplate the view. The walk up takes from 20 minutes to an hour depending on your rate of progress to Macheondae, the peak of Mt. Daedunsan.
The last 5 minutes is the hardest part of the climb, as there is no indication that you are nearly there, and one crawls up a very steep path of the mountain, hanging onto a security rope that sways as you sway along the edge, and when you think you are ready to give up, the monument looms above, and you climb up rockface and work the steps in the rock until you can collapse on the rock pile where other people have also collapsed before you.
The view is spectacular. We walked around the foot of the monument, then walked to the extension Point where you see the whole valley before in breathtaking splendor. Then we climbed to the foot of the monument, which is as high as you can go unless you actually climb the monument itself, which is not recommended.
The view below to the left is the sway bridge, and you suddenly realize how high you have climbed and pause for a moments exhilaration. The mountain peaks are wonderful, and it looks just like the artists drawings of the mountains and a moment of awe takes over the exhilaration. Looking around the whole vision makes you appreciate the vastness of the beauty that is Daedunsan.
It is with regret that we leave to make the climb back down, passing other sweating and puffing climbers whose feelings you know exactly, and you also know the joy they will feel when they reach the Summit.
The climb down gets quite steep and dangerous in places. I was wearing walking shoes, but wondered at those making the climb in normal shoes and even fashion heeled shoes. Climbers are quite friendly, and many exchanged a cheerful greeting or smile as we passed them on the descent.
There is a Hotel at the foot and the Entrance which would be a great spot to stay overnight and enjoy the mountain walking a different track.
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