Land’s End Trail
Len
gth: 7 days and 6 nights.
Area: Haenam-gun and Yeongam-gun areas of Jeollanam-do – 5 hours from Seoul to Yeongam in Jeollanam-do.
Theme: Mountain Energy – a ridge of significant beauty and Geomantic influence.
Subject: A great 7 day walk along the Ddang Ggut (Lands End) Ji-maek to the most southern finger of the mainland peninsula that passes through fantastic rocky landscape in the rural heartland of Korea’s famous working class Jeolla-do district. This walk is about capturing the strong presence of “Pungsu-jiri” (Geomantic Energy) on this the last finger of energy on the mainland peninsula.
Cost: Max 5 persons at 700USD each. Price includes 6 nights’ accommodation and all meals except personal snacks. Be aware, as this is a continous walk, accommodations are not always hotels, and can sometimes be invitations into local homes and temples because Hike Korea promotes sauntering and freedom of movement. It doesn't include transportation to the immediate hiking trail area. However, Hike Korea will assist you with details on how to get here.
Individual costs: 1person 1500USD, 2 persons 1200USD each, 3 persons 1000USD each, 4 persons 850USD each.
Trail Description: This trail runs along the southern most line of mountain energy on the Korean peninsula. Go to my page on Korean Pungsu-jiri to see more about this theory of Mountain Divinity. The 5-day trail is a southerly direction course starting at the northeastern section of Wolchul-san National Park located in the southwest corner of South Korea. This park was designated as Korea’s 20th National Park in 1988. Consisting of a small land area this park is stunning and spectacular in its scenery. It contains numerous cultural relics of Buddhist significance. It will take two days to traverse this area. More information on Wolchul-san can be seen at the KNPS link. After leaving the park the trail continues in a southerly direction for another two days passing along the spectacular Deokryung-san ridge before arriving at Duryun-san Provincial Park. This area is another Buddhist zone containing as many as 10 mountain hermitages that surround the main Zen Temple of Daeheung-sa. The area is rich in Geomantic Theory. It is here that we stay at a small hermitage in the mountains that specializes in Tea Production. Resident Monk Moo-in Sunim will be our host at this marvelous location. The last three days of the trail are spent walking along the thin crusty and wonderful ridge of the Dalma and Dosol-bong peaks, containing sharp pinnacles of rock that give us views into the Yellow and South Seas of Korea. This is an incredible 7 day walk that takes you on a great saunter through rural Korea on the back of a spiny dragon that flings itself into the ocean.
Trail Psychology: Roger Shepherd of Hike Korea likes to take hikers on saunters that give them a sense of independence and privilege. We walk where most other foreigners haven't and we live as free wanderers eating at local establishments and sleeping where ever we end up at the end of our day. Roger keeps the group informed about the local history and culture of the area as we go, adding a sense of education and intellectual fulfillment to the hike. It is hoped that this new sensation gives you the hiker a strong sense of freedom and personal connection with the landscape and social environment that you pass through. It's all about being able to saunter uninhibited.
Food and accommodations: This trail is about 7 days in length done at an average pace of 2km/ph. Due to a lack of establishments in the middle sections of some our days on this trail; we will sometimes be required to carry extra food with us for midday nutrition. Otherwise our main meals are purchased on route as we stop into various other establishments and accommodations along the way. These places of purchase vary according to our progress during the day. Although some accommodations are set, some aren't and are dependent on our progress. Accommodations usually consist of the group sharing a large floor space in the same room with attached bathroom. This adds a sense of free independent travel to the hike.
Fitness and Equipment: Persons need to have an average level of fitness for hiking continously for 7 days. The mountains on this trail are quite arduous and there are sections where pulling one-self up rock faces by ropes is required, this technique is easier than it looks. Hikers will carry day packs only that contain their personal items including clothing, cameras, water, and snacks. No sleeping or cooking equipment will be necessary, however if you wish to carry a sleeping bag you may. If the hiker can manage to keep their packs at around 10kgs then this would be ideal.
Day 1: Early start up the trail at the entrance of Wolchul-san to the ridge area. From here we walk southwest across the high ridge admiring the fantastic rocky features of Wolchul-san 809m. Make a slight detour and view the incredible Buddha relief carving and stupa at Yeongam-saji. From there back to the open ridge and end our day descending down to the beautiful temple of Dogap-sa where we can sometimes spend the night, otherwise hotel accommodation is available here.
Day 2: After attending early Morning Prayer and eating breakfast we leave the temple and ascend up the valley to Dogap-san peak at 401m where we then begin our departure from the Park area.
Day 3 - 4: Begin another day of saunter on long open ridges that give us clear views out over the South Sea of Korea speckled with small dots of islands. Entering the Deokryung-san ridge we amble in this rocky arae for the next two days.
Day 5: We arrive at Duryun-san Provincial Park at its summit 700m and then descend down to the small Tea hermitage of Ilji-am passing by the monolithic 8th century Maitreya Buddha carving at Bukmireuk-am. Spend the night at Ilji-am in conversation with resident monk Moo-in Sunim.
Day 6: Depart after breakfast back up the mountain and begin our next course towards the finger thin ridge of Ddang Ggut Ji-maek. This begins a spectacular day where we pass by old fire beacon towers, small hermitages built into the side of cliff-faces on what feels like the landscape of a foreign planet. There’s a bit of rope work to be done on this leg but completely achievable by anyone. Time permitting we will try and stay at the famous Mihwang-sa Temple that night.
Day 7:This is our last day to the ocean where we leave the rocky spine of the previous day and begin an undulating leg through green rolling forests to the rather space like looking seaside port town of Ddang-Ggut and settle into a night of celebration in this obscure yet delightful part of the Korean peninsula.
More photos can be seen at Roger’s Facebook page.
