Mt. Palgaksan Hiking Path

Reillumination of a famous mountain of the East Coast

Hike Mt. Palgaksan, a mountain of the brotherly love of eight siblings It is a pleasure to conquer each of the eight peaks that look different. The rocks are layered like steamed rice cakes. They look like they could crumble. Mt. Palgaksan has individualistic features. Not all beauty is envious. Beauty has thorns.

Follow Route 69 and a view of Okgye spreads to the left. Almost at the end of the valley, Palgak Cabin and a parking lot appears to the right. Mt. Palgaksan and Okgye Valley are like a couple. Palgak Cabin greets people who come to Mt. Palgaksan, Mt. Dongdaesan and Okgye Valley. It is one of the buildings of Okgye Valley where visitors can rest. I cross a small bridge and head straight toward Mt. Palgaksan. All paths lead to Mt. Palgaksan, but the route from Palgak Cabin is the smoothest.

It's pretty tough. The 108 steep stairs make me run out of breath. The stairs seem to tell you that you have to be prepared for this much if you want to climb Mt. Palgaksan. Mt. Palgaksan is haughty. I resolve to climb all eight peaks as I climb the 108 steps.

I passed the stairs, but it is another uphill.

When I'm out of breath, I see level ground. I get a vague view of the first peak. I look down and see I've come up quite a bit. The first peak is the youngest. It is covered by its older brothers and doesn't show well. If you take a close look, you can see that it is like a crane.

Ordinarily, the goal of hiking is to reach the top. At this mountain, it is a pleasure to climb each of the eight peaks. It's a tough hike, but the pleasure of reaching the top of each peak is what makes Mt. Palgaksan charming. You can experience a catharsis eight times.

The path forks on the way to the second peak. You have to make a choice. One looks smooth and one looks rough. Make your choice. I make a rash decision and choose the rough path.

It predicts a rough hike from the second peak to the seventh peak. When I reach the top of the second peak, I get an entire view of Mt. Palgaksan.

It is a continuation of a difficult hike. Sometimes, you have to climb rocks relying on a rope. I reach the fourth peak which is marked as a danger zone. I see the fifth peak, too. I'll have to be satisfied with seeing them from a distance since they can't be climbed. It seems like they're stuck in the middle and can't show off their charm. I feel sorry for the fourth and fifth peaks and head for the sixth peak. From Mt. Palgaksan, to the east is the East Coast, to the west is Mt. Juwangsan, to the south is Mt. Dongdaesan and to the north is Sanseong Valley. It is a high mountain, but the scenery amidst the rough geography is like Mt. Geumgangsan. They call Mt. Palgaksan the Mt. Geumgangsan of the East Coast. Below are great sights of Okgye Valley. Starting is getting the job half done. I take a breath and take in the hidden charm of Mt. Palgaksan, the Mt. Geumgangsan of the East Coast.

If you see Okgye, you can imagine the geography of Mt. Palgaksan. The wonderful geography forms a charming valley. It is a pleasure to climb each of the eight peaks. But the rocks are layered like steamed rice cakes. They look like they could crumble. Mt. Palgaksan has strong individualistic features, but not all beauty is envious. The climax, the 171 steps, forecasts a tough journey. It's exhausting, but I head up with expectations.

The peaks soar above the clouds in the sky. They look like animal horns. That's why they call it Mt. Palgaksan, palgak meaning eight horns. There is a rock with a myth that old woman Mago spilled water while washing rice. The rock is round and white. I pass the rock and wonder if the eight peaks formed when she took steps to avoid spilling water.

Mt. Palgaksan is famous and compared to many things like an octagonal hat or eight horns. The eight peaks seem to end a bit in vain. They're very plain. They provide endless empty lots without showing themselves. Even if you say you took a tough trip, all you hear is an echo. Maybe it's tired from caring for the other siblings. The eighth peak provides a warm embrace like that of a father. I leave the eighth peak and prepare for the descent. I head for the pine forest.

At Mt. Palgaksan, you have to decide if you want a tough hike to each peak or if you'll go with a long walking route. The route from Okgye to Sanseong Valley is nice with a hanging bridge, forest path and wonderful scenery. The eight brothers soar in the sky like hearts of angels.

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