Korean Job Discussion Forums

[I-am-me]

I plan on spending a few days there. Can anyone share their experience. Travel forum or search didnt result in much info. Thanks.

[ajstew]

I don't know who has been there, but I'd love to go on a adventurous search for the dreaded half-moon bear sometime.

[CentralCali]

I went there last year with a group of teachers from my middle school and this year with a group from my church ward. I found the scenery to be beautiful although the drive there and back did cause me a bit of distress (I suffer from a touch of acrophobia).

[jlb]

I went on a 4 day hiking trip there last year. September sometime. Check out my blog (link below) and do a search for Jirisan. I have a whole trip report complete with pics.

[Tiger Beer]

I hiked to the top before...NO switchbacks! The trails often go straight up the mountain, not like most other countries where you take switchbacks up a mountain.

Going up I didn't find that hard, it was going down that was hard on the knees. Very vertical without the switchbacks.

Beautiful scenery though.

[Muhaksan]

So I'll give you a pretty extensive run-down on Jirisan. I've been to the top over 40 times from most directions and hiked other trails without summiting. What the previous posters said are true about the trails. There are no switchbacks. (are there any in Korea?) The trails are often more like rock-hoping exercises in concentration that force you into ground watching and the rocks can get slippery in the rain. Take lots of stops to see the scenery. It is pretty magnificent.

From the south there are more trailheads. Beginning in the west there is the road up,up,up to Nogodan. It is the easiest way to get up to the spine which leads of on the 30+km trail to the top and out the east side. You can also start this end from Hwa um Temple in Kurye, about 3 hours up to Nogodan.

Moving east the next option is Piagol (valley). Really steep, follows a nice river half the way, great fall colors but packed with people on fall weekends.

Next is Sanggye Temple. I haven't climbed from here.
Above Sanggyesa is a small temple, can't remember the name. A nice trail up to the ridge, but the trailhead is way up the valley, a long drive/bus ride.

From Hadong you can get to Chong hak dong, the traditional village. A trail here leads up to one of the big shelters. It's a long one but has some nice flat areas and not too rocky.

A trail from Nae Dae Ri is similar and goes to the same Sanjang. Lots of stairs.

The main tourist course is from Jung sang ri. Straight up 6 km to the summit, with far too many people and far too many stairs. I only use it to get down quickly from the top.

On the far eastern end of the park is another temple with a trail head. Long but nice course to the top.

Arranging car shuttles, bus schedules or loops is alot of work but necessary to see different areas. Sleeping at te shelters is an exercise in patience on busy nights. You actully need reservations made on the Nat'l Park website for busy weekends and holidays. They do have rentable blankets and a few supplies (ramen/soju/stove fuel..) for purchase. Bring earplugs - seriously. The men's quarters sound like a sawmill. The men and women have their own big rooms - no hanky panky goings on. The all have springs for water too.

The scenery is the draw. It's awesome in late fall and all winter. You'll need the little crampons Koreans use in winter. Too many trees block too many views in summer.

I don't know much about the trails from the north.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

[Pak Yu Man]

I'm not being an a$$. Just helping.

San means mountain in Korean. So just drop that part when speaking English.

Same with Kang and river.

Do and Island.

I hate when kids say Dokdo island.