KOREA
SORAKSAN NATIONAL PARK
- possibly the best of them all -
Page intiated: 2021-11-12
Updated: Finished 2021-11-13
Soraksan National Park is considered to be the most scenic area in Korea.
This is a true mountain wonderland, - not only when the sky is blue -, but just as much when mist rolls in from the East Sea and shrouds the jagged peaks in clouds, - and creates a fantasy world that almost appears dream like in its unique beauty.
This place is indeed hard to beat - - -
No wonder that very early Buddhist zen monks chose this area as their refuge from the world outside in their quest to learn "how things are" - - -
And indeed,- when they erected their first temple of Zen Buddhism in this magnificent mountain area way back in year 652, - little did they know, that Buddhism would be taught uninterrupted at this place up till the present day!
That makes by far the Shinhungsa the oldest Zen temple in the world, - a record that not even China can beat.
Here are a few pictures from my first trip to Soraksan way back in 1996. This trip was not only my first trip to Sorak, but also turned out to be the best, - so far -, because I stayed for a long time - - -
I simply could not get enough and constantly extended: " Just one day more". :-)
1996-30-014 - Soraksan - across the Ssang-chon River,- the craggy peaks of magnificent Soraksan - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1996-30-015 - Soraksan - take note of the frozen waterfall on top of the mountain - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1996-30-016 - Soraksan - a waterfall of ice, - a closer look - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1996-30-051 - Soraksan - climbing up into incredible scenic beauty - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1996-30-058 - Soraksan - towards the top of Ulsan-bawi - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1996-30-060 - Soraksan - view from Ulsan-bawi - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1996-30-064 - Soraksan - view from Ulsan-bawi - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1996-30-066 - Soraksan - the top of Ulsan-bawi rock - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1996-30-073 - Soraksan - view from Ulsan-bawi - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1996-30-081 - Soraksan - descenting Ulsan-bawi - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1996-30-083 - Soraksan - on the trail down Ulsan-bawi -
1996-30-086 - Soraksan - view down from Ulsan-bawi - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1996-30-087 - Soraksan - view from Ulsan-bawi - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1996-30-088 - Soraksan View from Ulsan-bawi - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1996-30-089 - Soraksan - view from Ulsan-Bawi - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1996-30-092 - Soraksan - on the trail down Ulsan-bawi - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1996-30-090 - Soraksan - tried to make friends with this little fellow, - but maybe apple is not his favourite food - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1996-30-096 - Soraksan - another splendid view to the Chohangnyong valley below - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1996-30-097 - Soraksan - splendid view - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1996-30-099 - Soraksan - sunlight plays between the pines - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1996-30-099 - Soraksan - soon down from the hike to the top of Ulsan-bawi - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
After the series of pictures from Ulsan-bawi, - in nice sunshine -, I have decided also to show some pictures from another Soraksan peak, - the Kwanumbong - , but this time in mist and clouds - and very, very cold - - - - -
This weather condition converts the extreme beauty of Soraksan in sunshine, into extreme magic when the mountains are shrouded in mist.
Hard to say which scenery is the best, - sunshine or mist - - Both are fantastic - - - Just see for yourself - - - -
1996-31-014 - Soraksan - the slopes of Chipsonbong, - below Kwonkumsong - , seen from the Ssangchon river valley (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1996-31-015 - Soraksan - slopes below Kwonkumsong - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1996-31-017 - Soraksan - strange, dead tree at Kwonkumsong - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
1996-31-021 - Soraksan - and all the spirits of Kwonkumsong were turned loose - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
To be continued on next page : SORAKSAN-02