Exploring Hidden Gems in Goyang City
Hello.
Today, I would like to introduce my submission for the Goyang City Hidden Gems SNS event.
My backyard mountain, Gohongsan.
To reminisce about old memories, I decided to hike up the mountain today.
The name of our village is Jungsan, literally meaning 'middle mountain,' as it is situated halfway up the mountain.
Gohongsan is a mountain that embodies the identity of our village.
Having lived in this neighborhood for nearly 30 years, I have many memories associated with Gohongsan.
The name Gohongsan is featured in the school songs of both my elementary and middle schools.
In spring, the forsythias blooming at the foot of Gohongsan seemed to droop as if they were about to burst into bloom.
I still vividly remember picking forsythias from the playground to play spinning tops.
Every New Year, my family would hike up the mountain to watch the sunrise.
The chilly dawn air was so cold that the hot fish cake soup would cool down quickly.
Above all, the happiest memory from Gohongsan was when I packed a lunch and hiked up with the older kids from the neighborhood.
We would play on Jangsa Rock and spread out a mat at the helicopter landing site to eat our lunch.
Those joyful memories remain vivid in my mind.
Today, I decided to revisit the helicopter landing site and Jangsa Rock while reflecting on those old memories.
It had been a long time since I last visited, and I found the path I used to know so well to be a bit hazy.
In my memory, there was a helicopter landing site on the way to Yeongcheonsa, but the map showed it on the opposite side.
My mother mentioned that there was a landing site on the way to Jangsa Rock, which added to my confusion.
So, I decided to trust my memory and continue up the mountain.
From a distance, Gohongsan looks like a gentle hill, but the entrance is steeper than I remembered.
Even though I regularly do aerobic exercises, I quickly found myself out of breath and sweating.
I recalled how I used to get tired easily as a child and would whine to my parents.
Now, I find myself leading the way, climbing one or two steps at a time ahead of my mother.
As I looked back, I saw my mother slowly following with her hiking stick.
At a fork in the path, I decided to trust my instincts and take the lower route.
The lower path turned out to be flatter than expected, making it feel like a stroll through the woods.
Thanks to the gentle breeze, the sweat I had worked up quickly dried.
Before I knew it, I reached the midpoint of my destination, the helicopter landing site and Jangsa Rock.
Though my mother was momentarily confused, we were able to ask a passing hiker for directions.
Eventually, we found the way by following the guide map.
Upon arriving at the helicopter landing site, I initially thought I had come to the wrong place.
In the past, I could see the entire village from here, but now the view is obstructed by the growing trees.
The ground of the landing site was also hidden from sight.
However, the location of the entrance remained just as I remembered.
On the way to Jangsa Rock, I encountered a familiar uphill path.
“Right, there were many stairs on the way to Jangsa Rock.”
It seems that the paths we remember physically stay with us longer.
Upon seeing two rocks that I thought marked our arrival, I felt a wave of joy.
However, these rocks were not Jangsa Rock.
I remember always mistaking these rocks for Jangsa Rock in the past.
Finally, I arrived at Jangsa Rock.
There are makeshift stairs here that allow you to climb up and see the view.
As a child, my sibling always climbed up the rock to mimic The Lion King.
Recalling that memory made me smile.
As an adult, I felt a bit braver, so I climbed up the rock myself this time.
From the top, I could see the open space below.
My mother sat on a bench, taking a moment to catch her breath.
Coming down was trickier than I expected, so I had to be careful.
Near Jangsa Rock, the triangular tower appeared closer.
So, I decided to climb a bit higher.
As I ascended the slope, I found the stairs leading to the triangular tower.
With each step, the tower drew nearer.
At the end of the stairs, there was an observation deck.
It was surprising to realize that I had lived here for over 30 years without knowing about this observation deck.
On clear days, you can see Namsan from here.
Though the sky was cloudy that day, the expansive view was refreshing.
From the opposite observation deck, I could see my village at a glance.
I could also see Tan-hyun Village and Paju Simhak Mountain.
As I descended the mountain, I passed by Yeongcheonsa.
I remembered the times I came here every New Year to watch the sunrise, waiting for the sun to rise while eating fish cakes in the gathering crowd.
When the sun rose through the clouds, it felt like my frozen hands and feet were thawing.
As I finished my walk on Gohongsan, about an hour and a half had passed.
What I thought would be a light stroll turned out to be more strenuous than expected.
However, walking Gohongsan was much more meaningful than viewing the scenery from a treadmill.
I was able to recall old memories and discover new places.
As spring approaches, I might come back to see if I can spot squirrels or pheasants.
What will Gohongsan look like this spring?
Gohongsan is a representative mountain of the Ilsan Jungsan and Tan-hyeon area, perfect for light hiking and walks.
With various hiking points such as forest trails and observation decks, it is a popular walking spot for many citizens.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/letsgoyang/224205538130
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