A Sincere Wish Above the Clouds, Encountering the Breath of the Season at the Palgongsan Gatbawi District

Beneath the Clouds, A Path Climbed with All One's Heart

On the road to Palgongsan(Palgong Mountain), crossing the border between Daegu and Gyeongsan, the depth of green brushing past the car window is extraordinary. This has been a task I've held in my heart since I heard the news last year that it had been promoted to the twenty-third national park in our country. Boasting the majesty of 1,192m above sea level, Palgongsan(Palgong Mountain) was more than just a high mountain; it felt like a massive archive that had endured thousands of years of time. Today's destination is the Gatbawi District located in Wachon-myeon, Gyeongsan-si. As I entered the entrance, a clear mountain breeze brushed past my cheeks through the dense trees. That feeling of the scent of the forest reaching deep into my lungs is truly welcoming.

The path from the beginning is well-maintained, as it is a place where many people visit throughout the four seasons. This forest, where thousands of species of wild creatures, including 15 endangered species, breathe, feels like it heals just by walking. The sound of the valley water lingered in my ears as if I could hear it or not, and the rustling sound of leaves whenever I moved my steps became my own meditation music.

Gatbawi, Facing the Mysterious Legend

When I reached the summit of Gwanbong(Gwanbong Peak) with breathless gasps, the scenery unfolding before my eyes was enough to make me forget the hardship. The 'Gwanbong Seokjo Yeorae Jwasang(Stone Seated Buddha at Gwanbong Peak)', known as Gatbawi, is overwhelming just by its presence. Created during the Unified Silla era, this Buddha statue, carved into rock by a monk named Uihyeon(Monk Uihyeon) with a deep, affectionate heart for his late mother, held the traces of time intact. It is said that the hat-shaped natural rock on its head was not there from the beginning, but was sculpted with a lotus pattern during the Goryeo Dynasty.

Perhaps it is because of the legend that if you pray with sincerity, one wish will surely be granted. The backs of the people quietly chanting their own desperate hearts on the narrow mountain summit looked very warm. I, too, put down my camera for a moment and put my hands together in prayer. What I wished for is a secret, but I feel like I have already fulfilled one wish just with this clear air and peaceful mindset that Palgongsan(Palgong Mountain) has provided. The numerous peaks of Palgongsan(Palgong Mountain) viewed from the observatory create a spectacle, undulating like waves on the sea. How colorful this landscape, created by 39 mountain peaks and 10 strange rocks, must be each season.

Records of the Journey, Tips to Remember

Because Palgongsan(Palgong Mountain) is so vast and deep, its scale is enormous for a casual visit. The course toward the Gyeongsan Gatbawi District has quite a few uphills, so comfortable shoes are essential. I climbed early in the dawn; since it was a time when it was less crowded, I was able to spend time more leisurely in front of the Buddha and at the observatory. Above all, the charm of dawn hiking is the red energy spreading between the mountain peaks around sunrise. After facing this scenery, the worries in the city feel very small.

When looking around, it is good to stay slow and without damaging the surrounding nature. As it is designated as a national park, I think it is the courtesy of us travelers to walk carefully so that wild animals and plants are not hurt. This weekend, when my mind becomes complicated, I want to stand on the path up to Gatbawi again. It was a day where my heart was filled as generously as the scenery provided.