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| ▲ Photo by Steve Oberhauser |
Route: Note: this course’s beginning has severely changed. No kilometer markings are given.
Moseulpo Port, Hamo Sports Park (start, 0.0 km) - forked road at burial grounds - entrance of Sangmo Village - entrance of Moseulbong - sacred grounds of Jung, Maria - entrance of Sinpyeong Village - entrance of Gotjawal - exit of Gotjawal - entrance of Inhyangdong Village - Jeju Culture and Experience Center in Mureung-2-ri (finish, 18 kms)
---- Course takes about seven hours to complete
Grade: 40.0 (12th overall)
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A
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Natural scenery and landscape
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4.5
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B
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Conditions of the trail
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4.0
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C
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Environmental damage / lack of footprint on the area
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4.0
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D
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Bilingual opportunities
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3.5
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E
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Crowd control / compared to how many people are using trail
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3.5
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F
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Facilities around the area
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3.5
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G
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Improvements
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4.0
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H
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Park planning / architecture
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4.5
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I
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Short-term impression factor
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4.0
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J
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Long-term impression factor
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4.5
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* rankings explained
Strengths: Gotjawal is a front-runner for this course. Although it is only a few kilometers, every step is worth the journey. Many articles have been written in English about Gotjawal and it enriches an experience to have that background knowledge before entering magical land for the first time. (Check out the links below.) Also of note, Moseulpo’s area is worthy of a few looks.
Weaknesses: The majority of this course goes over flat farmland. Naturally a bit of a letdown, after coming off of Course No. 10’s high. Although a positive, the Jeju Culture and Experience Center in Mureung-2-ri is under serious renovation, so when that is complete and fully operational, it will certainly be a strength.
English learning opportunities: dolmen in Hamo-ri, Moseulbong, Jung Maria’s grave, Chusa trails - the road to tenacity, Gotjawal (multiple), Jeju Culture & Ecology Experience Village in Mureung-2-ri
Quotable: “All the works on display [at the 2009 photo exhibition, “Forest of Life, Gotjawal”] were submitted by amateur photographers who took part in a four-month photographic training course offered by Gotjawal People. The aim was to raise public awareness of the need to protect gotjawal regions from thoughtless development, which is a subject of heart-felt debate on Jeju Island these days. The exhibition is the second photo exhibition hosted by Gotjawal People, nicknamed the Gotjawal warriors. The group is dedicated to saving gotjawal forests, known as the lungs of Jeju, from development through research into the environmental significance of the forests.” -- Song Jung Hee, Jeju Weekly
Links:
Jeju Weekly, Hike Jeju, Day 19
Jeju Weekly, Hike Jeju, Day 20
Jeju Weekly, Trust fund established to protect one of Jeju’s treasures
Jeju Weekly, Island’s Gotjawal forest is ‘Lung of Jeju’
Jeju Weekly, “Forest of Life, Gotjawal”
Jeju Weekly, No future without nature!
Olle Trail handbook in English
Olle, Course No. 11
KTO, Course No. 11
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| ▲ Photo by Steve Oberhauser |
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| ▲ Photo by Steve Oberhauser |
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