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Jecheon Eoreumgol Valley belongs to Neunggang Valley.
Neunggang Valley is a 6km valley starting from Geumsusan Mountain(1,015m) and ending at Cheongpungho Lake.
The water flowing between the dense pine forests is so crystal clear that you can see the bottom.
There are cliffs that appear to have been hewn standing next to each side of the valley.
These combine to offer a great view.
Therefore, people from the far past designated Nine Famous Valleys of Neunggang and enjoyed the beautiful scenery.
They are Ssangbyeoksam Pond, Mongyudam Pond, Waryongdam Pond, Gwanjupok Falls, Chunchu Falls, Geumbyeong House,
Yeonjatap, Taldangam Rock, and Chwijeokdae Heights. At present, starting with Neungganggyo Bridge in
Susan-myeon, Yongju Falls, Gwanjupok Falls, Waun Falls, Mongyudam Pond, and Ssangbyeoksam
Pond are located in the direction of Cheongpung Lake.
Valleys 1~3 are located in the submerged areas of Chungju Dam, and are exposed during draughts.
Ssangbyeoksam Pond
Mongyudam Pond
Waryongdam Pond
Gwanjupok Falls
Chunchu Falls
Geumbyeong House
Yeonjatap
Taldangam Rock
Chwijeokdae HeightsAs you pass Neungganggyo Bridge, on the left there is a big stone with the words
‘Mystery of Midsummer, Geumsusan Mountain Eoreumgol Valley’ written on it.
That marks the entrance of Eoreumgol Valley. Thought it is a well-known tourist
attraction, the entrance is humble in design.
Walk along the path and you'll see a landscape no different form those of other forests.
When you think of Eoreumgol Valley, you’d expect something unusual but there are just dense green trees all around you.
On the left side of the path, water flows in the valley.
Normally the level of water is low but when it rains, the level of water goes up so quickly that it is dangerous to cross the valley.
On the left there is a bridge. It is a temporary bridge made of plywood and metal pipes.
The bridge seems not needed in an ordinary day and looks rather unstable.
As you cross over the shabby bridge, you will find a cozy forest path.
A 10 minute walk leads you to a parade of stone pagodas on both sides of the road.
Their size and quantity are impressive, and they are lined neatly, as if they were created as a part of a park by an administrative office.
The creator is monk Gwanbong from Geumsuam Temple. The monk cleared dozens of big stones
in front of the temple for visitors and made stone pagodas with them.
He used a small crane to lift the heavy stones. His earnest wishes became hundreds of elaborate pagodas.
You will feel humble in front of this intense site.
As you pass the temple, the valley gets deeper. The path gets darker due to the dense forest.
Sometimes, the sun shines between leaves and subtly illuminates the valley here and there.
The natural lights shine on people and the water, making them shine like gem stones.
The hiking trail passes the valley here and there.
You have to take off your shoes to cross the valley where it becomes deep.
Around the time you wonder how far you have come and feel bored, you will find a road sign with
‘Eoreumgol Valley’ written on it in red letters.
As you reach the upper valley, you will see some house ruins.
There is a stone bank and the top of the bank is flat.
It shows that people once cultivated the land and built houses there.
You’ll wonder about the lifestyles of slash-and-burn farmers that
once lived here and how they utilized Eoreumgol Valley.
When the sound of water calms down, walk for about 10 minutes along
the right valley from the Valley Forked Road to see the open site, Neodeol Jidae (stony slope).
As you go up the stony slope, you will feel the chill around your ankles.
Here is Eoreumgol Valley.
As ice forms under the rocks in the sun, the chill cannot be even described. So it was named ‘Hanyangji’.
Ice steam comes out of holes that have been dug to mine ice.
Your body, warmed up by climbing the valley, will be instantly cooled off by the chill.
You may even get goosebumps. Ice forms most on Chobok.
You can find some ice between rocks on Jungbok and have to lift rocks to find ice on Malbok.
There is a saying that you can cure all your diseases by eating the ice here.
Binghyeol (Ice Cave) is a phenomenon that ice forms in the midsummer.
You can see it in various valleys like Binggye Valley in Uiseong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Cheongsong Eoreumgol Valley, etc.
These places have something common; on their mountain slopes there is a Neodeol Jidae where stones are layered upon each other.
Experts have come up some theories about the Binghyeol (Ice Cave) phenomenon.
The most convincing one is the adiabatic expansion theory.
According to the adiabatic expansion theory, when the cool and dense air on the verge of sturation
meets the high and dry atmosphere, the air expands rapidly and the heat is taken, then the air temperature drops.
It is like the phenomenon in which water drops form around the wind ducts of an air conditioner where the cool air meets the warm atmosphere.
The stone field of Eoreumgol Valley is blocking the heat outside and making the air flow between the rocks to bring the temperature down and freeze the water.
After enjoying a refreshing ‘cold pack’, the only thing left to do is take a leisurely stroll back down while following the sound of water.
The view while going down is markedly different from the view you saw while coming up, so there’s more than enough to keep you from being bored.
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