In Korean, “doollae-gil” means a road that goes all the way around, and the Chirisan Doollae-Gil is a 224km route divided into 22 sections that wind through the foothills of Chiri mountain in the central-southern part of Korea. To the west are the provinces of North and South Cheolla, and to the east is South Gyeongsang province. Along the north run the streams that feed the Nakdong river; and the rains that fall south of Chiri mountain flow to the Seomjin river.
For me, the Chirisan Doolla-Gil is often strenuous enough to be tiring but not so effortful that I don’t want to go back the next time. The natural surrounding are envigorating, and it frequently feels on the trail that I’m completely cut off from civilization. But the distances to roads and villages are never far, and it’s virtually impossible to get genuinely lost. Along the way are the people, the culture and the reminders of local history, which include ancient archeological ruins, recent sites from the Korean War, and temples, museums and markets. There are lots of places to stay, people to meet, food and drinks to enjoy, and other local curiosities.
Getting to just about any starting point on the trail is little more than a half-day journey for me Seoul by public transport, and with so many facilities along the way, I don’t have to carry much in my backpack, either.
I started walking the Doollae-Gil from Section 2 in late 2012, and have been making my way around, sometimes alone and sometimes with others.
————————————————————————————————
The nuts and bolts of walking the Chirisan Doollae-Gil
————————————————————————————————
Section by Section
Overview: Section 2 – Woonbong to Inweol
Overview: Section 3 – Inweol to Geumgye
Travelogue: Sections 2-3 – Woonbong to Geumgye (November 8-10, 2012)
Overview: Section 4 – Geumgye to Donggang
Overview: Section 5 – Donggang to Sucheol
Travelogue: Sections 4-5a – Geumgye to Donggang (February 23-24, 2013)
Overview: Section 6 – Sucheol to Eocheon
Travelogue: Sections 5-6am – Donggang to Sancheong (March 16-17, 2013)
Overview: Section 7 – Eocheon to Woonri
Travelogue: Sections 6b-7 – Sancheong to Woonri (April 20-21, 2013)
Overview: Section 8 – Woonri to Deoksan
Travelogue – Section 8 – Woonri to Deoksan (May 5-6, 2013)
Overview: Section 9 – Deoksan to Weetae
Overview: Section 10 – Weetae to Hadong Lake
Overview: Section 11 – Hadong Lake to Samhwashil
Overview: Connecting Path to Hadong
Travelogue: Sections 9-12 and More – Deoksan to Hadong (June 15-17, 2013)
Overview: Section 18, Omi Village to Nandong Village
Travelogue: Section 18 – Omi Village to Nandong Village (September 21-22, 2013)
Overview: Section 12 – Samhwashil to Daechuk
Overview: Section 13 – Daechuk to Weonbucheon
Travelogue: Sections 12-13 and More – Hadong to Hwagae (October 26-28, 2013)
Overview: Section 14 – Weonbuchun to Gitan Village
Travelogue: Sections 14-15 – Weongbuchun to Gitan Village (December 14-16, 2013)
Overview: Section 15 – Gitan Village to Songjung Village
Along Section 18 of the Chirisan Doollae-Gil from Pado Village to Omi Village (November 8, 2014)
Along Section 1 of the Chirisan Doollae-Gil from Jucheon to Woonbong (November 9, 2014)
Selfie at Woonbong to Commemorate Completion of the Chirisan Doollae-Gil on November 9, 2014
Final Leg of the Chirisan Doollae-Gil from Dangjae to Mokajae on February 28, 2015
