Sledging at Taejosan Park

What would you do with your weekend if it had snowed heavily for the past 5 days??

We decided to buy a sledge and go to an abandoned ski slope in the mountains!

We went to Taejosan Park as we knew there was an old artificial ski slope there that hasn't been used for years. With the 8 inches of snow we've had this week the slope was turned into a real ski slope!

Mt. Taejo in the background

At the top of the slope

The slope from the bottom

It was 'disused' for a reason... but no one ever said that obstacles aren't fun.

It was awesome for a while but then we got shouted at by a security guard and got turfed off the slope. It was OK though because there were plenty of other fun places to sledge in the park.

Deep snow!

We were expecting the park to be packed with sledging kids but luckily, Koreans are busy working and praying on Saturdays so there were only a couple of families there.

We had a snow ball fight with some Korean kids, made snow angels, failed to make a snowman and sledged until we ached. It was so much fun.

Snow angels, mine's the one without a beer belly!

SO much fun <3

Unfortunately the sledge could only handle so much fun, and after about 3 hours solid sledging it met its bitter end. We hit a ditch, flew clear off the ground and cracked the sledge all the way down the middle. It was home time.

Play time's over kids.

The park was very beautiful in the snow. The froze pond, the snow covered pagodas. We ever saw some grazing deer!

(deer)

The pagoda by the frozen lake.

 With our smashed up sledge, our frozen feet and our sun burnt faces we got a hot chocolate and set off home, only to find that the buses weren't running! Luckily a taxi just happened to be passing by, and we were soon on our way home.

Pulling Ric home on our broken sledge as the sun was setting.
No easy task!

I've never seen this much snow before, probably due to the absence of gritters over here! I'm LOVING it. It's still snowing, it's -9 outside, I'm in my apartment, eating hot pot, drinking mulled wine, the under floor heating is cranked up and I'm wearing fleecy pyjamas. This is what winter is all about!

Mt. Taejo Hike

Another day, another mountain...

Up behind the big Gakwonsa temple and Gakwonsa temple you'll find a spider's web of hiking trails frequented by Cheonan's large population of middle aged hiking enthusiasts. Me and Ric decided to give it a go one sunny Saturday at the end of September.

Just what you need half way up a mountain, exercise machines and a hut complete with toilet roll!

Chair shaped tree: like.

After an intense but mercifully brief 25 minute climb we reached the starting point of four or five hiking trails which sprawled out in every direction. Deciding the right was as good a direction as any we headed off into the trees.

The path continued for around 3km, up and down the ridge of the mountain until we reached a clearing in the tree and a stunning view over Cheonan. I particularly enjoyed Mt. Taejo due to the lack of steep inclines (much kinder on the thighs!). It was a beautiful walk and it smelt of pine trees and autumn.

At the top of Mt Taejo

Deciding once again to descend down the other side of the mountain (we'll never learn), we discovered a whole new part of Cheonan that we didn't know existed. First we came across the main offices for Kyobo life insurance! Half way up a mountain seemed a pretty random place to build your head offices but I must admit the view was great! Further down and yet more random Korean attractions: Taejosan park, a park exhibiting war planes, tanks, a sculpture park, pond, football pitch, badminton court and even a derelict artificial ski slope!

Random Taejosan Park

How to get there?
To Gakwonsa and the start of our Mt. Taejo hike: take to 24 bus from opposite Shinsegae, get off at the last stop and walk up the hill.
To Taejosan Park: Take the number 15 from outside Shinsegae or the number 51 from Cheonan station and get off at the last stop.