Mountainous Forrest Wonderland!!!

So, literally not more than 20 feet from my apartment sits a single lane road and running/bicycle trail (the running trail shown in red, is the type of rocky mat material that is found on most tracks). Here is a picture of the start of the road/running trail, with my apartment building pictured on the right. I didn't really realize this trail was here, as you have to either walk around a few blocks to get to the start of it bushes are blocking it off. Or, as I later discovered, can cut through a little pathway about 15 yards up from my apartment building and find yourself right on the track about where those people in the photo are located. 

Now, what with it being a beautiful Sunday, and not having much else to do, I decided to go for a little walk along the trail........

I followed the trail for about half a mile, discovering that it is quite a nicely kept route (the hedges along the side are all well trimmed, there are beautiful lamp posts along the side marking distance, clean wood benches, etc.)

 

Not only that, the scenery wass fantastic. As I continued to walk up the trail (up being the key word, as I was beginning a slow but steady ascent), I realized that the geography was becoming more and more wooded......

At about one mile, I came upon an entrance to a hiking trail.....

The jogging track continued on, but I decided to take a detour up into the forrest along the hiking trail.

The trail, marked clearly by ropes, was your average hiking trail, meandering through wooded areas.....

....often changing elevation.

After about 10 minutes of hiking, I came upon a playground/workout facility on one of the plateaus of the hiking trail. Again, incredibly clean and well kept, this little outdoor gymnasium was a hidden gem. At the time, occupied by no one and it being a beautiful Sunday afternoon, I can't imagine this playground gets a lot of use.....

.....So, I did a few pull ups, maxed out on the bench press, and was on my way. (It is important to note that at least until it becomes too cold to want to go outside, I wont have to join a gym. This is much nicer!!)

I continued along the trail, stopping often to take notice of the beautifully hand-carved wooden signs that marked the hiking path. Unfortunately, they were marked in Korean, and I was not able to understand what they were saying. 

The forrest started to become much more dense.....

....but as I continued my ascent, I saw an opening ahead and assumed I was near the top. I had to break off from the trail a bit, but when I came through the clearing there was a beautiful, 180 degree, hundred mile view of most of western Seoul. You could see some of the high rises in the distance, mountains beyond that. This photo does not do the view justice.... (again, you can click on the photos to get a bigger image).

After enjoying the view for awhile, I started my descent down the opposite side of the mountain. The path basically loops you up one side of the hill and then loops you down the backside. Coming down the opposite side of the hill, there were a lot of forks, again marked by hand-carved wooden signs written in Korean (likely informing your decision as to which routh to take). Not really knowing (or caring) which way I was going, I just continued down the hill, randomly choosing right or left.

As I neared the bottom of the hill, I could begin to see the forest density lighten, and the road/jogging trail became apparent. However, beyond that I thought I could see a field of some sort......

....and indeed at the bottom of this side of the hill was a magnificent soccer field, in as immaculate and pristine shape as I'm sure anything short of a professional field could offer. Not only that, the field was nestled into the side of the hill, so beyond you could still see all the high rise apartments and mountain ranges further in the distance. 

I entered through the top of the bleachers and realized an actual game was going on. Though no one was in the stands.....

I took a seat relatively close to the field and watched the game......

......more or less, by myself.

All in all, some pretty fantastic discoveries that I full intend on exploring more. I'm also quite sure that the field is public as there are no gates blocking it off so I might have to dust off the ol' soccer cleats.