10 days ice-climbing -- Need beta

[dgbryan]

Apologies if this has been done to death in the past.

We’re contemplating 10 days ice-climbing (21 Jan – 31 Jan 2006) and wondering if there is available a map or list of ice-areas in Korea which we could use as a rough guide. We’re thinking about picking up a car in Seoul and just pottering about from area to area – is this feasible, and are there any areas which are particularly good? Places where the accommodation is not a million miles from the climbing, the climbing shouldn’t be too crowded mid-week (or there’s plenty to go round).

I have been to Soraksan a couple of times and found it good, but had limited information and suspected I wasn’t getting the best out of it. And alas, I don’t speak Korean / read Hangul!

Any advice appreciated – many thanks in advance!

Damian Ryan
Hong Kong

[climbergrrl]

Hi Damian!

Someone posted a list of waterfalls in Korea in a thread with the title of "ice climbing" in this category. There may be some more infomation there.

This winter I have some vacation time and am planning to spend most of it in Kangwondo, just camping out and ice climbing or snowboarding. There is some good climbing in Seoraksan at Sotowang Falls, and near there at a couple of places called Sil(so) Falls and Maebawi. These are probably all listed on the site. There is also another place that is not listed, I think, called Pandae (?). It's close to Wonju and is another manufactured (or what do you call it - mined?) ice wall. Accomodation is not too far, and I know some people who could probably show you where to go and give you whatever info you need. I'll ask them. Exactly what sort of info do you need? Just location and size? Also, if you want to join me, you're more than welcome. I have a car, which should be able to get anywhere I want it to go. If it's too cold, I may chicken out and stay in a heated minbak. :) But, I have just started learning ice climbing, although I hope to be somewhat proficient by the end of January. Pray for cold weather! :)

Anyway, hope to have more info later!

Cheers!
Heidi

[dgbryan]

Heidi - many thanks for your reply.

I saw the list of waterfalls, but of course was stymied by the language - always I think a bit of an issue for the occasional visitor to Korea.

I have probably seen or played around on the falls you mention as being in / near Soraksan - I based myself up there in a minbak at the park entrance a couple of times and just went looking for what was available. I have also hooked up with a gentleman (who now I think runs the KIMCS climbing school and website) who climbed hard and showed me a shedful of photographs of excellent-looking icefalls - but he spoke as much English as I do Korean, so their whereabouts remains a mystery to me.

We are currently considering two options - Korea or Sichuan, which are (about) the same in terms of travel time and overall cost from HK, and about the same in terms of the likelihood of finding good ice. If we go for the Korea option then hooking up could well work out. One problem we're having is actually getting up to Kangwon-do - the flight schedules we've been offered are labyrinthine, hence our thought about hiring a car - I guess it's about five hours from Seoul? If we go we will definitely be chickening out from the very outset - it'll be a minbak for us! Neither Renia nor I is much of a snowboarder, nor are we great ice-climbers - WI3 / WI4 is probably our comfortable limit.

What I suggest we do is stay in touch (dgbryan@asia.com) and confirm plans nearer the time. We can then work out when and where to hook up.

More anon - enjoy the autumn!

Damian Ryan
Hong Kong

[punchy]

heidi, i assume you're talking about jenn and i out here in sokcho. we'd be more then happy to play tour guides for anyone interested in ice climbing around seoraksan this winter. that goes for you damian, though if heidi ends up coming out this way (like you promised, heidi) then she'll know all the best falls to dig into.

we are what you'd call equipment deficient at the moment, though that's never stopped us from ice climbing before. let us know if you end up coming over this way d, and if you're around seoraksan, we'll make plans to hook up.

g

[dgbryan]

G - many thanks for the reply. I have exchanged e-mail with Heidi, outlined what we're thinking, and will advise her of our movements nearer the time. If it works out we can hopefully meet up.
All the best,
Damian