Another newbie

[garyyetter]

Hello all,

I am going to be working in Ansan City come mid-Feb and was just wondering if you could give me a quick rundown of the nearest climbing area and gyms. I know the city is full of parks, so general strength and conditioning should not be a problem, but I know not much else. Also, can anyone recommend the best place to pick up gear in Korea (I assume somewhere in Seoul)? Resolers? Finally, is anyone else living in Ansan?

Thanks!!

Gary

[shanja]

G'Day newbie! Welcome to KOTR and to KOrea. If you're going to be up there in Ansan you should be close to heaps of climbing. Seoul is a short hop away and there are tons of gear stores around Namdaemun and Dongdaemun areas. Also at the base of Bukhansan Natinal Park (on the way to Insubong climbing area and O2 ice climbing world).
Resoles are possible, I got some done recently here in Daejeon by dropping shoes into a climbing shop....check with the other Seoul KOTRers for something closer to you, but it is available.
Gear is more pricey in Korea than the states/Canada...whereabouts are you from?
OK well have a safe trip over and hope we can all catch up whe you get here!
Regards Jake (shanja) and Naomi (KyungAh).

[garyyetter]

Thanks so much for the reply, Shanja! Knowing that I'll be close to plenty of rock warms my heart, heh, heh. I think my first investment will be a hangboard followed by a weighted vest.

I'm from Portland, OR, USA, but have most recently been living in Seattle.

It'd be great to meet up with y'all further on down the road!

Peace,
Gary

[tumbleweed31]

How exciting, a fellow Pacific Northwesterner. I just came to Korea a couple months ago from Seattle. Sounds like this was the year to leave considering the crazy climate Seattle is having.

Welcome aboard.
Erin

[ricardo]

PDX represent!! hey, we may have run into each other at climbaxe in p-town! i've spent too much time and $$ in that store.
as jake mentioned, your best bet for gear is to pick it up before you come out. if you're concerned about having to pay for shipping, you can have it sent to my military address which costs the same as mailing to CA. there are other GI's out there that will offer the same and may be a bit closer to you. either way, looking forward to climbing with you!
salud!
-r

[Shagymb]

Welcome and ditos to the info already provided.

I do know a Korean that lives in Ansan and speaks english really well. He just got back from the EU. So maybe I could hook you up with him.

As for gyms etc I am not sure but the best way if they are not already on here is to look in the Korea Climbing Magaines and look or go to a gym near by and ask if they know anywhere to go in Ansan.

Safe travels and Happy New Year.

Mike

[shanja]

Gary mate, it's not much info I know, but if you are in Ansan you can jump the subway (line 4 light blue) straight into Seoul.
If you wanna hit O2 indoor Ice/Rock gym (also the jump off point for climbing at Insu Bong granite crack/slab/boulders) then take it (line 4) all the way to SuYu Station (수유역)...a bit of a distance true, but worth it, then grab a blue 120 or 130 bus to Ui-Dong (우이동) which is the last stop. Walk up the road past all the climbing gear shops and restaurants and Bingo! You are there.
Other gyms that may be near/easy to get to are:
Hexa Wall (Seoul). Take the line 4 subway to Chungmuro (충무로) and get out at exit 6. As with all suggestions check KOTR gym links for exact details.

Art Climbing Centre (Seoul) is on the number 1 line near Jungro 5 Ka Station (종로5가역), just take your Ansan number 4 line to either Seoul (서을역) or Dongdaemun (동대문역) and switch to the dark blue number 1 line.

Astroman (Seoul) on the green number 2 line near HongIk Uni Entrance Station (홍대입구역)

Incheon Climbing Centre (Incheon City) might be faster access from Ansan....I dunno. Anyways take your number 4 light blue to Geum Jeong (금정역) transfering onto the dark blue number 1 line to Bupyeong (부평역) which is sort of the Incheon subway hub, then take an Incheon subway (light purple/violet line) to Seonhak (선학역) getting out at exit number 2.

If this all sounds complicated, well it is a bit. But the subway system is very user friendly (all signs and announcements are in English too), and most Koreans are very willing to help with directions etc.

Maybe when you get here some Seoul/Incheon KOTR members (and Rick) can meet up and show you around (hint hint).
OK mate all the best and Happy New Year!
Jake.

[garyyetter]

Cool!

Tumbleweed, where in Seattle are you from? I was living in Green Lake the past year...I heard there was recently enough snow to shut the city down!

Ricardo, I was the warehouse manager at Climb Max. Then I became info@madrockclimbing.com (Mad Rock's "corporate" office was run in Climb Max, even though the company always claimed to be outta Cali). Sometimes I was in the store, probably building something. I'm sure you ran into my buddy Darren (short guy with a beard, really friendly).

Mike, that would be great if you could hook me up with your friend. I'm eager to try some Korean rock.

Shanja, thank you very much for the information. I can't wait to pick up a hangboard and weight vest! And I need to get my Anasazis re-soled as climbing for a month straight in Thailand wore the toes out!

Happy New Year, y'all! I hope we can get together for some climbing or feasting.

[yohja134]

hey!
welcome to korea! i have friends in portland, visit every year - where in portland?
and i'm coming to seoul before and after my thailand trip.
friday jan 13th / part of sat. jan 14th, then monday feb 5th.
so i'll be wandering seoul... around incheon too..looking for climbing and fun.
want to meet up?

[garyyetter]

hey yohja,

i was living in se portland, first on belmont, then clinton, then powell. i'll probably end up buying a house there in a couple years...love that city.

i'm in thailand now. will be here until 15 jan and then i will be back in the states until 9 feb, when i fly to seoul. maybe meet up in bangkok for a beet juice or scotch when you arrive.