Ice Climbing in the Mountains of South Korea
Seven days of ice climbing in Seoraksan National Park and the Taebaek range, with frozen waterfalls, alpine ascents and bivouacs in mountain shelters.
Description
South Korea hides some of the best ice climbing destinations in East Asia, with ice formations that stay stable from December to February. This itinerary concentrates on two areas: Seoraksan National Park, with its iconic frozen Towangseong Falls (three tiers) and the walls of the Cheonbuldong Valley, and the Taebaek range, with demanding alpine ascents. The trip includes days of technical climbing with crampons and ice tools, ascents of snowy summits, nights in unheated mountain shelters and bivouacs beside frozen waterfalls. Previous ice climbing experience, or at least rock climbing with crampon handling, is required. Local guides are mandatory for the technical routes. Temperatures can drop to -20C.
Health & safety
- Risk of hypothermia with wind chills below -30C
- Avalanches are rare but possible after heavy snowfall
- Carry mountain rescue insurance
Day-by-day itinerary
Arrival in Seoul and transfer
Sokcho
Arrival in Seoul and transfer
Flight to Seoul. Bus to Sokcho, gateway to Seoraksan National Park. Gear check.
Transfer Seoul-Sokcho
Sports3hGear check and adjustment
Sports2hCheonbuldong Valley
Seoraksan
Cheonbuldong Valley
Entry to the national park. Ascent through the Cheonbuldong valley and its vertical ice formations.
Ice climbing the frozen Cheonbuldong cascade
Sports6hSamgyeopsal dinner in Sokcho
gastronomy1hTowangseong Falls
Seoraksan
Towangseong Falls
Approach to the legendary Towangseong Falls — three consecutive tiers of ice.
Approach on snowshoes
Sports3hClimbing the three tiers
Sports5hAscent of Daecheongbong
Seoraksan
Ascent of Daecheongbong
Winter ascent of Daecheongbong, the park's highest summit (1,708 m).
Alpine ascent of Daecheongbong
Sports8hOvernight in a mountain shelter
Rest1hTransfer to Taebaek
Taebaek
Transfer to Taebaek
Descent from Seoraksan and transfer to the Taebaek range, the backbone of Korea.
Trip to the Taebaek region
Sports4hRecce of the next day's route
Sports2hTaebaek ice wall
Taebaek
Taebaek ice wall
Full day of climbing on the ice formations of Taebaek, reckoned the most technical.
Long ice-route climbing
Sports8hReturn to Seoul
Seoul
Return to Seoul
Train to Seoul. Afternoon in a jjimjilbang to recover muscles before the flight back.
Return train to Seoul
Sports3hRecovery in the jjimjilbang
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