Riding High (One)
By Deirdre Madden
If you’re looking to take advantage of the cold winter weather, then hit the slopes. South Korea has recently really gotten into skiing and snowboarding, there are now 12 resorts to choose from. Keep in mind how big the Korean mountains are, and how much natural snowfall we get here in winter before you get too excited. None of them are Whistler or Jackson Hole. But there’s still some fun runs out there, and it’s pretty inexpensive. If you’ve never skied or ‘boarded before then it’s a great place to give it a try.
Arguably the best resort in Korea is High 1, located in Gangwon province, about 4.5 hours drive north of Ulsan. It boasts the most natural snowfall, as well as the longest beginner slope (just over 4 km long) in the country. There are plenty of fun intermediate and advance runs, too, as well as moguls, a half pipe, rails and a new terrain park (helmets required in those last 3).
The ski hills can get pretty icy here, and like the entire country, they’re fairly crowded. But you can luck out and get fresh powder on occasion, and if you can go during the week or over the lunar New Year (설날) then you won’t get the regular weekend crowds. It’s also generally less crowded on the more advanced slopes.
UPDATE Dec 2013: High One now has a central bus booking service, so check out the helpful article on how to book through the website here. Buses run from Ulsan to High 1 every day.
The buses leave from several spots in Ulsan around 3am. They arrive at High 1 at about 7:30 am. The bus then leaves High 1 at 4:30 pm promptly, arriving back in Ulsan around 9 pm.
Booking through the bus may qualify you for lift or rental discounts, as does staying at the Resort, or using certain bank cards. The regular, non discount fees are below:
Day Lift Pass A (8:30am – 5pm) – 72,000/Adults, 54,000/Kids
Day Lift Pass B (9:30am-5pm) – 68,000/Adults, 50,000/Kids
Rentals for Day Passes (A or B) – Adults: 28,000 ski or 34,000 board
– Kids: 22,000 ski or 26,000 board