Gariwang Mountain

The Gariwang Mountain Alpine Skiing

Jan 23. 2025

Mount Gariwang brings to mind the words of Chateaubriand: "Before civilization, there was the forest; after civilization, there remains the desert."

Located between Jeongseon County and Pyeongchang County in Gangwon Province, this majestic mountain reaches an elevation of 1,561 meters. It has been designated as a protected mountain since the Joseon Dynasty, with access restricted to the public and logging strictly prohibited, allowing its natural environment to remain intact. As a result, it has become an ecologically important place, home to rare plants.

However, the mountain underwent significant changes in 2018 due to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. In order to host alpine skiing events, a ski resort meeting international standards had to be built, and the optimal location for this was chosen to be Mount Gariwang. The problem was that the construction of the ski resort could potentially destroy the ecological value that Mount Gariwang had preserved for thousands of years. Installing artificial structures was certain to have a serious impact on the ecosystem, sparking a heated debate.

Environmental organizations and experts strongly opposed the project, stressing the ecological importance of Mount Gariwang and the difficulty of restoration. However, the urgent need for a ski resort to properly host the Olympics prevailed.

In the end, the ski resort was constructed with the condition that the forest would be restored after the Olympics, but even six years later, the gondola installed at the ski resort is still in operation.

The gondola now transports tourists, who enjoy the view of Mount Gariwang, and many believe it should be preserved as part of the Olympic legacy, turning it into a tourism resource.

Although the gondola's operation was initially scheduled to end in December last year, it has been extended for another six months.

While the final decision remains uncertain, this might be my last time using the gondola to hike the mountain.

When I arrive at the parking lot, I see tour buses and private cars lined up. A cold wave advisory had been issued earlier this morning, but by noon, the weather had improved significantly. There was no wind, so I don't worry about not being able to ride the gondola.

I buy a ticket for the gondola and step outside, where the mascots of the 2018 Winter Olympics, the tiger and the Asiatic black bear, seem to welcome me.

As soon as I board the gondola, it glides smoothly, and I am slowly pulled away from the station.

As the altitude increases, the entire village comes into view, and behind it, the mountain ridges stretch out clearly.

I feel like I'm a celestial being, floating upward, leaving the world behind.

The gondola, once used to carry athletes, now transports tourists without rest. Climbing to the top of the mountain on foot would require carrying a heavy backpack and struggling for several hours, but with the gondola,

I can reach the summit in just 20 minutes without much effort. In the winter, when there’s a lot of snow, it’s not an easy feat to reach the top.

However, elderly people can easily reach the summit thanks to this gondola, which is truly appreciated.

The path from Janggu Moki to the summit of Mount Gariwang requires similar energy and effort to the climb from Osaek to Daecheongbong on Seoraksan. Only those with strong physical stamina can attempt it. Without the gondola, I would not have dared to try.

Below the gondola, I can see wild grasses growing lushly on the slopes. While this is in stark contrast to the dazzling sight of athletes speeding down the silver slopes during the Olympics, it feels like the area is gradually returning to its natural, eco-friendly environment.

It will take a long time to fully restore the original natural state that has persisted for thousands of years, but compared to the earlier scars, it seems much better now.

A few years ago in the summer, I hiked from Janggu Moki, passed the moss valley, and reached the summit of Mount Gariwang. The awe and shock I felt at the time are unforgettable.

Even in the scorching heat of over 30°C, the moss-covered valley was incredibly cool and mysterious. "I didn’t know there was such a primitive forest valley in Korea!" I marveled, and the sight left a deep impression on me.

Anyone who has seen the moss valley's pristine forest would likely have opposed building a ski resort on Mount Gariwang. The risk of destroying such a precious natural environment is impossible to ignore. However, for those who haven't experienced Mount Gariwang, the seriousness of the issue may not be easily understood.

Fortunately, the ski resort was constructed on the lower slopes, avoiding the pristine forest of the moss valley.

It’s truly fortunate that the original forest was spared from destruction. Nevertheless, the Olympics played a key role in advancing winter sports in South Korea and raised our global profile.

I still remember the skiing events held here. Lindsey Vonn, who had once been widely known as Tiger Woods’ girlfriend and captured the attention of the Korean public, was appointed as a PyeongChang Olympics ambassador and was highly covered in the media. She had won 81 World Cup races and was hailed as the greatest skier in history, often referred to as the "Queen of Skiing."

Many fans anticipated seeing her carve through the snowy slopes of Mount Gariwang, but unfortunately, she did not win a medal. As with many other Olympics, however, a new star emerged.

It was Czech skier Ester Ledecká, who, despite being a snowboarder, won the gold medal in the alpine skiing event.

The next day, she also won gold in snowboarding, becoming the first athlete in Olympic history to win two gold medals in two different events in a single Games.

As I ride the gondola up the slope where the skiing events took place,

I reflect on those memories, and before I know it, I reach the summit. The door of the gondola opens, and the view before me is dazzling.

The fresh and crisp air, the vibrant energy of the mountain, everything is filled with beauty. The deck path at the top of the mountain is beautifully designed like a heavenly park path.

Tourists with cameras are busy capturing the grand ridgelines of the Baekdudaegan Mountains, layered with mist, and the mysterious beauty of the landscape.

The scenery is truly stunning, and the hikers, camera in hand, add a sense of life and human presence to the place. In this moment, nature and humanity unite to create the lively atmosphere of Mount Gariwang.

In this scene, I realize that Mount Gariwang is not a place where nature and civilization clash, but a place where nature and human civilization coexist.