Ice Fest: a day in pictures

The ice couch

It started with the promise of ice fishing in a remote locale, and ended with Soju, ATVs and a desperate search for a space heater.


Last month about a half dozen English teachers went to the Winter Festival at Jinbu, in the in Gangwon province, about a two and a half hour drive east of Seoul.


Upon arrival, we tried ice fishing in the stocked river for about a half hour before giving up. The more adventurous ones in the group stuck it out longer.

Those of us who didn't pay for a tent stood on the ice bobbing a pole up and down in the hopes of catching a fish. Once you caught one, you could take it to the restaurant to eat. There were hundreds of people competing for the fish, but I only saw one person catch one. She shrieked, and everyone looked. It served to encourage the more motivated fishermen among us a little while longer.


Instead, a couple of us gave up and drank Soju in a warm tent for a while. After we'd warmed up, we moved onto something that provided a little more instant gratification: ATVs.

We rode for about an hour, with a short break to keep our fingers from going numb. It was among the three or four coldest days I'd ever spent, but spinning out on the ice was so fun it distracted us from the cold.


When we'd finished, we were walking strangely -- our legs were stiff with cold. I didn't fully regain the use of my thumbs until later that day.


However, there's a unique pleasure in making yourself uncomfortable so you can be comfortable again. Here's the proof:

Next up: camping. That is, once it gets warm.