I spent winter break hiking Mount Hallasan, Korea's tallest peak, located on Jeju Island during late December. I flew there for approximately $50 Canadian roundtrip.

Starting early on Boxing Day, I took a city bus to the mountain's base and began the Seongpanak Trail—the only open route at that time. The 9-kilometer ascent required completing checkpoints by specific cutoff times or being turned back.

Weather conditions changed dramatically throughout the hike. Starting off on the hike, it felt like a spring day near the base, but snow gradually appeared after two hours of climbing. I strapped on crampons after slipping on ice. By the second rest station, the trail became significantly steeper and snowier.

The final two kilometers proved most challenging—easily harder than the previous 7 combined. At the summit, brutal winds caused my phone battery to drain rapidly during photography. I skyped family briefly before descending.

The return journey mirrored the ascent in reverse. After stopping at a crater lake viewpoint, temperatures gradually warmed as elevation decreased. The snow dissipated during the final descent, returning conditions to springlike temperatures at the trailhead.