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Mountaineering

HIKING THE HIGHEST GLACIAL RIDGE

	What to take		SCHEDULE MADE BY LAURENTIU BUCUR
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	Carpathians' Geology
	My trip		Description: Transylvania with Fagaras Country are situated on the North side of the ridge, Valahia- on south, Piatra Craiului Mountains- on the east side, Iezer-Papusa Mountains- on the south-east side, and in the west part of this massif we found The Olt Valley, which cross Lovistea Country (a traditional region of Romania). The beauty of Fagaras Ridge who has almost 70km is given by a special landscape which contains: glacial lakes, saddles, chasms, rocky ridges, rubbles, great cliffs, isolated rocks, belvedere points, streams, waterfalls, springs, and wild forests with green clearings. Area: The Fagaras Mountains and Iezer-Papusa Mountains. Level rate: demanding Dates of departure in 2009: June - September, on demand Nr. of team members: 2 - 8 Trip leght (days): 8 Required gear: Backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, tent, food, spot light, mountain boots (prefferably with vibram sole), gore-tex mountain jacket, polarTec changing cloths, headlamp, polarTec hat, water bottle, water can, first-aid kit, food and sweets, first-aid kit. Accommodation: tents/mountain huts.
			1^ST DAY Hiking on Fagaras Mountains: Moasa Ridge to reach Suru Shelter (1447m) From Otopeni Intl. Airport, we'll travel by a mini-bus to Sebesu de Sus (457 m), a traditional village of Transylvania, and from there we will start hiking the Fagaras Mountains, over Moasa Ridge, to reach Suru Refuge. We will spend the night there, in tents or in the shelter. In our way to Sebesu de Sus, we will cross three beautiful towns: Ploiesti, Brasov (medieval town) and Fagaras (in this town there is a medieval citadel, that we an visit, depending in the flight arrival in Bucharest). The route between Brasov and Sebesu de Sus is crossing a traditional region of Transylvania, called Fagaras Country. Hiking time: 3-4 hours Hiking Level Rate: easy - moderate
			2^ND DAY SUNDAY Hiking in Fagaras Mts. 7³⁰: waking up, packing and having breakfast Hiking Fagaras Mountains Ridge and reaching Scara Shelter, by crossing a very beautiful glacial part of the ridge, called Ciortea, with three peaks having an altitude over 2400m (Ciortea 1 - 2427 m, Ciortea 2 - 2422 m, Ciortea 3 - 2425 m). Under these summits we will find Avrig glacial lake. Pitching the tents near Scara Shelter (2146m) Level rating: Moderate hike. Hiking time: 8,5 (eight and a half) hours Height difference: 1400 m/4592 ft Highlights:Fagaras Ridge; Avrig Glacial Lake; Ciortea's Glacial Ridges with summits over 2400 m (Ciortea 1- 2427m, Ciortea 2- 2422m, Ciortea 3- 2425m); Capu Gemenilor Peak (2395m); Capu Bilei Peak (2431 m); Scara Shelter Area
			3^RD DAY MONDAY Hiking Fagaras Mountains. 8⁰⁰: waking up, packing, having breakfast and cleaning the area 9⁰⁰: leaving the campsite in Scara; hiking along the ridge. Hiking from Scara to Balea Glacial Lake (2027m), by crossing over a rocky glacial ridge called Custura Saratii (from there we will see one of the most spectacular panorama in The Carpathians Mountains, which contains: Lespezi Summit-2522m, Caltun Summit-2510m, Negoiu Mic Peak-2485m and Custura Ciobanului Glacial Rocky Ridge), to reach Negoiu Summit (2535m), and from there, we will pass through The Devil's Clough to arrive Caltun Glacial Lake (2135m), which is close to Balea Lake (here, next to the lake there are 2 comfortable chalets, optional: accommodation in Chalets available). Pitching the tents by Balea Lake (2027 m) Level rate: Demanding Hiking time: 7 - 8 (seven - eight) hours Height difference: -119 m/ - 390 ft Sightseeing objectives: Crossing over a spectacular rocky ridge called Custura Saratii, to reach Negoiu Summit (2535 m), and from there, we will see one of the most spectacular panorama in The Carpathians Mountains, over Lespezi Summit (2522 m), Caltun Summit (2510 m) and allover the entire Fagaras Ridge; Caltun Glacial Lake & Balea Glacial Lake.
			4^TH DAY TUESDAY Trekking Fagaras Mountains 8⁰⁰: waking up, packing and having breakfast 9³⁰: leaving Balea lac area, hiking from Balea Lake to Podragu Glacial Lake (2136 m). There, in that beautiful glacial place, next to the lake, we will pass by a nice and comfortable chalet. In our way to Podragu we will hike 'Vanatoarea lui Buteanu' (Buteanu's Hunting) Summit (2507 m) and Arpasul Mare Summit (2468 m). Level rate: moderate Hiking time: 5 - 6 hours Height difference: 1400 m/4592 ft Sightseeing objectives: Balea Lake
			5^TH DAY WEDNESDAY Trekking Carpathians Mountains Hiking from Podragu Lake to Fereastra Sambetei Saddle (2188 m), crossing over the higest peak of Romania: Moldoveanu Summit (2544 m/ 8347 ft). To reach Moldoveanu Summit we will hike Vistea Summit (2527 m) and after that, we will cross over a very beautiful glacial rocky ridge (long of 421 m), Vistea - Moldoveanu Ridge. From Moldoveanu Summit we will see a special and singular panorama in the Carpathians. Level Rating:moderate to demanding hike Hiking time: 6-7 hours Height difference: +308 m / - 550 m (+1010 ft/- 1805 ft) Highlights: Superbe landscape from Moldoveanu Peak, the highest of the Romanian mountains
			6^TH DAY THURSDAY Hiking Fagaras Mts through Iezer-Papusa Mountains. · Hiking from Sambata Saddle to a saddle (2000 m) which is situated between Mezea Summit (2125 m) and Oticu Summit (2044 m) (a very wild landscape), very close to The Iezer-Papusa Ridge. Pitching the tents on Oticu-Mezea Ridge. Level Rate: moderate to demanding Hiking time: 5 - 6 hours Highlights of the day: Urlea Summit (2473 m); Hartopu Summit (2506 m); Dara Peak (2501 m); Zarna Saddle (1923 m); Mezea-Oticu Ridge (2000 m altitude).
			7^TH DAY FRIDAY Trekking the Iezer-Papusa Mountains 8⁰⁰: waking up, packing and having breakfast 9⁰⁰: leaving the camping place; start our hiking day Hiking from the saddle between Mezea Peak and Oticu Peak to Voina Chalet (950m), by reaching Iezer-Papusa ridge and crossing over Rosu Summit (2469m) and Iezerul Mare Summit (2462m). Close to Iezerul Mare there is a glacial lake (2128m). It's moderate hike Hiking time: 5-6 (five-six) hours Height difference: 770 m/1870 ft Highlights: View from Rosu Summit (2469m) and Iezerul Mare Summit (2462m), crossing over The Iezer-Papusa Ridge; Iezer Glacial Lake (2128m).
			8^TH DAY SATURDAY Transfer by minibus from Voina Chalet to Bucharest Airport (190 km) Depending on flight schedule, in our way to Bucharest we can visit Campulung Muscel, an istoric town of Romania, who was the first capital of Walachia. Campulung Shelters the Monastery build by Neagoe Basarab in the 13th century. Here, there is a church, called Namaiesti, who has been digged in the mountain's rock.
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