Ciucas: Gropsoarele and v. Tigailor

Last Sunday due to the high avalanches risk in the neighboring mountains, I've decided that it is the time to go in Ciucas, for the annual spring descent from the peak on Tigailor valley.
We've driven up to "Muntele Rosu"and then hiked up on nice flower fields near Gropsoarele.
There it was a funny ride down on some little valley and then on the trail again to Cab. Ciucas and towards the peak. It was quite a big snow and nobody was happy... Until we've reached the peak, there the view was great and the snow was perfect :) The upper part had snow a little bit hard, with a soft layer above, just nice to go full speed downhill. On the lower part of Tigailor valley the snow was very wet and hard to slide slide down. We had to stop about two hundred meters before the big step. Then hike down and up to Muntele Rosu. And then a very tasty dinner in Sacele, Angelescu ;)

Bucegi: fleosc, fleosc !

Last Saturday I've tried again to do a valley in Bucegi, after the failed attempt 6 days ago, due to the very bad weather. This time the wind was not strong enough, so we've took up the cable car to Babele. There it was hot enough such that even with my snow shoes, I was sinking deep to my knees :( I was horrible, I did 2 hours until the "Ceardac" the starting point downwards Ialomita valley. The snow was still to wet, not good at all for skiing and the girls were between comic and pathetic with their toy-skis...

Then after we've cross Sugarilor valley we went up to Babele and the we headed towards Urlatoarea valley. The girls had followed the Schiel trail down to Busteni, while I've really enjoyed riding down "Urlatoarea Mica" valley: perfect firn snow, zero chances of avalanches, soft snow in the lower part of the valley, it was the perfect time ! Too bad that in 15 min., photos included, I was down on the Schiel path crossroad.















Iuliana had written more in details, here: http://alpinclick.blogspot.com/2008/04/

Aventura Parc - Brasov

An interesting news: right next to my house it is built an Adventure Park - "via cordata" of "via lemnata" style, as in the western countries. It is built under swiss directions and it is very likely to be ready on 1st Mai ! The pictures below gives you more hints:





I'll keep you informed about the inauguration and stuff...

Neamtului: a kind of marathon

Last Saturday, while my friends were skiing in Bucegi or Balea, I did the first big hiking tour of the year, by completely traversing the Neamtului mountains. We've begin walking at late hour, and we kept moving more then 11h, until close to midnight !
The route: Azuga - cable car - Cazacul - Petru Orjogoaia ridge - Neamtului main ridge - the Red Lake - Susai - Predeal If on the southern side part of the mountains is was mainly grass, on the northern parts there were a lot of snow, so our descent was quite difficult and long. In total we did more then 1200m positive level difference and between 30-40 km of walk... Quite a long journey, but very welcomed.

Bike: Brasov - Poiana - Cristian

Well, last Sunday it did the first real mountain bike tour, o a "classic", very nice route: from Brasov to Poiana Junilor, Valea Sticlariei, Stejarii Seculari Crisitan - Brasov.
Perfect route conditions, no mud, quite easy techinical level, few trees have felt down the path...

Balea, the white paradise

About 15 days ago I was for the first time of the season in Balea, the late spring free ride paradise. We went there for only one day: going up with the cable-car then ride down on Doamnei valley on the superb snow, tracing down the first white lines. Then we hiked up the valley up to Balea saddle, where I did a great descent to Paltinul (what a pity that it is very short :(( ) Then once again I've ride down on Doamnei and then walk to Balea cascada. It was the best snow I've ever got around Balea, in a sunny end of winter day ! And it was the only weekend day when the cabin was running around that period of time ! very lucky !