Zapada !!!

In calatoria recenta prin Muntii Bucegi, am avut ocazia de a urca inca o data pana la Varful Omu. Un peisaj superb, aer proaspat, soarele pe fata siiiiiiiiii zapada !!!!! Din ce am inteles, cu cateva zile inainte sa ajung acolo a nins pe varf, si fiind destul de racoare la inaltimile acelea, zapada s-a pastrat, oferindu-mi o priveliste si o surpiza superba 🙂

 

Muntii Bucegi – Cheile Tatarului / Bucegi Mountains – Tatar’s Gorges

Cum in ultimele postari v-am aratat doar locatii urbane, am zis ca este timpul sa ne reintoarcem la natura pentru un pic de aer curat. Si cum am petrecut ultimele cateva zile prin Muntii Bucegi, am cateva locatii minunate sa va arat 🙂

Incepem astazi calatoria noastra montana cu niste chei micute, dar dragute, si anume Cheile Tatarului. Aceste chei sunt situate intre Platoul Padina si Lacul Bolboci, si desi sunt strabatute de Raul Ialomita, poarta totusi numele zonei 🙂 Daca sunteti oameni ai muntelui, ajungeti aici cu piciorul, dar pentru o zi usoara si relaxanta, se poate ajunge si cu masina pornind din Sinaia. In ambele cazuri, recomand cu caldura un popas in aceasta zona.

Si ca o mentiune inedita, in fotografiile de mai jos vedeti o grota , aceasta fiind numita „Grota Ursilor”. Nu m-am aventurat in interiorul ei si acum regret un pic acest lucru deoarece tocmai am aflat ca aceasta grota se poate parcurge aproximativ 150 de metri si este facuta artificial de catre muncitorii care au construit si barajul de la Lacul Bolboci…

Cat atat pentru acum, dar vor urma si alte postari din aceasta zona… Si acum cateva fotografii…

ENGLISH:

Since in the last few posts i showed you only urban locations, i decided it was time to go back in nature for a bit of fresh air. And since i spent the last few days in the Bucegi Mountains, i have a few locations to show you 🙂

Today we begin our mountain trip with a few tiny gorges called Tatar’s Gorges. These gorges are placed between Padina Plateau and Bolboci Lake and although they are crossed by the Ialomita River, they bear the name of the area 🙂 If you are mountain people, you can get here by foot, but if you just want a relaxing afternoon, you can get here by car as well from Sinaia. In both cases i recommend a stop in this area.

And now to mention something special. In the photos below, you can see a cave… It is called „The Bear Den”. I did not adventure inside of it and i now regret this since i just found out that you can go about 150 meters inside and that the cave is artificially made by the workers who built the Bolboci dam…

And that is about it for now, more posts from this area will follow soon… And now a few photos…

O plimbare montana prin Piatra Craiului… / A mountain trip through Piatra Craiului…

Intotdeauna am preferat sa merg la munte decat sa merg la mare. Dar nu la munte, la Sinaia sau la Busteni / Predeal, sa stau intr-o vila si sa ma uit la munte doar, eu sunt genul care pleaca spre ce varf vede cu un rucsac in in spate si un cort atasat de el 🙂  Si trebuie sa va recunosc ca mi s-a facut foarte foarte dor de munte… Si norocul meu ca am avut recent posibilitatea de a face o tura prin muntii Piatra Craiului 🙂

Zis si facut, am plecat la drum cu personalul de 6:35 spre Brasov, unde am schimbat si am luat un alt tren pana la Zarnesti. Desa cand ma apropiam de Zarnesti se vedea un peisaj superb si ardeam de nerabdare sa plec la drumetie. Nu eram singurul adept al muntelui in acest tren, deoarece am observat ca din gara mai multi oameni cu rucsaci in spate mergand toti in aceeasi directie 🙂 Sincer am avut noroc cu acesti oameni, pentru ca am auzit doi baieti care mergeau fix in fata mea vorbind despre cumparat paine si asta mi-a adus aminte ca si eu trebuie sa fac acelasi lucru… Astfel inarmat si cu paine pornesc spre Fantana lui Botorog.

Fantana lui Botorog este inceputul „oficial” al traseelor prin acesti munti, desi este de parcurs ceva de la gara pana la aceasta locatie… Majoritatea vizitatorilor urca spre Cabana Curmatura, fie pentru a ramane acolo peste noapte, fie pentru un retur in aceeasi zi… Eu nu am pornit spre cabana, am luat-o la pas incet pe drumul forestier ce se intindea in fata mea si care stiam ca ma va duce prin Cheile Zarnesti, sau asa cum mai sunt cunoscute, Prapastiile Zarnestilor. Un peisaju superb aceste chei, parcurse la pas agale. si foarte accesibila pentru oricine, indiferent de varsta sau conditie fizica. 🙂  Si cum mergeam eu asa frumos pe chei, vad o poteca ce porneste in stanga, ce arata destul de salbatica si ma gandeam ce oameni nebuni merg pe acolo oare? Ajuns si in dreptul indicatorului de la poteca, remarc mai putin amuzat ce scrie: „Spre refugiul Grind prin poiana Vladusca”, adica exact unde vroiam eu sa merg :)) Asa ca ce sa mai fac o iau la pas pe noul traseu…

Si wow ce traseu. Niste chei noi cu un peisaj intradevar salbatic, mult mai putin traversat de oameni si absolut superb. Cautand mai multe informatii am aflat ca aceste chei se numesc Cheile Pisicii 🙂 o informatie ce ma amuzat foarte mult. Cheile se termina la un drum forestier ce duce pana in poiana Vladusca unde sunt si niste stane si unde am intalnit multe vaci, oi si capre 🙂 Dincolo de poiana ne asteapta locul numit „La table” unde gasim si un izvor pentru a ne realimenta cu apa. Aici la table gasiti indicatoare unele mai ciudate ca altele… Un indicator imi spune ca mai am o ora pana la Grind, altul imi spune ca mai am 3 ore si in final indicatoru pe care l-am crezut, un indicator vechi de tot care ma anunta ca in 30 de minute voi fi la destinatie 🙂  Seara m-a prins foarte epuizat, mult mai mult decat ma asteptam. La refugiul Grind nu mai era nimeni, decat un soarece de camp cu care am impartit refugiul peste noapte…  Cred si eu ca mititelul s-a adapostit tot in refugiu, avand in vedere furtuna ce a tinut toata noaptea, cu fulgere si tunete ce zguduiau intreg refugiul de parca erau cutremure… Dar a trecut si noaptea asta…

A doua zi la un mic dejun matinal analizez situatia apei… aveam un pic sub 2l de apa, cu planul de a urca spre varful La om, mergand spre Vf. Ascutit cu destinatia finala Cabana Curmatura. Zis si facut pornesc la drum cu uriasul rucsac in spate si incep urcarea…. Acum am intalnit o problema la care nu ma asteptam… Traseul este extrem de prost marcat. Dar stiam cat de cat ce trebuie sa urmaresc, si incep urcarea pe grohotis. Din pacate conditia mea fizica din ultimul timp si bagajul prea mare m-au epuizat enorm, am consumat foarte repede apa ce o aveam, ajungand aproape de varf obosit si fara apa si tocmai bine incepe sa se lase o ceata deasa (care mai tarziu m-am gandit ca probabil a fost doar un nor ce acoperea varful). Fiind prima mea tura pe acest traseu, am zis totusi sa nu merg ca tampitul cum nu trebuie, fiind deja obosit si in lipsa apei, si fara sa cunosc traseul in vizibilitate redusa, am luat hotararea de a ma intoarce. Nu prea am fost incantat de acest lucru, dar este mai sigur asa. Niciodata nu va aventurati aiurea pe munte, multi au murit asa. Mai bine in siguranta astazi pentru a ne intoarce data viitoare 🙂 La coborare am intalnit un pastor ce m-a informat ca nici macar nu eram pe traseu acolo pe grohotis si ca nu urca nimeni pe acolo… Si ciobanul nu a fost singurul cu care m-am intalnit aici, observand in josul pantei pe care coboram un mic urs (sau cel putin de la distanta la care eram parea mic, la apropiere fiind probabil ceva mai mare decat credeam eu) :))

Am coborat pana la table, unde am facut un popas pentru a filma putin zona, pentru a manca ceva si binenteles pentru a face reaprovizionarea cu apa 🙂 De aici am ales traseul marcat cu triunghi rosu ce ma ducea pana la cabana Curmatura. Din nou atentie mare, pentru ca si acest traseu este prost marcat, riscand sa va pierdeti pe traseu 🙂 In tot drumul meu de la Botorog pana la Grind si pana la Curmatura am intalnit extrem de putini oameni… O familie de straini pe Cheile Pisicii, 2 ciobani la Poiana Vladusca, 1 cioban pe tentativa spre Vf. La om si acum pe acest traseu inca un strain care ma intrebat despre traseu, deoarece observase si el ca este prost marcat si nu mai era sigur daca merge pe unde trebuie 🙂 Si dupa o plimbare destul de lunga, am reusit sa ajung intr-un final la Cabana Curmatura, unde am si innoptat.

Am fost foarte surprins de numarul extrem de mare de oameni in zona cabanei… Dar, este totusi un loc mult mai „turistic”. De aici am ales sa cobor spre Zarnesti si promisiunea unui drum spre casa 🙂 Mi-am promis ca data viitoare sa vin sa urc direct la Curmatura si de aici(fara bagaj) sa revizitez Vf. Piatra Mica si sa urc si pentru prima data la Vf. Ascutit 🙂  Acum la final va las cu cateva fotografii. Sper ca v-a placut mica mea poveste si plimbare 🙂

ENGLISH:

I always preferred to go to the mountain rather than at the sea side. But i don’t mean at the mountain in places like Sinaia, Busteni, Predeal, to sit in a vila and just look at the mountain. I am the type that goes hiking with a backpack on my back and a tent attached to it 🙂 And i must admit that i really miss the mountain… And lucky me, i recently had the opportunity to take a trip through Piatra Craiului mountains 🙂

This said and done, i took the 6:35 train to Brasov, where i switched a train to Zarnesti. Already when i was close to Zarnesti i could see a superb scenery and i was dying to go on my trip. And i wasn’t the only one on this train, because i noticed at the train station a few other people with backpacks on their backs going in the same direction 🙂 Sincerely i stuck some luck with those people, because i was walking next to some people that were talking about buying bread, and that reminded me that i had to do the same thing… Thus armed with bread, i took off toward Botorog’s Fountain.

Botorog’s Fountain is the „official” starting place through these mountains, even thou there is some distance from the train station to this place… Most of the visitors climb from here to Curmatura Lodge, whether to stay the night, or come back in the same day… I did not take this road, i took my way down the road knowing that it would lead me to Zarnesti Gorges. An amazing scenery on these gorges, that can be easily walked through by anyone, no matter the age or fitness level 🙂 And as i wask walking along the gorges, i happened to come across a wild looking path that lead left and i though to myself what crazy people would go that way? Once i got to the sign at this path, i saw that it read „to Grind Shelter, through the Vladusca glade”, that being where i had to go myself :)) So i took my backpack on the new path…

And wow what a path. Some new gorges with an amazing and wild scenery, and way less traveled by people. Looking for more information i discovered that these gorges are called „The cat’s gorges” 🙂 an information has that greatly amused me The gorges end at a forest road that leads to the Vladusca glade where there are lodges for sheep carding, and where i spotted lots of cows, sheeps and goats 🙂 Beyond this glade we come across the point known as „La table” (at the panels is a rough translation) where we also find a spring to resupply with water. Here you can find road signs toward different locations, some weirder than others… One sign told me i had one hour to go to Grind Shelter, another said i had 3 hours to go and finally the one that i put my faith in, was a very very old one saying i had only 30 min to go to the shelter 🙂 The evening cought me very exhausted, much more so than i expected. There was no one else at Grind Shelter, only a field mouse with whom i shared the shelter for the night… ANd no wonder it took shelter there, considering the massive storm that went on all night long, with lightning and thunder that shook the whole shelter as if an earthquake was happening… But this night passed well…

The next day over breakfast i analyzed the water status… i had a bit under 2l, with the plan to go up „La om” peek, and continuing to „Ascutit” peek, with the final destination being Curmatura lodge. This said and done i took off with my huge backpack and i started my climb… Now i came across a problem i did not forsee… The path was very badly marked. But i knew a bit what trail i have to follow and i start my climb over rocks. Sadly my fitness level is now what it used to be and the weight of the backpack tired me greatly and that made me consume the water very quickly, almost reaching the peek with no water left when a dense fog settled over the area (later i thought that it might have been only the cloud covering the peek). Since it was my first time on this trail, i said i shouldn’t take stupid risks, being already tired and with no water and not knowing the path ahead and with almost zero visibility, i decided to head back. I wasn’t trilled by this, but it was the best thing to do. Never adventure wildly on the mountain, lots of people have died that way. Better to stay safe today, in order to return again some other day 🙂  On my way back i met a sheppard that told me i was not even on the right path to the peek… And that sheppard was not the only living soul i met on my way down, having spottet a bear as well 🙂 (in the distance it seemed rather tiny, but i bet up close it was not all that tiny).

I went back down all the way to the place „La table”, where i took a break to film the surroundings a bit and to grab some food and of course to ressuply my water 🙂 From here i followed the trailed marked with a red triangle that leads all the way to Curmatura lodge. Again i had to be very careful because the trail was once again very poorly marked, with the risk of loosing my way 🙂 During my whole hiking trip from Botorog to Grind and all the way to Curmatura, i met very few people… A family of foreigners on the Cat’s gorges, 2 sheppards in Vladusca Glade, 1 sheppard on my return from the peek and finally on this trail i met another foreigner that asked me some questions regarding the trail, because he has also noticed that it was poorly marked and was not sure whether he was going the right way… And after a long day,  i finally arrived at Curmatura Lodge where i also spent the night.

I was very surprised by the huge amount of people at the lodge… But since it is a more „touristic” spot, it was expected. From here i went back to Zarnesti and the promise of a train ride home 🙂 Not in the end i leave you with a few photos. I hope you all liked my little story and trip 🙂

Stana Regala si Stancile Franz Josef / The royal pasture and the „Franz Josef” cliff

Daca ati trecut prin Sinaia, atunci sigur ati auzit de Stana Regala. Nu este foarte mult de spus despre aceasta, o pasune destul de intinsa cu o priveliste superba asupra muntiilor din jur, ce candva facea parte din domeniile regale alaturi de Castelul Peles si micul sau frate Pelisor. Tot aici la aproximativ 5 minute distanta gasim si unul dintre cele mai frumoase puncte de belvedere din muntii Bucegi si anume Stanca „Franz Josef”… De aici Valea Prahovei se deschide complet in fata ochilor.

Despre drumul din Sinaia pana la Stana regala ce pot sa va spun? Este superb, o mini drumetie prin padure, desi drumul este amenajat pentru calatori, urcand tot timpul pe o poteca de pietre. Totusi frumusetea padurii si aerul proaspat raman cu noi tot drumul 🙂 Si desi eu am urcat acum in mijlocul iernii, toata padurea era inca acoperita in culori superbe de toamna…

Cam atat pentru acum, este timpul sa las cateva fotografii sa vorbeasca despre frumusetea zonei…

ENGLISH:

If you’ve ever been through Sinaia, then i am sure you heard of the Royal Shepherding Grounds. There isn’t much to say about this, a huge pasture with and amazing view on the surrounding mountains, that once was part of the royal domains along with Peles castle and it’s little brother Pelisor castle. Also here, at about 5 minutes away,we find one of the most amazing view points in the Bucegi mountains and that is „Franz Josef” Cliff… From here Prahova Valley opens completely before our eyes.

About the trip from Sinaia to the pasture, what can i say? It is awesome, a small hike through the woods, although the road is aranged for travelers, thus trekking over a man made road. But the beauty of the forest and the fresh air are still with us all the way 🙂 And although i went up now in the middle of winter, the whole forest is still covered in the colors of autumn…

That is about it for now, it is time to let a few photos talk about the beauty of the area…