FOGARASKIE MOUNTAINS
In summer, in the Fagaras Mountains (Fagaras Mountains), belonging to the Southern Carpathians, relatively few attract, but avid tourists with backpacks, to admire the most picturesque trails in the whole country. Six peaks exceed the height 2500 m, and further 30 ma ponad 2400 m. The lakes shine in the glacial cauldrons (ok. 70); the largest of them, Bilea and Urlea, are approx 5000 m2 of space. The main ridge of the massif has 65 km long, the whole chain goes latitudinally through more or less 100 km.
The biggest problems are getting there – most of the trails start 8-15 km south of the railway stations on the Sibiu-Braov line; buses run here rarely, it is also difficult to hitchhike (hardly any car can accommodate more than two people with luggage).
Good physical condition is essential for hiking in the Fagaras Mountains, warm clothes and sturdy shoes. The trails are very well marked, but some episodes can be quite difficult; sometimes climbing was made easier with clasps and steel chains. One should also remember about significant heights and changing ones – sometimes instantly – weather conditions.
There is snow in the mountains from November to early May; the most pleasant hiking here is in August and September. You can buy basic food in shelters, but it's always better to have at least some biscuits and a bottle of water with you. Tourists meet on the way willingly share their impressions, and having good maps, you can quickly find an interesting route. Maps should be available for sale in the SurMont Sports store in Sibiu, and, perhaps, tourist offices and receptions in luxury hotels have them.
Routes and accommodation
The easiest way to get to the Fagaraskie Mountains is from Sibiu; Local trains to Brasov also pass near the beginning of many routes.
Probably best to get off at Gara Sebes Olt (24 km from Sibiu), from where in approx. 5 time. can by Sebesul de Sus (450 m n.p.m.) come to the Sura hostel (1450 m n.p.m.; 60 beds). The first episode is uninteresting, but from place, where the road begins to climb, it gets more and more interesting. The next morning, you can set off to the Negoiu refuge (1546 m n.p.m., 170 beds), 7 time. east of Sura; the trail leads through the peaks reaching 2306 m.
Who is fed up with climbing, can get out of here within 7 time. to Porumbacu de Jos station (41 km from Sibiu). After eight hours of exhausting hiking east of the Negoiu Hut, you arrive at the Bilea Lac Hut (2034 m n.p.m.,- 170 beds), from where in the summer comes the cable car to the Bilea Cascada shelter (1234 m n.p.m., 63 bed) and the road beyond the mountains. (When the funicular is closed, you can easily go down the paths or the asphalt transfagaras road). The trail leads here through the Negoiu peak (2535 m), second highest in Romania. Who decides to end their trek at this point and walk or hitchhike from Bilea Cascada north to Cirta train station (51 km from Sibiu), there he should visit the ruins of a fortified 13th-century Cistercian monastery, ok. 1 km north of the station.
Seven hours' walk from Bilea Lac to the east is Podragu Hut (2136 m n.p.m., 100 beds), a great base for an attack on Moldoveanu's summit (2544 m), the highest mountain in Romania. The trail is quite strenuous, but the view from the top is breathtaking. From Podraga you can descend to the Arpasu de Jos station in one day (420 m n.p.m.) or Ucea (59 km from Sibiu).
The most exciting part of the main ridge is the transition from the Moldoveanu peak to the Negoiu peak - in clear weather you can see dark blue glacial lakes at the foot of steep rock walls. Part of this path is climbing 150 m up Dracula's gully (devil's gully), in full exposure. Ropes were installed here for less skilled mountain rovers.