Author: Iulian Cozma

Ten days of hiking in Transsilvania

Adding ten days of hiking in Transsilvania to our down-the-Danube cycling trip Annabel and I sought to top off one adventure with another. Logically, our erratic way of communication should have led us straight into the desert, but thanks to Iulian’s golden patience we got golden Horia to take us through Postavaru, Piatra Craiului, Bucegi and Fagaras Mountains. A somewhat unseasonal snow storm greeted us upon arrival in Brasov October 1st. Our exceedingly wild expectations matched only by our exceedingly lacking equipme… (>>>)

Revelionul de la Cabana Barcaciu, din Muntii Fagaras

Tura la coltari, soare, destul de frig, mancare gustoasa, bautura pe saturare si o gasca misto. Cam astea au fost ingredientele revelionului din 2013, pe care l-am petrecut la cabana Barcaciu, in Muntii Fagaras.

O parte dintre noi a ajuns la cabana pe 30 decembrie dupa amiaza, iar restul seara, pe la 8. Dupa bucuria revederii cu ceilalti, am fost primiti de Nea Petre si Mihai cu zambetul pe buze si cu o ciorba ca la mama acasa: gustoasa si calda. Mai aveam o singura zi din 2013, asa ca ne-am gandit sa o petrecem facand o tura pe creasta. Initia… (>>>)

Christmas in Ucea de Sus village, Fagaras county, Transylvania

My dear friends, It’s been a wonderful year and I was lucky to meet great people coming for ski touring, hiking and walking in Romania.

Christmas is one of the most important holidays in Romania and maybe the most beautiful as it’s celebration differs depending on the regions.  As you know, my family is original from Transylvania (“Ardeal”) – Ucea de Sus village, just at the base of Fagarasi Mountains.  Here, the Christmas tradition is very important and maintained for hundreds of years. On the Chris… (>>>)

Snow walking in Transylvania

It was freezing cold and pouring with rain the day I met Antonia and Annabel in the city center of Brasov. We were to discuss about our scheduled trekking tour up in the Carpathian Mountains and the weather wasn’t looking very promising.

I was in for a nice surprise. The two former Oxford students would not be put off by a few drops of rain, even if they hoped for a nice, warm, sunny autumn – as anyone would expect for an early October in Romania. It’s true that there weren’t just a few drops, but quite plenty, and not r… (>>>)

Vater und Sohn Expedition durchs Fagaras Gebirge

Ein unvergessliches Erlebnis war für uns die 3 Tagestour durchs Sambata Tal auf den Moldoveanu Gipfel. Es begann damit, dass Julian mit uns professionell für die Expedition einkaufen ging und wir den Inhalt unserer Rucksäcke überprüften. Zum Glück, denn wir konnten gemeinsam noch überflüssiges Gewicht reduzieren. Das war auch nötig, denn  der erste Tag , Aufstieg von 1800 Höhenmetern bis zum Refugio auf dem Portita Vistei Sattel auf 2310 m war ganz schön anstrengend. Unvergessliche Ausblicke über weite Täler,  Julian berich… (>>>)

Fagaras mountains, Israeli hikers in Romania

It took them more than two years of preparations before actually arriving to Romania, but the wait was totally worth the while. Eran, Omer and their father Eli came to Romania to enjoy the lush forests, the mountain rivers and lakes: views that are available in very limited supply in Israel.

We walked the trails of Bucegi, Piatra Craiului, Bran County, Fagaras Mountains. We weren’t the fastest, nor the more spirited of the trekkers – but we were definitely taking the best brakes. Fresh made coffee (thanks Omer), home made … (>>>)

Irish Globetrotters walk in Romanian mountains, Bucegi, Piatra Craiului

A thirteen strong group of us, all keen mountaineers, from various parts of Ireland have been for the past number of years, taking a week out in early September to trek another new destination for us across the mountains of Europe.This year it was to be the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania,Romania.

After some research earlier in the year it was decided, due to the limited time we had, seven days, that we should the services of a local guide. Iulian was to be our guide for the week.

The service that Iulian provided was second to none and I … (>>>)

Fagaras ridge traverse, andurance hiking in Romania

I’m not sure how to say this, but sometimes words are not enough to describe the pleasure of meeting some people or, even more, taking tours on the mountains with them. I was speechless after I met Arnon and crossed most of the Fagaras ridge with him, in just two days. I did this tour many times before, not as fast as now, but I enjoyed it every single time! I was speechless to see how much a person can enjoy a tour like this and how much fun such a tour can be!

First, I planned this trip together with Tiberiu from Bucharest, who said he was fit enough f… (>>>)

Die Lehren des Berges, Rumänien, Bergwandern in Fagaras und Bucegi

Die Lehren des Berges,

Ich erinnere mich gerne an die Tage mit Sören, seine zwei Söhne und seinen Neffe im Fogarasch- und Bucegi-Gebirge zurück. Die Fogarasch Gebirge sind nicht leicht aber sehr schön und benötigen viel energie um kennen lernen zu werden. Natürlich, deswegen man muss sich auch viel wünschen sie kenen zu lernen. Im Gegenzug bieten sie atemberaubende landschaften an und zusätzlich auch eine besondere Lebenserfahrung die man im alltag mitübertragen und benutzen kann. Deshalb sind die Rumänischeberge eine richti… (>>>)

Hiking in Carpathian mountains, Romania, Fagaras range

When the going gets tough, the tough get going

Almost 30 years after a first attempt at doing the Fagaras mountains main ridge, Thomas and his wife came to Romania this July to finish the business. That first try ended shortly after starting, because of an unexpected snow. This time the weather was much better, with lots of sun and mild temperatures. The trek proved to be demanding non-the-less, with lots of technical ascents and descents, with long hours of marching along trails sometimes pretty exposed ridges.

Thomas and his wife wer… (>>>)