11th - Fagaras Mountains/Sambetei

Not much walking today, so it wasn't too bad.

The morning was spent on visiting Bran castle, close by where we had been spending the last couple of nights. Bran castle is more known by its less formal name; Dracula’s castle. It got its name as at one point Vlad the Impaler too up residency there. A beautiful castle, very unlike the large almost bombastic buildings in England this was a very compact building with a lot of small nooks and crannies, small corridors and generally fairly small rooms. Overall it was a great walk around and nice to see.

After lunch we went back to the bus which took us to our next destination, the Fagaras Mountains. It would be a 3 hour walk up through a valley where just before it would be getting steep we would spend the night at the Valea Sambetei Chalet. We were supposed to walk along a long muddy road which is mainly used by loggers, but due to the moist weather our driver took us up as far as the bus managed, which cut off almost an hour of the trek. Getting out of the bus it was only drizzling so it made the walk easier as opposed to if it had been pouring down.

The walk up was primarily by mud paths so the path all the way up to the lodge tended to be quite slippery. Apart from that it was a nice walk – the clouds were hanging fairly low so the sun never really appeared.

After a few hours we arrived at the lodge where we were separated into dorms and rooms. It was a nice place, but as there was no heating you had to rely on having a nice warm sleeping bag. Personally I didn’t have any problems with that, but others were apparently struggling a bit with the temperatures. I had no problem with staying here for two nights.

The castle sitting in the background overlooking the town.

Small narrow staircases.

The inner courtyard.

Vlad's clothing. Easily recognizable from the pictures that exist of him.

Two of these black swans were spotted after our lunch break.

Gotten out of the bus and started walking along the road.

Reaching the lodge, all we can see are low clouds.

10th - Piatra Craiulu National Park

Today was a relatively easy day compared to the recent walks. We still did quite an ascent and descent, but the distance was less than the past couple of days. And everyone joined in today. As usual we got a ride with the bus for a short while where we were unloaded at the start of the trek. Today the weather wasn’t too positive; it felt cooler than before and the clouds didn’t seem to want to let go.

The day started with quite a walk up through a gorge with steep cliffs on each side, covered in trees looking like they were holding on for their dear life (they probably were). It was oddly silent, the winds didn’t come down in the bottom where we were and all you could hear was each other at the other groups.

We soon ended up at a path going up through the forest, where we could look forward to a short steep, slightly slippery, path until it flattened and we found ourselves in an almost mystical forest with mist hanging quietly between the trees. The stories about Transylvania and its monsters felt just a bit more real in these surroundings.

We came out in the open, pastures surrounded by the forests and low-hanging clouds. Apparently during the winter it is a skiing resort and it was easy to see the slopes going cutting through the forest. The sun slowly managed to cut through some of the mist and clouds, and at the same time we arrived at a cabin which sold food and drinks.

Here we had our lunch before we would continue to the lookout point which would be the final goal for the day. As we would come back to the cabin after being at the lookout point half of the group stayed behind while the other half continued upwards. After a short ascent we were at the first point, and we saw exactly what we had expected; absolutely nothing. A white wall. Because of this we decided it wouldn’t be worth trying to get to the next point as the visibility would probably be just as poor.

Went back down to the cabin, had a short rest (other than lunch they had cake, too!) and returned to the bus which took us back to the lodge.

The day’s walk was through Piatra Craiulu National Park which is famous for its wildlife; 1,5% of the European surface, and 1/3 of Europe’s large carnivores; estimates go for app. 6000 bears, 3000 wolves and 2000 lynx. Didn’t see any of them, though, but back in the lodge we saw a documentary about the bears and wolves and their interaction with the people in their habitats. But no personal encounter, unfortunately/fortunately (depending on preference).

On the way up through the gorge.

Opening up a little.

The mist seeping through the forest.

The beautiful view at the lookout point.

9th - Bran and the Bucegi Mountains

Most important topic first; when meeting in the morning we found out that the hospital visit had resulted in a cast – the wrist had been broken in the fall. Woops.

After breakfast we went down to the market again to pick up lunch before heading for the bus which transferred us to Bran where we would be spending the next two nights. Arriving in Bran we offloaded our luggage, the injured and who else needed a break from yesterday. From here we drove a short distance to get to the trail.

From here we started ascending on the first part of the day’s trek. Like yesterday we were walking through the dense forest, but this only lasted the first couple of hours before we came out and into the open. Almost from the beginning we had been approached by three stray dogs that ended up escorting us all the way up – at that point one of them disappeared but the two others followed us all the way back down again.

Coming out from the trees at around midday and still ascending we had a great view of the surrounding hills and areas. Hills covered in forests, with rocks sticking out here and there.

Coming towards the highest point of today’s walk we met a couple of herders with their large groups of sheep and their sheep dogs. Some interaction was had between the sheep dogs and “our” dogs, but it was obvious that the sheep dogs didn't really give a damn while “our” dogs made sure that no one would hurt us. It was quite fun to watch.

Coming back down again we were picked up by the bus, the dogs disappeared and we returned to the lodge.

Some steep passages now and then.

Out of the forest, ascending.

One of the strays.

A sheep herder.

On the way down again.

Small break.