24 trips in 2003:

WINTER 2003/2004

• December 27th: Italia. The Marittime Alps. Short and easy daytrip on Monte Vecchio, a mountain which I know well and trekked several times. I've left the station of Limone Piemonte at approx 1000m elevation; the peak is at 1908m but I stopped at around 1750m due to abundant snow. Alone.
• November 9th: Bucegi. Easy trip from Cota 1400 to Cota 2000 and back. Lots of snow at the higher elevations. Cristi joined us for the descent only. People: Nicoleta Zamfir, Cosmin Zamfir, Cristi Sincai.

• November 23th: Baiului. Easy daytrip during some nice summer weather. Sinaa - Piscul Cainelui Chalet - Cainelui summit . Altrough it was late november we've met very few snow. Lots of mud for the descent on Valea Rea and a good dinner at a restaurant! People: Almina Apavaloaiei, Mihaela Topsa, Nicoleta Zamfir, Cosmin Zamfir.
• September 27th: Fagaras. Two day trip with an overnight in Valea Sambetei chalet. The first day I was alone and it was pretty exhausting: I've left the car at Cabana Capra then Fereastra Zmeilor shelter - free navigation towards Nierlinger Memorial - main ridge thru Vistea Mare - Fereastra Mica - Fereastra Mare with going down to Valea Sambetei chalet (the descent from Fereastra Mare to the chalet was at night time, with the flashlight; when the batteries were exhausted I had a difficult time changing them). The second day early wake up then descent to Manastirea Sambata (where I've met Nico and Cosmin) then by car to Balea Cascada and finally an ascent on foot from Balea Cascada to Balea Lac . People: Nicoleta Zamfir, Cosmin Zamfir.
• September 6th: Fagaras. A nice South-North cross of the mountain. I've left my Bucharest home at 5:45 by city bus, train, two microbuses then two times hitchhiking to Cabana Capra (where I arrived around 14h, after more than 8 hours on the road). The trail was Cabana Capra - Fereastra Zmeilor - main ridge - Podragu saddle - Podragu Chalet - Turnuri Chalet - Victoria (arrival at 10.15pm). It was the day when Mars was visible; in the evening, after having left the mountains, the landscape was extraordinary, with the Moon and Mars together on the sky. I have some nice memories from this trip. Alone.

• December 11th: Statele Unite. Joshua Tree National Park, California. Two easy daytrips in the national park, again with a night slept in the desert, under a gigantic boulder. After the Death Valley it didn't impress me so much. Alone.
• December 8th: Statele Unite. Death Valley National Park, California. Gorgeous trip thru Death Valley, three days with a night slept under the stars and another in the car. The barren, dry landscape is gorgeous, not to mention the temperatures of up to 22 degrees (centigrade) during mid-december (that's why the trip is under Summer 2003 - the climate matched the Romanian summer contitions) Alone.
• August 31st: Buzaului. Vulcanii Noroiosi and the Meledic Plateau. It wasn't a mountain trek but rather a trip to a mountain area. We managed to find Vulcanii Noroiosi (Paclele Mari and Paclele Mici) but weren't able to locate the Meledic carstic plateau. People: Bogdan Visinescu, 2 more persons.
• August 16th: Fagaras. By night; we've left from Balea Lac Chalet towards Capra Saddle - Paltinu Saddle - somewhere on the main ridge (we turned back because our only light bulb broke) - again Capra Saddle - Capra Lake - (here we got lost, we started to navigate using the GPS and full moon) Cota 2000 Chalet. The last 3km were on asphalt (Transfagarasan road, including the tunnel) with arrival at the car around 4am - this way we managed to see the sunrise around Curtea de Arges. Together with Bogdan Visinescu.
• July 27th: Piatra Craiului. Beautiful one-day trip, a bit tiring for most of the hikers (I was to blame for underestimating the difficulty of the trip). Good weather, we've also got lost a bit, missing water, aching feet Plaiul Foii Chalet - Curmatura Foii - Marele Grohotis - Umerii Pietrei Craiului - Spirla Shelter then back to the Plaiul Foii chalet . People: Almina Apavaloaiei, Cristi Sincai, 3 more persons.
• July 12th: Fagaras. Day and night; a follow-up to the previous trip, this time eastwards. Cabana Capra - Fereastra Zmeilor (here I saw a mountain goat; the only time in 2003) - lake Podragel - Podragu Chalet (daylight until now; from now on night time) - Podragu Saddle - main ridge - Fereastra Zmeilor - Capra Lake with going down towards Transfagarasan and the final leg on paved road. This time I've reached the car around 3.30am. Alone.
• June 28th: Iezer-Papusa. Most dangerous trip so far. Climbed without problems the trail from the Voina Chalet to the Iezer lake an shelter then took the main ridge. In some places the forest is devastated by avalanches and looks very bad. The initial plan called for a complete walk of the main ridge up to Papusa Peak - Gradisteanu Saddle then to Cuca chalet ; however in Spintecatura Papusii I realised that I'm out of time so decided to go down towards the Cuca chalet directly thru an unmarked valley . The idea turned out to be bad, around 1300-1500m altitude I had to pass some difficult obstacles (above the waterbed, hanging on the nearby vegetation). Due to delays the night fell; without flashlight and with new moon (fortunately one could vaguely see around). I've reached again the Voina Chalet after 11pm. I can only hope that after this trip I became more responsable... Alone.
• June 14th: Fagaras. By far my favourite trip so far; I keep some unforgettable memories from it. Night time and full-moon trip on the route from Capra chalet (departure at 9pm) - Capra Lake and Saddle - Vanatoarea lui Buteanu peak - Vaiuga Saddle and valley - Balea chalet - Capra Saddle - main ridge under Vartopel/Arpasel - Fereastra Zmeilor Saddle - Capra chalet with arrival at 7.15am. The moon reflected on Capra Lake, the silence broken only by some invisible waters, the alternance between clear sky and thick fog, my moonshade were all wonderful! Alone.
• June 8th: Iezer-Papusa. An interesting roundtrip from Voina Chalet: Vacarea - Crucea Ateneului - Main ridge - Rosu Peak with descent thru Plaiul lui Patru . Together with one more person.
• June 1st: Piatra Craiului. We continued our week-end trip after having slept in Brasov. The trail was Plaiul Foii - La Lanturi - Grind Saddle - southern main ridge - Funduri Saddle - Urzicii valley - pe sub Umeri . The weather was interesting, with rain and hail in the heights but dry at lower altitudes; the last 2 hours were in dakness thru the forest, to the desperation of Bogdan Together with Bogdan Visinescu.
• May 31st: Piatra Mare. Easy trip, served as a warming-up for the second day; we went from Dambu Morii to Sapte Scari and returning by Prapastia Ursului and the Familial road ; to my joy we got a bit of darkness when turning back. People: Bogdan Visinescu, Mihaela Topsa.

• May 25th: Fagaras. Circular trip from Piscu Negru - Caltun Lake - main ridge - Strunga Doamnei - Negoiu Peak - Caldarea Berbecilor - Lespezi valley . One of the two dangerous trips of 2003; I lost the path when returning (even having map and GPS!) so I had to go/climb some boulders and for the final part I got half an hour of heavy rain. Alone.
• May 18th: Fagaras. Valea Rea from Canton Nisipuri to Portita Vistei and back . No snow at all when I've started but lots of it in the upper part. This is the trip which opened my appetite to explore Fagaras and damaged some parts inside my car... Alone.
• May 11th: Piatra Craiului. I've left my car at Fantana lui Botorog; I then proceeded to Curmatura Chalet then Ascutit refuge and summit ; from the refuge I descended via the Prapastiile Zarnestiului ; a sourprise was the finding of a small lateraal canyon in the Prapastii; I entered it for some 50 meters. Alone.
• May 3th: Bucegi. I went up by Jepilor valley then down thru Piatra Arsa - Canton Jepi - Busteni . I wanted to see the swollen spring waters and I succeeded! The waterfall in the upper part of the valley was gorgeous; I also had some problems before when had to cross the creek. Alone.
• April 19th: Franta. Vosges Range, to the East of the country near Strasbourg. We climbed by car to the highest summit (1400m; the average elevation of the surrounding valleys is only 5-600m) then descended on foot to a small village called Metzerel. Heavy fighting took place in these mountains during 1914-1918; we've also visited old trenches, fortifications and a monument to the French soldiers. Ioana was with us only while by car. People: Vasile Comanescu, Ioana Puscasu.

• March 23th: Bucegi. Solitary trip on the Sinaia - Piatra Arsa Chalet trail . I decided to go up while it's possible; I turned back at the upper margin of the forest (around 1700m altitude). Plenty of snow after Poiana Regala. Alone.
• March 2nd: Bucegi. We went from Pestera Chalet - Piatra Arsa Chalet then back. Nice weather, full of snow; the road by car to Pestera was interesting and eventful as well. People: Mihaela Topsa, Bogdan Visinescu, 2 more persons.
• February 23th: Bucegi. Round trip starting from Gura Diham chalet then Poiana Izvoarelor, Pichetu Rosu then returning by Poiana Costila then the final part of the Valea Cerbului trail . Just before we've reached the car it was very cold. People: Mihaela Topsa, 2 more persons.

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