7 trips in Piatra Craiului (interest point: Punctul de intrare/iesire Zarnesti):

SUMMER 2011

• July 17th: Piatra Craiului. From Zarnesti I've climbed to Refugiul Diana then followed Padina Popii to the Padina Popii summit on the main ridge ; then after more than 10 years I've walked nearly all of the Northern Ridge to La Om Peak . I've descended via Refugiul Grind - La Table - Folea house then back to Zarnesti over the hills . Alone.

• August 27th: Piatra Craiului. From Zarnesti we trekked to the mouth of Crapatura valley then 250m (horizontally) more up to the origin of Padina Hotarului trail which we climbed to just below Turnu summit then ascended the summit itself where we took the main break of the day; the descent was by the difficult trail to Saua Crapaturii , then we descended in a record time the Crapatura valley to its inferior mouth which we visited just eigth hours ago; from here we continued down over the hills to the forestry road on Barsei valley . Together with Emil Georgescu.

• October 13th: Piatra Craiului. The Small Circuit of Piatra Craiului massif, walked by me for the first time in a single trip. I've alighted the train at 3pm; it took me some 1 hour to reach the bottom end of Crapatura valley then two and a half more hours to the Crapaturii saddle, which I reached when the sun was setting . The nightly descent was towards Cabana Curmatura then Fantana lui Botorog on the direct trail . Alone.

• October 2nd: Piatra Craiului. Gorgeous autumn hike; from the Zarnesti rail station I walked towards Poiana Chiliilor then I took the trail which goes to Padina Sindileriei. At first it goes thru forest, then some shrubs and after some 15 minutes walk from the split the real alpine part starts. Altrough the height difference is only some 600m the valley is absolutely beautfiul, as well as quite dangerous; there are some sections where you have to climb loose rocks (gravel). Some half an hour before reaching the Turnu summit you get out of the dark valley and into the sun. After some rest on the summit (where I've also met a Spanish trekker which I joined up to Curmatura Chalet) we continued towards Saua Padinei Inchise ; the descent was to Curmatura , Botorog spring then back to Zarnesti. Alone.

• October 28th: Piatra Craiului. Maybe the last 'summer time' trip for this year. From Zarnesti we've climbed for some 5 hours Padina Hotarului towards Turnu summit ; then continued on the main ridge up to Saua Padinei Inchise . The descent was towards Curmatura chalet where we took a tea and food break. The night fell as we wandered thru the woods towards the Prapastii forestry road then back to Zarnesti . People: Monica Lauleanu, Radu Antonescu, 2 more persons.

• 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.

• July 6th: Piatra Craiului. We've started from Zarnesti (Botorog Spring) towards Curmatura ; from Curmatura to Pestera Village then back towards Zarnesti . Nice weather and plenty of animals :-). People: Nicoleta Zamfir, Cosmin Zamfir.

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