11 trips in Fagaras (interest point: Cabana Capra):
(see here a complete description of the marked trails in the Fagaras range as well as an interactive map)

SUMMER 2008

• August 19th: Fagaras. Night time trip. I've left the Capra Chalet at 9.45pm and without any hurry I reached Capra Lake around 1am ; as the lake was engulfed in fog I decided to continue without stopping towards Capra Saddle but just before reaching it I got out of the fog; from there I returned to the lake shore, this time without fog, for a lunch break; then I reached again Capra Saddle at 2.30am then proceeded to descend towards Balea Lac chalet which I reached at 3.15am ; from here it was 17km on the paved road to Capra and Piscu Negru chalets. Alone.

• June 25th: Fagaras. George led us on an interesting journey on the western slopes of Museteica mountain between Capra chalet and Museteica summit (2460m). Both the climb and the descent (two different trails) were without trails or path. When we went up we had lots of rain; for the descent we had nice weather with sun towards the end. People: Radu Antonescu, one more person.

• May 21st: Fagaras. An exact remake of a trip from one year ago. Like most remakes it wasn't as nice as the original. From Piscu Negru chalet climbed the Paltinu stream until the main ridge , which I followed eastwards until the Paltinu Saddle . From there I descended towards Balea Lake , then thru the tunnel and free descending inside Caldarea Caprei up to the Capra Chalet then the final 4 miles to the car on the paved Transfagarasan road. Alone.

• September 5th: Fagaras. Again a three-day trip. The first day we went by car up to "La Cariera" (near Porumbacu) then on foot up to Negoiu Chalet . Second day we left the chalet with plans to reach Caltun Lake by Piatra Pranzului and Strunga Ciobanului but the enthuziasm has waned after Strunga Ciobanului so we returned to the chalet. In the third day the others descended to the car and I crossed the mountain on the itinerary Negoiu Chalet - Serbota Peak - Custura Saratii - Negoiu Summit - Caltun Lake - Piscu Negru . People: Nicoleta Puscasu, Nicoleta Zamfir, Cosmin Zamfir.
• July 30th: Fagaras. We left the car next to Capra Chalet on the Transfagarasan road then climbed up to Fereastra Zmeilor on the main ridge. From here we took the northern trail to Podragu Chalet , then Podragu Saddle then the main ridge back until just before Fereastra Zmeilor from where we descended freely towards the Fereastra Zmeilor Shelter then to the car . Eigth full hours of trekking, out of which two under rain. People: Radu Antonescu, one more person.

• May 30th: Fagaras. One of the most beautiful mountain trips. I've left the car at Piscu Negru then climbed the Paltinu stream until the main ridge , which I followed eastwards until the Paltinu Saddle . From there I descended towards Balea Lake , then thru the tunnel and free descending inside Caldarea Caprei up to the Capra Chalet . From here a car took me for the 7km to Piscu Negru. Even if the weather wasn't as great as great as the forecast it was still an really beautiful trip. Alone.

• August 31st: Fagaras. Magnificent night-time trip on the itinerary Cabana Capra (23h45) - Capra Lake (02h00) - Capra Saddle (02h30) - Laitel Peak - Caltun Refuge (05h30) - upper Paltinu glacial valley (07h00-08h30 + 90min of sleep up to 10h00) - southern entrance of Transfagarasan Tunnel (10h40) - Capra Chalet (11h45) . Even as the was a heavy rain in that evening until 7pm I had the luck to get an absolutely cloudless sky so I had to use the flashlight only in places the moon was covered by mountains. As from the similar night-time trip of June 2003 I have unforgettable memories from it. Alone.

• 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.

• 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 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.

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