Express your love!

This is a narrative about relating to my love for mountain world by climbing steep trails and through photography and writting.

Sapte Scari Canion (Seven ladders canyon) in August 2011.

There is no better way of expressing one’s feeling about things he or she loves to do than doing it.

I love both, photography and natural world, and try them combine together as much as possible. I share my love for mountains with photography. Writting on this theme is further expression of that love for natural world!

                          Startrails above Piatra Secuiului in Trascau Mountains.

But how does it work in the field? The answer is not simple nor obvious. On my most recent trip to Romania I decided to postpone my leaving for home for 24 hours, in favour to climb yet another mountain top in the Carpathian Mountains. I should go home on Saturday evening to be home on Sunday to take a rest before going to work on Monday. I had chosen no rest at all, and going directly to work after the night spent on train’s seat. Without my love for mountains I would never be able to do this.

It was not easy decision after a week spent in Trascău Mountains with my romanian friends. Especially after the last night on the trip, which was the hardest one for all of us, and we did not slept well. But this is another story to relate sometimes in the future.

No back to my fast jaunt to Piatra Mare. Last year me and Ioan were not able to reach the top due to lack of time. If I had my current experiences with romanian trips a year ago, we would make it to the top then.

Because the Trascău trip ended on Saturday’s evening I sensed an opportunity to repeat the Piatra Mare experience from last year, and in plus topping it. My friends drove me to Dâmbu Morii, where we said bye-bye with hugs and kisses. By deciding to climb Piatra Mare I delayed our separation, which was the worsest moment of the trip, by some five hours. After that my friends were headed for Bucharest.

                                          Our team in Trascau Mountains.

Now being alone, I walked on the large meadow, which serves as unofficial camping ground during weekends and holidays. I chose a spot to errect a tent and soon went to sleep.

                               Parking lot at Dambu Morii in August 2011.

The scheme of marked trails on Piatra Mare massif. My track is showed with red line. 

My alarm clock woke me up at 5:30. This was the hardest thing, because on the previous night I did not slept much. At 6:30 I started to walk towards Şapte Scari Canion, which was 45 min away. It was a pleasant experience to walk with easy pack in the cool of morning. This time I had the canyon entirely for myself. Last time it was crowded with city people and we had to wait in lines to reach ladders. 

                     Waiting in a line to enter Sapte Scari Canion in August 2011.

                                       Crowds in the canyon, August 2011.

                                  Walkway deep in the canyon, August 2011.

                                 First waterfall on the way to canyon, July 2012.

                                    Ready to enter the canyon, July 2012.

                                     The entrance into the canyon, July 2012.

                                Waterfall deep into the canyon, July 2012.

        Waterfall, this time I was enjoying the solitude it was just around 7:30 am.

                                      At the head of the canyon, August 2011.

                             Sheep on the trail toward tho top, July 2012.

Above the canyon the trail was still climbing. After that steep section I entered on a first meadow with the hut. The climb here took me 2 hours. I beat the schedule by one hour. Normal climbing time to the hut is 3 hours. If had not been taking photograph I would be there in 1 and half an hour! 

                                  The last abrupt section before the top, July 2012.

                                    Looking down from the ridge, July 2012.

                       Looking toward town of Predeal and Bucegi, July 2012.

                                           Trail on the crest, July 2012.

I did not bothered to inspect the hut a walked fast toward the top, which was still one hour away. I arrived there in about 45 min and walked past the top to the most distant rock at the far side of the ridge, which offered better views toward Bucegi and Braşov.  After having  something to drink and eating bisquits I started to head down. 

                                   Indicators at Cota 1200, August 2011.

This time I chose more easy way called Drumul Familial. It goes down in serpentines, folowing the ridge. In 2 and a half an hour I was back in Dămbu Morii at my tent, which was untouched and safe. Previously I was afraid that it could get robbed by someone. I would make it down much faster If I had not been talking with locals for three times. They were surprised that a foregneir speaks their native language and really appreciated that.

My friends also told me that my Romanian improved from last year’s Buila trip. I was very happy to hear those reactions on my still poor knowledge of Romanian. I asked Irina, who is a teacher, what mark she would give me for my knowledge of the language. She told me that something in the middle of the scale. But she teaches first grade school, to make it clear!!!

                                       Mountain stream above , august 2011.

Dămbu Morii At Dămbu Morii I ate my lunch, packed my tent and said farewell to this place. I walked along the road in unbearable heat. At first I reached Dârste, and walked further toward Braşov. Finally, in Cartier Noua I gave up and waited for bus connection toward railway station in Braşov, which was still 5 km away. I almost fell asleep, while sitting on the bench, waiting for the bus to come.

                                   Piatra Mare seen from Brasov, August 2011.

I was beaten down after such an effort in this heat and my nightmare had yet to come. At the station, where I needed to get my reservation, I heard the most feared sentence from the clerk:“Nu mai sunt locuri.“, which meant there were no free places on the train. I had to wait for another 5 hours for next connection for Budapest. At least it gave me an opportunity to walk through crowded streets of Braşov once again and having a dinner at Ceasu Rau Terrace restaurant.

If I had not so strong love for mountains and experience how to get home from the trip as late as possible, I would have no chance to see Piatra Mare this year.