The Fagaras Mountains are part of the Meridionaly Carpathians being content between Olt's valley at West,the Piatra Craiului massive at East,Fagaras's depression at North and Campulung's depressions,Bradetu,Arefu of South.With a length of 70km and 40 km width it spans about 3000square km being the biggest mountainous massive in the country.
The Fagaras Mountains are the talest mountains in Roumania.Here we find:Moldoveanu(2544m),Negoiu(2535m),Vistea Mare(2527m),Lespezi(2517m).
This wonderful relief determined Emmanuel de Martonne to name the Fagaras Mountains "The Alps of Transylvania".
The main ridge of the mountains has an east to west orientation and it is a starting point for northern and southern ridges. The main ridge has a length of 87km, of which for 55km the ridge doesn't descend under 2100m altitude in just one place.
The glaciers that gave birth to the mountain relief left behind many glacier lakes. Some of them are populated with trout and each one has its own color and beauty. Their depth can go down to 15.5m ("Podragu Lake") and they can even be found at heights of 2282m ("Mioarelor Lake"). Most of the rivers that spring in Fagaras Mountains, some of them in lakes, dug very beautiful gorges and valleys, their course passing through villages of special folk charm. The natural side of Fagaras Mountains is something worth talking about.

Getting There

I’ve only had great hikes in Fagaras! If you have the time, energy and nerve, don’t miss this Fantastic Massif!

It consists of a huge ridge, ranging from East to West, placed right in the middle of the country. Its slopes are very steep in the North, and kind of smooth in the South. Therefore, the fastest way to entry is using the roads and railways at the North, where Transylvanian Ucea and Avrig train station are main entry points.

Fagaras Mt. gathers 14 peaks higher than 2500 m. Does this remind you of something? Moldoveanu (2544 m) is Romania’s highest, whereas Negoiu (2535 m) dominates the Western part of the massif. Crossing the main ridge of Fagars, from East to West or the other way around, is a great challenge. Why don’t you try it?

Red Tape

Because of their height , Fagaras Mountains have a harsh climate of their own. Between 500 and 2500m altitude the atmospheric pressure varies between 716 and 560mm. The air temperature drops of 0.5-0.6 degrees Celsius with each hundred meters gained in height. At 1800m the yearly average temperature is of 2 degrees Celsius below zero and the highest temperature can reach 25 degrees Celsius while the lowest may be of 38 degrees Celsius below zero. Despite the spectacular relief, in Fagaras Mountains, big rock walls are not easy to find. Even so, nice climbing places can still be found here. These are places like "Coltul Balaceni"("The Balaceni Corner") on "Sambata Valley", the eastern and western wall of "Vanatoarea lui Buteanu Peak", the eastern wall of "Lespezi Peak" (above "Caltun Lake"), "Arpasel-Vartopel Ridge" and the northern ridges of Fagaras Mountains. But if Fagaras Mountains are not very difficult to climb in summer, in winter, very few climbers dare to challenge the mountains. Almost every place in the high area has its own difficulties, danger following climbers step by step. The main ridge and the northern ridges in winter are famous for the risky situations they put climbers in, being recommended only for the skilled and experienced climbers.
WARNING: Due to the fact that the mountain rescue teams are not equipped with the latest technology equipment, in winter avalanches can be fatal. Mobile phones can not be used in Fagaras Mountains except high peaks and some others places. Viper biting can also be fatal if first aid is not immediately applied.

In the mountains, winter lasts from November through to May or June, with heavy snows obliterating paths and winds taking temperatures well below freezing. Under these conditions the Fagaras Mountains are the preserve of well-equipped alpine mountaineers. When the snow begins to melt, walkers return. However, the weather is changeable even in the height of summer, with mist or rain always a possibility. Paths are marked by daubs of paint on rocks or trees, but a map (unfortunately, accurate ones are hard to find) or local guide is essential. Accommodation is provided by chalets, which range from hotels with restaurants to basic facilities.

When To Climb

Fagaras Mountains are not very difficult to climb in summer .But in winter,very few climbers dare to challenge the mountains.Almost every place in the high area has its own difficulties,danger following climbers step by step.The main ridge and the norhern ridges in winter are famous for the risky situations they put climbers in,being recommended only for the skilled and experienced climbers.
WARNING: In winter avalanches can be fatal.Viper biting can also be fatal if first aid is not immediately applied.

Camping

The large number of tourists, especially on the north side of the massif, and also the easier way of reaching the ridge from the Fagaras Depression (north side) have led to an uneven spreading of the chalets along the Fagaras chain.
This way, on the south side of the massif there are only 3 chalets, while on the north there are 11. However, the construction of the Vidraru dam, and the "Transfagarasan" road have determined increasing traffic on the south side as well.

Chalets in the Fagaras Mountains:

Chalets on the north side :

The Podragu chalet(2136m):
Situated on the north side of the Fagaras mountains.It is the most important chalet on this side.
It can house up to 70 people in summer.It is a starting point towards the Moldoveanu Peak.

The Balea chalet(2039m):
Situated on the north side of the fagaras mountains,is a starting point towards the Negoiu Peak.

The Suru chalet (1450m):
It is placed on a ridge at the superior limit of the forest
It has multiple bedrooms counting 81 beds and a restaurant
It is a starting and arriving point towards and from the access path towards the main ridge.

The Poiana Neamtului Chalet (706m):
This place can be reached from the city of Avrig
It can house 44 people and it has a restaurant
From here The Barcaciu Chalet can be reached.

The Barcaciu chalet (1550m):
It is situated on the foot of the Barcaciu Mountain and it has a bedroom with 20 beds
There are marked pathways towards the Negoiu Chalet, the main ridge and the Avrig Lake.

The Negoiu chalet (1546m):
Situated at the foot of the massif it can house up to 240 people in summer and 120 in winter
It is a starting point towards the Negoiu Peak .

Chalets on the south side :

The Valea cu Pesti Chalet (950m):
It lies on the national road F3, on the east shore of the Vidraru Lake
It can house up to 46 people in rooms with 2 beds and it has a restaurant.
It can be reached from the city of Curtea de Arges.

The Cumpana Chalet (920m):
It lies on the west shore of the Vidraru Lake.
It can house up to 138 people - 70 of them in the hotel, in rooms with 2 or 3 beds. It also has a restaurant.

The Capra Chalet (1500m):
It is situated on the national road 7C (Transfagarasan)
It houses 40 people in rooms with 2 or 3 beds
In summer the restaurant is open.

Being a wilderness area,the camping is permissable anywhere.
a bettewr option is to use the huts on route.

Map

map of Negoiu

The vegetation

The Fagaras Mountains vegetation types differ as the altitude increases. There are forest and alpine zones, each with different levels.

a.The Forest Zone
The Evergreen Oak Forests Level
The evergreen oak covers the foot of the massif and it is climbing up to over 500m; on wet spots the oak (Quercus robur) can be found.

The Beech Level
The beech is spreading round the mountains at heights of 600 to 1350m. Through their glades corydalis cava ("brebenzi de munte") and ranunculus carpaticus ("galbinele de munte") can be found and on this floor's grasslands agrostis tenuis ("iarba vantului"), festuca rubra ("paiusul rosu"), campanula persicifolia, with its blue-purple flowers. On the Transilvanian slope the spruce fir and the fir penetrate the beech forest towards the foot of the mountain, and rarely larix decidua are showing, which is a kind of coniferous tree but with falling leaves.
The Coniferous Level
The conifers climb from 1300m up to 1700m on the north slope, and 1800m on the south one. This is also the superior limit of this forest, dominated by the spruce fir (picea excelsa). Through spruce fir forests there are billberry bushes (vaccinium myrtillus), orchid (listera ovata), hieracium transsilvanicum ("vulturica"). On moist, shadowy valleys, along the torrents, grows telekia speciosa ("laptucul oii") which can reach 2m in height, it has wide leaves with a maximum of 30cm in diameter and large yellow flowers. On the meadows of the spruce fir's level grow graminaceae, as well as festuca rubra ("paiusul rosu") and the nardus stricta ("parul porcului")
b.The Alpine Zone

The Inferior Alpine Zone
This level has a variety of plants along the seasons: pinus montana ("tufisurile de jneperi"), followed by the billbery, the vaccinum vitis idaea ("merisor"), juniperus nana ("ienupar pitic"), alnus viridis ("anin de munte") which is a certain indicator for unwelcoming places which must be avoided. The agrotis rupestris ("iarba stancilor" - "rock's grass") dominates the meadows and in spring there is the crocus vernus, prima eltior ("ciubotica cucului"), trollius europaeus ("bulbucii de munte") a protected plant.
The Superior Alpine Zone
This level with its roughest climate, includes carex curvula ("pajisti de coarna") and flowers as the gentiana lutaea ("ghintura galbena"), a protected plant, gentiana nivalis ("gentziane"), campanula alpina, armenia alpina. Along with these plants there can be found the rhododendron kotschyi ("smardanul" or "bujorul de munte"), also a protected plant which blossoms in June or Jully.

Routes

1. Negoiu hostel-Negoiu peak through Piatra Prânzului
Home
Duration: 3 1/2-4
Height difference: +1050/-50 m
Note: Dangerous in the winter

The blue triangle trails start at the tourist lodge and turn left. The first section of the road leads us through woods reach in rivulets. There are 9 wooden bridges across these rivulets. This section is called Drumul Zmeilor. Once we are out of the woods we ascend up to Saratii valley. We cross the valley and climb to the spring of a brook. 1 ¾ hours away from our starting point we reach Piatra Prânzului.
Our road to the main ridge takes us through fallen rocks. We soon reach a rocky forest. Pestera de sub Vârful Negoiu, 2258m is 150m away on the left. This cave is 17m long and its floor is always covered with a layer of ice. The dizzy height of Saratii offers us a view on such famous rocks as Arcul Cleopatrei, Foarfeca, etc. One more ascent and we find ourselves in Popasul lui Mihai pass. The red streak trails leads us to the other side of Saratii rock by crossing Negoiul Mic, 2485m peak. Here we descend to a small pass. The last ascent takes us to Negoiu peak (2535m).

2.Cumpana hostel-Negoiu peak
Duration: 12 h
Height difference: +2000/-550 m
Note: Dangerous in the winter

The red triangle trails start at the tourist lodge and go towards the lake. After walking 4 kms we reach Cumpanitel valley where the trails start. Another 40 minutes and we reach a spring. At the height of 1650m we find a sheep fold. We go around Clabucet peak (1717 m) and the blue streak trail starts accompanying us on our way to the pastures of mountain Marginea. The blue strak trail turns right while we turn left, climb the winding roads and then take part in a rugged descend to the forrest road. After about 30 min. we reach the meeting point of Izvorului Scarii and Izvorul Negoiului brooks (1338m.). A little higher it forks to the left.
We follow the path turning right and climb to Piscului lui Cazan ridge. At Negoiu sheep-fold we descendinto the valley,then enter the woods, climb to the other side of the valley, cross a waterfall and descend to brook Izvorului Negoiului through an area covered by juniper trees. We leave the brook behind and start climbing on Negoiu. After 5 hours of walking from the meetingplace of the two brooks we reach Popasul lui Mihai, which is close to peak Negoiu (2535 m).

3.Caprei saddle-Negoiu peak
Duration: 4 1/2 - 5 h
Height difference: +1025/-800 m
Note: Dangerous in the winter

Leaving Capra saddle behind we go towards Fereastra Bâlei and then saua Paltinului. Here we meet a trail traveling to Bâlea lake.We go south and reach an area full of springs. Another trail this time to Piscul Negru.
Then we reach a section with strings. Crossing an area between rocks we reach saua Doamnei dominated by Laita (2397m) peak. We go round the peak reach a saddle, descend below the ridge, another stringed area and after a somewhat more difficult winding section we reach peak Laitel (2390m.) A rugged descend into saua Laitei and soon we reach Lacul Caltun .
We keep going north till Portita Caltunului then we cross a section of fallen rocks. We meet another trail.We cross an area with stone slabs then clim on a winding road until we get a glimps of a cauldron on our left. This leads to Strunga Doamnei accompanied by a yellow streak trail .
We climb to Strunga Dracului and meet the yellow streak trail coming from Strunga Doamnei.15-20 minutes of climbing and we reach peak Negoiu (2535m).

4.Piscul Negru forester's lodge-Călţun lake-Negoiu peak
Duration: 4-4 1/2 h
Height difference: +950 m
Note: Dangerous in the winter

The blue triangle trails start at Piscul Negru forester’s lodge and travel through Capra valley into the woods.1/2 hour away from our starting point we reach another forester’s lodge.Heigher in the realm of juniper trees the road leading to Paltinului saddle takes another turn.
We climb to a glaciar threshold, and in order to reach Lacul Călţun we have to climb two more thresholds. At the end of the last ascent we reach the lake with Salvamont cabin on its shore.
We keep going north till Portita Caltunului then we cross a section of fallen rocks. We meet another trail.We cross an area with stone slabs then clim on a winding road until we get a glimps of a cauldron on our left. This leads to Strunga Doamnei accompanied by a yellow streak trail .
We climb to Strunga Dracului and meet the yellow streak trail coming from Strunga Doamnei.15-20 minutes of climbing and we reach peak Negoiu (2535m).

External Links

www.alpinet.org
Definetely the best site about Romanian Mountains - Carpathians United !

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