Rodnei Ridge 4/5

1. Șaua Gărgălău Refuge / camping site (1857) - Gărgălău Peak (2158 m)

1-1.5 hours / 2 km / hard / red lane

It is important to replenish our water reserves for the whole day at one of the springs near the Refugiul Șaua Gărgălău, which are located a little back, in the direction from which we came yesterday, a little below the trail. It's also good that we climb the Gărgălău peak rested after the short rain of a few tens of minutes in the morning. We are in good shape and we climb step by step, in no hurry. In parts the trail is grassy and fairly flat, in others more rocky and steep. Towards the left we admire the lake Iezerul Bistriței.

2. Gărgălău Peak (2158 mdm) - panorama

During the 30-minute break on the Gărgălău Peak we take a tour of the horizon. To the north is the caldera in which the Bistriței stream flows, to the northwest are the Musceta Peak, which is also visible from the refuge, and further on the Șaua Știol, where you can go up by chairlift or come from the Cailor Falls, to the southwest is the Anieș Valley. To the south is Vârful Clăii, where we'll go on. We photograph our group Mihaela and Flavius, together with Marius and Viorel, whom we met yesterday at the refuge and with whom we share the same route today.

3. Gărgălău Peak (2158 m) - Clăii Peak (2117 m) - La cepi Peak (2102 m) - under Omului Peak (2134 m) - Cișa Peak (2026 m) - Tarnița lui Putredu (1959 m) - Coasta Netedă (2060 m) - Tomnatec Peak (2051 m) - Șaua Bilei (1987 m) - Șaua Inelului (2110 m) - Refugiul de sub Ineu (2150 m)

4-5.5 hours / 9-12 km / medium, except 2 exposed areas / red band

At the Gărgălău summit we turn right in the direction from which we climbed, although it is tempting to continue on the path facing forward. There is no visible signpost indicating a change of direction. All along this section we can see the ridge we'll be advancing along through alpine meadow. There are also 2 rockier areas. The first one we pass either by going around it under the cliffs to the right or by going right over the ridge. Another change of direction is at Vârf Omului, which we go around to the right and where the marked path changes direction slightly. A small saddle is the Tarnița lui Putredu saddle, where to the south you can see the Red Valley. From here we will always have in front of us, in the background, slightly to the left, closer and closer, the Ineu Peak. We enter the Coasta Netedă, which at a certain point is not smooth at all, but crosses 2 rocky segments of road, equipped with chains, where we have to climb very carefully. We move on to the Bilei Saddle, where the Bilei Valley and the Bila Lala Nature Reserve, which we will continue to see for the next few hours, opens up to the left. We start to climb, there are some cuts down in the Bilei Valley. To the south is the village of Valea Vinului. When we reach the foot of Ineului, the marked path continues smoothly along the coast to the right and reaches an important spring, after so much drought. This is the spring from which we'll get our supplies for the night, and the next day, and wash ourselves. It's three minutes to the Refugio de sub Ineu.

4. Refugiul de sub Ineu (2150 m) - Ineu Peak (2279 m)

0.5 hours / 1 km / hard / red lane

We settled in at the refuge, caught our breath, wondered, and then concluded with a gorgeous evening walk right on the summit. About 100 meters from the refuge is a signpost with arrows. From there it continues at a sharp angle along the ridge that climbs quite steeply up to Ineu Peak. The upper part is rockier. Up on the summit is wow!

5. Ineu Peak (2279 mdm) - panorama

Ineu Peak is the second highest peak in the Rodnei Mountains. Being high and slightly off the ridge line, it offers a 360-degree panorama. The app identifies the Rarău Giumalău, Călimani, Ceahlău, Bucegi, Piatra Craiului, Făgăraș, Retezat, Parâng, Retezat and Apuseni Mountains. Immediately below us is the Bila Lala Nature Reserve overlooking the Lala Valley and the small Lala Lake, where camping is allowed. Opposite Lala Valley is Ineuț Peak, where we will climb tomorrow. A beautiful evening weather made us happy on Ineu Peak where we stayed almost 1 hour with Mihaela, Flavius and Marius. Bravo to everyone for today's success!

6. Ineu Peak (2279 m) - Refuge under Ineu (2150 m)

0.5 hours / 1 km / medium / red tape, unmarked, red tape

From Ineu Peak you can descend to the refuge by another road. Immediately after the rocky area, to the right, through the meadow, there are 2 unmarked paths that lead to the trail where we came from Gărgălău, just before the spring at the refuge.

7. Refuge under Ineu (2150 mdm)

The refuge under Ineu is restored and in very good condition. We slept in the refuge. To the south is the Băilor stream flowing towards the Wine Valley, to the north is Ineu Peak, to the east Ineuț Peak and to the southeast Red Peak. At the end of this long day we admired another beautiful sunset.