Moldoveanu Peak and Visca Mare Peak, Făgăraș Mountains

1. The Galbenele Cauldarea (ca. 2.300 m) - Refugiul and Portița Viștei (2.310 m)

45 minutes // red stripe

After admiring the sunrise and several black goats running higher up the trail, we refueled with spring water, pitched our tent and climbed out of the Warming Marigoldswhere we slept overnight. Properly equipped we climbed about 50 meters level difference in the marked ridge trail red band.

We climbed the Hârtopul Ursului from where we lost altitude to Vistea Mare Refugewhere last year we camped in the "full ridge". Refugiul Vistea is a refuge where 16 people can sleep in good (refuge) conditions. It's the first time today The Triangular Icemeter yes Vistea - Moldoveanu trapeze, with a small fog.

2. Refugiul and Portița Viștei (2.310 m) - Viștea Mare Peak (2.527 m)

45 minutes // red stripe

A few meters down is Saddle Tustea and after a few more steps we are in The Mistletoe Gatewhere from the left comes the Rea Valley trail and from the right the Vistea Valley trail. The fog cleared up ahead so it was clear what the climb up Vistea Mare looked like. I knew it from the previous laps and I set out to take it as flat as possible without breaks. I climbed 45 minutes steeply.

3. Visttea Mare Peak (2,527 m)

Done! Viștea Mare peak, the "bronze" in the top of Romanian altitudes.
Is it foggy or not? Can we see all the way to Negoiu? Not yet. But to the east, something.

Skyline tour on Vistea Mare Peak

Westward the ridge continues after Saua Orzanele with Ucisoara and Ucea Mare and Corabia, in the 2nd plane is Mircii a little to the left. We distinguish peaks up to Lespezi - Caltun - Negoiu a triplet of 2500-ari of which I have already mentioned.

Eastwards (from where we came) the main ridge passes through Saua Vistei, Hartopul Ursului, Galbenele, the two Galasescu peaks, further on Urlea, slightly to the right in the far distance Dara (where we were the day before).

To the S is the perpendicular ridge on the main ridge leading to Moldoveanu and downstream, Valea Rea and the Triangular Iezerul.

4. Viștea Mare Peak (2.527 m) - Moldovean's Peak - Moldoveanu Peak (2.544 m)

20 minutes // red dot

After 10 minutes of pause and contemplation and pictures and a missed video due to fog and wind, we change direction 90 degrees to the left, but also the marking with red dot now. The path to Moldoveanu is a spectacular one because at the beginning it is quite aerial, i.e. right on the narrow ridge, then it descends in Moldovan Ripper (Vistei) - after 10 minutes -, in a rocky and exposed area of und climb straight up the rocks. The more difficult area is secured with metal safety cables. After the thrill of passing the area with a view of the hau, you climb smoothly up to the plateau where there is "The Roof of Romania"".

5. Moldoveanu Peak (2,544 m)

We have reached the highest point in the country - Moldoveanu Peak - "the gold" in the top of Romanian altitudes!

What can we see from Moldoveanu Peak?

To the North in the foreground is Vistea Mare Peak, where we came from and next to it, to the far right in the far right is the Tara (Depression) of Fagaras.

To the west we can see on the left of Vistei Mari, at its base, Saua Orzanele, then the peaks of the main western ridge Ucea, Mircii, Corabia, Iezerul Caprei (slightly to the left), Vanatoarea lui Buteanu and Capra (slightly to the right), in the distance Lespezi, Cornul Caltunului, Dintre Strungi and Negoiu.

To the south there is a snowy foot which continues from Moldoveanu and where we will descend. It's called Galbena - Scarisoara. At the foot, far away, the Subcarpathians. To the left of this ridge is the Rea Valley which hosts the Triangular Reservoir in the upper caldera. On our left and right are the Vaii Rele Caldarea and respectively the Orzaneaua Mare Caldarea, and after it, also on the right, the Moldoveanului Caldarea.

To the east, the main ridge, after Saua Vistei, continues with Hartopul Ursului, Galbenele, Galasescu Mare, Galasescu Mic, Slanina, Urlea, further to the right is Dara.

The fog has hidden some peaks and revealed others...

We stayed on the roof of Romania for 30 minutes. We took a group photo, chatted with other tourists, Romanians and Czechs...

At the top there is a metal box with a large notebook in which those who wish can write a verse, a phrase, a picture, a name, a date, a trace of their passage on the Romania's highest peak, Vârful Moldoveanu, 2.544 meters altitude.

6. Moldoveanu Peak (2.544 m) - Galbena Peak (2.419 m) - branching of the markers

1 hour and 15 minutes // red cross

Goodbye, Moldoveanu Peak!

The descent first follows a downhill trail through alpine pasture. From time to time we look to the left to the Rea Valley and the Triangular Iezer or to the right to the Orzaneaua Mare Caldarea and then to the Moldoveanului Caldarea, where we can see a waterfall and some gorges - the Moldoveanului Canyon. We also look back to Moldoveanu and further back to Vistea, from which we depart visibly. We follow 3 markings simultaneously yellow triangle blue triangle and red cross. The marking that interests us is red cross.

How cool is this world in the mountains! We were inspired as we didn't go on the weekend plus we were on the peaks in the morning. Zarim in the valley, small, small, Stâna lui Burnei, but also Gura Bandei, our destination.

We go down into a saddle, from where we climb a little on the Galbena Peak, rocky, but we pass it quickly. From near the summit a path leads steeply to the left up the Izvoru Rosu Valley, past a lake, and will meet our route later.

Suddenly the red cross marking turns into blue crossOn some maps it is not! On the next one a ridge marker guides us on the new marker to the left downhill to Lac Galbena.

7. branch - Galbena Lake (2.200 m) - Pojarna's Curvature (2.045 m) - Burnei's Stâna (1.450 m)

2 hours / blue cross

After 15 minutes of descent from the ridge branch, we reach the Yellow Lake. Lake Galbena or Scarisoara Galbena is located at an altitude of 2,200 meters and occupies 2 hectares. At the upstream shore we saw intense reddish deposits. Near the lake there is a sheepfold, and we met a multitude of donkeys and sheep.

Downstream of this lake there are several smaller lakes. In Pojarna Curvature we meet the other trail. We're still over 2,000 meters, so we've got a lot of descent to make.

We pass through a short passage with dwarf junipers and then descend quite steeply down a glacial sill, with a view to the left towards The Shattered Waterfall, formed in 3 steps with a cumulative height of 100 m, on the homonymous parapet coming from Lake Galbena.

We descend continuously, now through the forest and we reach Stana lui Burnei, where we find many parked cars. If it's like this on a Thursday, what will it be like on Saturday? A sign warns of vipers in the area. We had seen one the day before in the Bândei Valley.

8. Burnei's Stâna (1.450 m) - Gura Bândei (1.350 m)

15 minutes / forest road

We followed the forest and county road 1 km downstream and arrived at Mouth of the Bândei, after 6 hours from the departure, from Caldarea Galbenele and after 3,5 hours from Moldoveanu, with breaks. It was quite a ride. 2 days in a tent and 4 more summits of 2500 conquered.

Over the Rea Valley I saw a mega snow bridge in August, probably the result of a spring avalanche.

This is the end of the superb 2-day hike on 4 of the over 2.500 meters peaks, including Moldoveanu Peak - the top of the top.