Azuga - Baiul Mare Peak, Baiului Mountains

1. Start horizon tour

As we got out of the gondola, I can't remember in what order, we wowed and pulled on our hats / bandanas, jackets. We'd risen above the clouds, the wind was blowing and we had something to do here before trotting down the trails. The view from the top station of the gondola is magnificent: Standing facing the direction from which we climbed - down in the valley we had the Sorica Trail (actually there are 2 parts one towards Azuga and one in the opposite valley), on the left the trail marked blue triangle, which climbs from Azuga (the recommended option when the gondola doesn't go, as the climb is tedious on the part), down at the foot of the slope the houses of Azuga appeared through the windows of the white clouds, and on the horizon we could see the Postavaru Peak and on the right of it the Piatra Mare Massif. Up to Postavaru and Piatra Mare are the Garbova Mountains (according to some documentations part of Baiului), but now they were in fog. Photo!

2. Azuga Telegondola (1520 m) - Urechea Ridge - Duțca Peak (1715 m) - Cazacu Saddle (1692 m)

1 hour 15 minutes / 3 km / red cross / easy

Ready to go! On a fence we read 2 signs. One informs us about the route marked red cross that will accompany us for a part of the way and then continue on Orjogoaia to Traisteni (5 hours). The other would be ours to the Baiul Mare peak with the options of descending to Sinaia or Posada. The approved route marking is red lane, leads to Posada, but is almost absent from the route! What's more, beware, someone tended to be cleverer than they should have been and painted the signpost here over the official red stripe marker with the red cross. The trail goes up the Urechea Ridge (whose maximum of 1705 m we leave on the left) in easy ascent on a 4X4 road traced by tires in the alpine meadow of Baiului. An important characteristic of this route is that it runs in the alpine void and although it is technically an easy one, it can pose orientation problems in dense fog or blizzard. We admire again Piatra Mare, in the valley in the near distance the fog covering the Azugii Valley, and to the right of it the Neamț Mountains with the peaks of Rusu, Stevia, Neamtului (1923) and Paltin. I still haven't told you about the most beautiful landscape because we will admire it throughout the day in different poses, some of which are more and more to put on the photo-tape. It's the Bucegi Mountains, which we will have on our right, whose higher peaks have poked their heads above the clouds, most of them, but also the Prahova Valley that separates Baiului and Bucegii still remaining in fog. Straight ahead we have excellent visibility and enjoy the moving spectacle of the clouds and the whistling of the wind singing through the holes of the trekking poles. Looking back, we also see what we could not admire earlier because of the fog: the Susai hut in Garbova with Piatra Mare in the background. We didn't even realize when we passed the Duțca Peak (1715 mdm), but we notice the prominent peak on the left of our path - Cazacu Peak (1753 mdm). Although the wind is moderately windy, the sun warms our faces and provides excellent hiking conditions. Another peculiarity of this route is the lack of permanent water sources, solutions for water shortages can be found in the Ceausoaia Valley on the path of the cliffs on the opposite side of the Cazacu peak.

3. Cazacu saddle (1692 m) - Băiuțului saddle (1750 m)

0.5 hours / 1 km / red cross / easy

We find ourselves in Șaua Cazacu (1692 mdm), where we have a first important branch. To the left at a sharp angle (at the beginning) and slightly descending, the red cross mark leads on Petru Orjogoaia Plain to Trăisteni village in Doftanei Valley in 3,5 hours. Another 3 hours also on the red cross markings in the opposite direction at the beginning common with our route, then downhill to Busteni via Zamora. So we walk one more piece on the red cross marking in the absence of the red stripe. We continuously follow a very slightly ascending contour. We don't feel the effort of the climb at all. The spectacle offered by the sun, sky, wind, wind, clouds, mist, alpine pasture and the peaks of the Buceg is total. The success of the show is that we're always above the clouds, facing the sun. We come to the second big marked branch.

4. Șaua Băiuțului (1750 m) - Șaua Baiului (1770 m)

0.5 hours / 2 km / red cross, red stripe / easy

We are in Șaua Băiuțului (1750 mdm). Here we read on some rather rusty arrows that the Zamorei Ridge (Plaiul) to the right is coming down to Busteni in 3 hours on a red cross. On our left we have the Baiuțul Peak (1817 mdm). Ahead is Vârful Baiul Mic (1827 mdm) which we will go around to the right to head towards the maximum altitude of the massif, Vârful Baiul Mare (1895 mdm), and further ahead, slightly to the right, permanently with the fog on our heads. But know that we've set it to reveal itself on our arrival. Let's see if he keeps his word. To the right on the horizon after Culmea Zamorei, we notice that the fog in the valley has lifted from the level of the Prahovene villages and is heating up an arm on the Buceg mountains. Jepii Mici, Caraimanul, Costila and partially Omu and Bucsoiu are smiling at us and the sun. Hello, darlings! No more red cross markers. From here we should go straight ahead. The wide road is so clear it's no problem to find your way. But what to see? The red stripe appears several times, doubled by the blue dot. On the right hand I was counting, actually more dad, as I didn't have the patience. 1, 2, 22, 23 cyclists. A cycle track climbs from Busteni up the ridge and cuts into our path a little ahead. If until now we counted other passers on one hand, now all of a sudden our toes are not enough.

5. Baiului Saddle (1770 m) - Baiul Mare Peak (1895 m)

1 hour / 1.5 km / red lane / medium

The Baiului saddle (1770 mdm). From here 2 options open for us. To climb the supreme peak, Baiul Mare, or to go around it (on the left) as we have done with most peaks so far on the 4×4 road. The Baiul Mare peak was in fog, coming towards us as if to swallow us. We responded to the challenge and bravely headed towards it, choosing to tackle the "on the summit" option. Behind us, towards Baiul Mic and Postavaru in the background, it was clear. In the foreground Saua Baiului. We were entering a dense fog. Better not to see the slope of the climb. Not that it's scary, but I have to see an advantage in the daze we've awakened in. And I reach the summit.

A little wind. I also found a plus in the gusts of wind, hoping they would blow away the fog ... for us. My co-drivers showed up for the 3-way. The three of us and the fog. We decide to stop at the shelter of a bank.

Lunch break. As we sat down, the fog was lifting. We get up, come back to the top, ... fog again! Break again! We move on to course 2 (sandwich 2). It's clearing again, we get up again, we're fooled again! What's next ... they get blown away, hop up, food in their mouths and manage a quick selfie towards the Saua Baiului. And yet, ...., at last, the mist clears from this peak. But surprise! But what a surprise! I was NOT on the big peak!!!! I was on an intermediate peak! Now that's tricky! Now that the sky cleared, I saw the top of the summit. Okay, up two feet, left, left, right, left, right. You don't believe me if I don't put the picture up because the fog's gone?

6. Baiul Mare Peak (1895 m)

The superb steep cliffs of the Bucegii for example from left to right Caraimanul, Costila, Omu, Bucsoiu. Yes, it is! 

Let's enjoy .... But are we finally on Baiul Mare Peak (1895 mdm), the top of our route objective? To be fair, we weren't on the summit yet, we would find it a few steps later.

We are at the maximum altitude of the Baiului Mountains (1895 mdm). Below us, to the left (to the west) is the Rea Valley, on its right edge, between the groicket and the edge of the forest, on a snowy and steeply sloping slope is the place called Poiana cu Narcise, where at the end of April tens of thousands of daffodils bloom, blooming in the wind gusts.

But now let's dot almost all Bucegills ridge: from the left starting from Vanturisul, Vanturisul, Ant and Pain Peak, Piatra Arsa, Jepii Mari, Jepii Mici, Caraimanul and the continuation I have already told you.