Mălăiești Chalet, Bucegi Mountains

1. Poiana Diham (1.350 m) - Cabana Diham (1.350 m) - La Glăjărie (1.000 m) - Poiana Mălăiești-Izvor (1.100 m)

1 hour // blue triangle / blue cross // medium

In Diham Moor we admire the panorama to the southwest of the freshly snow-capped ridge of the Bucegi Mountains with the Morarului, Omu and Bucșoiu Needles, to the north the Postăvaru Mountains and to the northeast the Piatra Mare Mountains. We start towards N on the blue triangle. In 5 minutes we reach Diham Cottage or La Mama Oara, after the name of the famous cabaniere here. We cross the courtyard of the hut and go out through a wooden gate to the V, following the blue cross, which leads us through the forest on Muchia Cenușie on a wide path, which after leaving a branch to the right in 10 minutes, starts to descend steadily down to the valley, in the area called At the Guildwhere several streams gather and we cross the first stream. Here is the point of minimum altitude of our route and here we leave the yellow cross mark to the right. We walk for 30 minutes from Diham Hut. If you walk the route in the reverse direction consider 45 minutes on the ascent, quite a tough climb. We turn left. Cross the second stream, the Glăjăriei Valley, on a wooden bridge. The main course then forms the Big Stream, which continues with Ghimbășelul. A signpost tells us that we have 30 minutes to Poiana Mălăiesti-Izvor. From now on and up to Cabana Mălăiești we will only have to climb. In Poiana Mălăiești-Izvor we intersect the blue stripe marker, one of the main trails of the Bucegi Mountains that follows the route Sinaia - Vârful Omu - Râșnov. Somewhere to the right, slightly downhill, in the opposite direction to the direction we will follow is the Mălăiești spring, the last source of water supply up to Mălăiești.

2. Poiana Mălăiești-Izvor (1.100 m) - Cabana Mălăiești (1.720 m)

2 hours // blue stripe // medium

In Poiana Mălăiești-IzvorWe change direction 90 degrees to the left, i.e. to the SV. We climb steadily in the first part, in small serpentines, leaving Poiana Ferigii on the right, to arrive after 45 minutes of walking on the colorful carpet of leaves in a wonderful viewpoint with a view of Măgura Codlei and Țara Bârsei, and below us in a ravine the Mălăiești Valley, and this time dry. It's a well-deserved resting place, with a bench and a few information panels about larch and the mountain grouse. Up here we walked in tandem with another large group. The ascent continues, but more gentle until we reach a clearing with a bench from where we can see the first cliffs of the Abruptul Bucșoiu, Mălăiești, Gaura Nature Reserve, a reserve with breathtaking landscapes. But we haven't seen much yet, We cross the upper part of the forest, which actually climbs up an old glacial sill and emerge at the alpine void. We're greeted by a strong wind, but clear skies. In the dreata is the peak of Padina Crucii, which has a metal cross at the top of which waves a tricolor flag. The Mălăiești Chalet, the destination of our trip. We covered 1 hour from the lookout point and 2 hours and 45 minutes from the start.

3. Mălăiești Chalet (1.720 mdm)

Mălăiești Chalet is located in the glacial caldera Mălăiești, at an altitude of 1720 meters above sea level. It's a hospitable hut where most hikers stop for a soup or main course, a brownie for dessert or a hot tea. And the prices are decent, all the more so as supplies are provided by horseback. You can also stay overnight in the cottage. Near the hut there are some sculptures that I really like, including a bear and a Dacian flag. Next to the hut is the lifeguard shelter. Outside is a terrace with wooden benches and tables, a good place to rest and sunbathe. This time we hit a very strong wind, but clear skies with white clouds dancing above the snowy ridges. To the west you can climb steeply on the yellow stripe markings towards Lacul Țigănenești - Clincea - Bran Poarta, to the south on the red and blue stripes through the glacial steps towards Vârful Omu, to the northeast on the blue stripes towards Râșnov (where we came from), to the east towards Pichetul Roșu (where we will continue). Facing southwards, we admire the glacial caldera, the Hornurile Mălăieștilor in the background, on the right, to the west, the Padina Crucii, on the left the impressive Bucșoiului abrupt with the Torreul Mălăiești or Bisericuța. A skyline tour from the Mălăiești Hut you can watch on the link https://youtu.be/TgU-E1_7f2c.

4. Cabana Mălăiești (1.720 m) - Șaua Prepeleacului or Șaua Mălăiești (1.780 m) - La Prepeleac (1.760 m)

1 hour - 1 hour 30 minutes // red triangle // difficult

After lunch at Mălăiești Chalet, we take the path marked red triangleto the left of the direction we came from. After crossing the dry thread of the Mălăiești Valley, we will climb the northern edge of Mount Bucșoiu, through a forest with glades, where from time to time we will see magnificent views of the Padina Crucii Peak, the Postăvaru Mountains and the Mălăiești Hut. Safety cables are installed on certain parts of the trail. Towers and small towers, the two high peaks of Țigănești and Scara, the Bârsei Depression, appear in the visual frame. At the highest point of our entire tour, called Prepeleacului Saddle or The saddleThere is a bench to rest. It has been 40 minutes from the hut. From the saddle we follow the path that descends very smoothly. To the left we can see the Diham Hut and Poiana Diham, to the front we can see the Baiului Mountains, the Piatra Mare Mountains and even the Ciucaș Mountains. The landscapes are marvelous. We cross a few more slightly exposed stretches, landscaped with cables and ladders. We follow the contour for 30 to 40 minutes to the point La Prepeleacwhere the trail marked with a red stripe comes from the right from the Bucșoiu Peak, on Deubel's road, another particularly spectacular, but also difficult route.

5. La Prepeleac (1.760 m) - Traian Murgilaș Bank / Poiana Bucșoiu (1.620 m) - Poiana Pichetul Roșu (1.400 m)

1 hour 15 minutes // red triangle // medium

This route is also known as the footpath Tache Ionescu. From point The Prepeleac, the marking will double. Through the windows you can see the Postăvaru Mountains, the Piatra Mare Mountains and the Baiului Mountains in turn. The gently descending path passes over the Vâlcelul Îndrărăcit, Valea Rea and Valea Bucșoiului, all dry. The Bucșoiului escarpment can be seen in the valleys upstream. Before the Bucșoiului Valley is another rest stop at the Traian Mărghilaș bank. 45 minutes from the junction. Beyond the valley, the Poiana Bucșoiului stretches out, full of berries in summer. The view of the Postăvar is fabulous. We lose more and more altitude until The Red Picket Glenformer border guard post. Another 30 minutes from the bank.

6. Poiana Pichetul Roșu (1.400 m) - Poiana Diham (1.350 m)

40 minutes // red dot // easy

In The Red Picket Glen is a larger intersection of trails. We're turning left onto the left turn signal red dot. The wide path, through the forest, leads us to Mount Căpățâna Porcului. After about 30 minutes, the trail to Poiana Izvoarelor comes from the right. After another 10 minutes we reach Diham Moor. Here, at the end point of our trip, we take another skyline tour, which I invite you to watch on the link https://youtu.be/aqu4CRsaXZA. From Mălăiești to Diham it took us 3 hours and 10 minutes, including stops.