Ciuha Mare Peak, Cozia Mountains

1. Stânișoara Monastery (730 mdm) - Vlădeasa ridge - Damaschin's fangs - Cozia hut (1.600 mdm)

4.5 km / 3 - 3.5 hours / blue stripe / medium - difficult

After we met and took a group picture with the donkey from Poiana Stanisoara, we admired the steep "oltean" of the Cozia Mountains, the Gardului Waterfall and we aimed the relay on the summit, realizing where we have to get in a few hours climbing a difference in level of about 1,000 meters, we started on the blue band marking towards the Cozia hut.

The trail starts from the last bend in the "car" road and climbs steadily uphill, most of the way through the forest. At the beginning the slope is quite steep, but we have resources. There are two water sources in the forest, also marked on the map.

We reach a first vantage point called Damaschin's fangs, where it is actually an open window to the Buila Vanturarita Mountains and the f fences.

We're going up Muchia Vladeasa and a second viewpoint beats up to the Capatanii Mountains. A last steep slope follows, after crossing a valley, where there are 2 sectors with chains, especially useful when it is icy or wet.

Another window opens, we look through it towards Bulzului Stone (1.560 mdm) yes Oltului Valley. As big as the Oltul is, from up here it looks like a quiet snake that does not threaten us. In the upper part of the forest we tread carefully through the few places where we still find snow. In the ridge the marked trail goes to the left, but I also recommend the unmarked trail to the right which leads in a few minutes to 2 other viewpoints. The spring purple boughs, solitary or in palms, are a reward for the eyes after the climb which now, once you are out on the ridge, becomes more gentle.

As we come out into the wide, "car" road, a little to the right, opposite the direction in which the marking continues, there is a wonderful viewpoint from where we admire Făgăraș Mountains Ridge, with its 2,500-armed Negoiu and Lespezi standing out.

Go around Ciuha Mica peak (1.629 mdm) to the west above the Fence Walls. In a few minutes we reach the Cozia Cottagewhere we break for lunch and order soups.

2. Cozia Hut (1.600 m) - Ciuha Mare Peak (1.668 m)

0.4 km / 20 min / unmarked / medium

Cozia Cottage is a place where many hikers prefer to stay to break the trail in two days but especially to catch exceptional photo shots of the sunset and sunrise on Cozia.
Again in bipedal, mobile position! If we reached the Cabana Cozia we had to climb to the maximum altitude on the summit of Ciuha Mare. Through the brushwood, on an unmarked road we take the last ascent. We are on Ciuha Mare peak (or Cozia), at 1.668 mdm.

3. Ciuha Mare Peak (1.668 m) - Vamvurii Stones

0.5 km / 0.5 hours / unmarked / difficult

On Ciuha Mare peak (1.668 mdm), our eyes turn to an angle that we had never seen on the ascent, namely towards the Vamvurii Stones, framed by descending peaks, some with pasture, others forested, others rocky.

I studied the map and discovered an unmarked path leading directly down to Vamvurii Stones. We identified the shortcut, a really short, but very steep, difficult one.

A wow view from the 2 stone pillars high above the haul. You can see Olt Valley, Capatanii Mountains, Fagaras Mountains.

4. Vamvurii Stones - Muchia Turneanu - Turneanu Refuge (1.300 m)

1.5 km / 0.5 - 1 hour / red lane / medium

We turn back on the level curved path to near Cozia Cottage to start the descent on the route marked with red band.

We start our descent on Muchia Turneanu losing altitude pretty fast. We're regrouping at Turneanu Refuge (1300 mdm). Below this is the spring.

5. Turneanu Refuge - Turneanu Hut

1 km / 15 - 20 min / red lane / easy

From here we enter a mixed birch and beech forest. We are at an important fork marked with arrows, unlike others. In this glen there is also a rather damaged shelter.

6. Turneanu - Stânișoara Monastery (730)

3.5 km / 2 hours / red lane / easy

We stay on red band and we go lower and lower. From here the road is an easy one, even if we have slowed down. We meet springs, but also some other viewpoints, 3 in number, from one of them we can see Turnu Monastery on the Olt bank.

We make the junction with the marked path blue bandon which we'll wonder towards our final destination. We pass by Cave in the Path, and a little further on, under the path, not marked on the ground or on the map Silicon Mine we were exploring.

The wind is getting stronger. I realized even better on the last big rock I perched myself on to see what I could still see. In the forest it's still the same, but it's noticeable here too. We come out at a parau and at another important spring, a little below the Stanisoara Monastery fence.

Across the courtyard Stanisoara Monastery and we're heading towards Poiana Stanisoara, at the cars, with the satisfaction of a great ride, with a wonderful band of 9 Valcenians and 2 bucuresteni.

It took 3.5 hours to descend, but we made several stops. Goodbye Cozia!