Dragoslavelor Stone, Leaota Mountains

1. Dragoslavele (680 m) - branch circuit (800 m)

1.2 km / 30 min / easy / common blue triangle with blue dot

Several signs, quite rusty but legible, give us information about the trail options from this point. We were interested in the trails blue point Șaua Prislopului, on which we will return, and repsectiv the summit Vârtoapele blue triangle, on which we will climb, estimated at 2.5 hours.

We are ready to go. We don't get out of the cart road yet, because after only 5 minutes a big surprise comes our way. A beautiful semi-domesticated hemlock. In decades of hiking, I've never encountered anything like it. She was so gentle, she stayed with us for about 10 minutes even though we didn't feed her. Once we've left it with the ciuta, we reach the fork that forms the circuit proper. To the left takes the blue dot, to the right continues the blue triangle, on the wooden signpost fixed in a tree, and it's 2 hours to the summit of Vârtopul, our ultimate target of the day. We are at point 2 on the map.

2. Branching circuit (800 m) - Vârtoapele summit (1.434 m)

2.3 km / 2 hours / difficult / blue triangle

Follow blue triangle. At first we climb through the forest quite smoothly. I had read that the big challenge awaits us at the exit of the forest, where the real climb begins. A 45-degree steep slope with many small stones, obviously slightly unstable, takes the place of the path in the shade of the trees. Well, this is where the marker goes where it doesn't. I knew that it is recommended to climb the left flank of the grohotis and I can only confirm that it is by far the best solution. It's one of those passages where everyone relies on their own inspiration and stability.

At our feet, we admire the village of Dragsolavele located on the Dambovitei Valley, the one that separates Leaota and Iezer Papusa, which dominates the horizon beyond the valley. Is that where we come from down there? Really? On this slope of stones like cubic wheels? At the top of the groom we see a blue arrow confirming that we are on the right trail and where to continue. But, the show must go on....

I escaped the grohotis, but a steeper and steeper snowy trail followed, up to 60 degrees in places I appreciated, so I wasn't ashamed to climb the 4×4. But I wondered with concern, but also the utmost admiration, how my father would cope at 77 years of age, climbing this slope hard.

We're out in the ridge! Hooray! The crest of this great cliff is a little like Piatra Craiului. It holds more the left edge of the ridge line, partially forested. The big surprise was that to the right, behind the ridge line, was a mega mega hau. As you climb the pieptis from the left, you don't seem to expect the steep and steeper to the right. On this segment the trail climbs very slowly and presents no difficulty at all, despite the cliff all around. From now on we have the perspective also after the ridge line, on the right towards the Leaota Massif and the Bucegi. We were getting used to the straight road, but it was clear that we still had some climbing to do. To our joy after about 1 hour of ridge, going slowly, appears Vârtoapele peakmarked by a large metal cross. I didn't get there, I just saw it. The ascent to the summit is on a grassy area with big clumps of grass, which is quite tiring. At least my dad found this section more grueling than the groomers. To make it more colorful, the trail is sprinkled with flowers, the markings have been disappearing for quite a while, which can complicate orientation in foggy weather.

3. Vârtoapele Peak (1,434 m)

Lunch break and skyline tour on the summit of Vărtoapele at 1434 meters. We did 3 hours to the summit, going slowly especially on the last half of the route. From Vârtoapele peak (1.434 mdm, 1.421 mdm according to another source) or Vortex summit or Dragoslavelor Stone, next to the huge metal cross and next to the solar installation here connected to some equipment we admire, favored by the excellent visibility, the following:

To the right, i.e. to the east, the Postavar highlands, the Bucegii in the left half of the frame and the central, highest part of the Leaota mountains. At the leftmost we recognize the summit of the Postăvarul (1.799). From the snow-capped Bucegii we distinguish Bucsoiu peak (2.492), Omu peak (2.507) with the rock near the summit hut, and to the right then slightly to the right and slightly further forward Coltii Obarsiei (2.480), again in the background Costila (2.498) and Caraimanul (2.384). Further to the east we have the Leaota Mountains, right in the center of the frame is Leaota Peak (2.133) and further to its right Leaota Peak Cioara (1.858).

https://youtu.be/QyVRi6vcgDE

We turn our gaze to the opposite side, to the left, to the west across the valley of the Dâmbovița, lying low in the foothills. Here we have in front of us from left to right the peaks of the Iezer Mountains, among which the highest: Iezeru Mic (2.409), Iezeru Mare (2.463), Rosu (2.469, the most), Batrana (2.341), Papusa (2.393, more prominent). Further to the right, the unmistakable and majestic ridge of Pietrei Craiului, with the peak of La Om (2.238, about 1/3 of the extremity towards us), Piatra Mica, then Magura Zarnestilor, and in the background, the conical and forested Magura Codlei.

https://youtu.be/4hHbPHYgDFc

Well, so it is! What a marvel! Magnificent view from Dragoslavelor Stone. And to think that until recently I had no idea about this place. I'm glad I spent about an hour on the summit, because I had something to see.

4. Vârtoapele Peak (1.434 m) - intersection (1.330 m)

0.6 km / 20 minutes / easy / blue triangle

Time to start our descent. Our loop trail continues in the same direction we came. Signposts, more rare, not at all, but hard to draw, especially since from here the ridge seems to bark and the path is not clear, and you even have not to miss the place where you turn left in a few minutes in the forest. The descent is steep, but not difficult. Pay attention to the path which is still quite uncertain. Once again, lots of spring flowers are in bloom. Our blue triangle path meets the blue point marker on which we continue our descent via Fundul Neagului to Dragoslavele. From here to the cars it should be another 2 hours. We are at point 4 on the map.

5. Intersection (1.330 m) - Fundul Neagului (1.130 m)

1 km / 15 minutes / easy / blue dot

Beware, if you take the reverse route than described, there are arrows on the trees that point you in the right direction on this branch. It's beginning to smell like garlic. We pass through an area dotted with lems (wild garlic, which is edible). In front of us appears the stretched valley of Fundul Neagului, in which we descend as in a sa and where we meet a shepherd looking for his cows, the man coming motorized with a tractor as small as so powerful, we would later convince ourselves after the route he followed to get here.

6. Fundul Neagului (1.130 m) - branch circuit (800 m)

1.4 km / 1 hour / easy / blue dot

In the middle of the meadow you have to change direction to the left by about 90 degrees, towards a valley that can be seen below. In the upper part of the valley you can, in extreme cases, take water from the spring, but the place is not equipped. From here our road will follow the thread of this valley on a tractor track. Near the end of the trail, another wide glen opens up, where there is a deserted house and from where we admire again Dragoslavelor Stoneat its foot. We're at point 6 on the map.

7. Branch circuit (800 m) - Dragoslavele (680 m)

1.2 km / 30 minutes / easy / common blue point with blue triangle

We arrive to close the loop, we meet again with both the markers we saw in the morning when we started the trail. After 2 hours of descent, the superb hike from Leaota Mountainsthe Dragoslavelor Stone.