Trekking and caving in Transylvania

Spherical concretions

2007-11-20T11:44:00.000-08:00

The spherical concretions from Feleac are sedimentary rock materials
that were cemented together to form a hard structure. The surrounding
sediments slowly erode away, exposing the concretion. They were formed
when calcium carbonate and other cementing minerals precipitated from
the ground water around an organic nucleus, like a shell. Near Feleac
we can find sphere-, and cannonball-shaped concretions.

The Rock with a Hole

2007-11-20T11:36:00.000-08:00

Likasko, The Rock with a Hole, is in Hargita county, not far away from Kalonda Pass, 3 km away from Corund. On the right side of the road from Odorheiu Secuiesc to Sovata, you can see a huge rock with a large hole in it.

The legend of this rock tells us about the quarrel of two fairies; Tartod, a very cruel and warlike fairy and Firtos, a very kind, sweet-hearted and good fairy. Tartod was jealous of Firtos, and wanted to destroy the Firtos castle. The only way to do it was to remove the base stone from the entrance of the castle. With the help of devils, Tartod managed to made a huge hole through the rock, inserted an enormous metallic bar through it, and carried it away. But just when they reached the river above Corund, they were struck by lightning; the metallic bar melted, and the rock fell down to the place where it is today.

Strange landscape of mud volcanoes

2007-09-09T14:43:00.000-07:00

Mud volcanoes have nothing to do with proper volcanoes. They are developed by gas deposits that manage to seep to the surface from an oilfield, transporting salted water mixed with oil and some mud. They are not hot at all, but on the contrary.

This rare phenomenon can be observed in a geological preserve located near the Berca village, Buzau county, Romania. There are three separate places, Paclele Mari, Paclele Mici and a third one, north from Beciu village. Here you can find small, only a few meters high, mud volcanoes. Vegetation is scarce, only the plant Nitraria Schöberi can grow in this saline, sandy soil. Several of the volcanoes are active, the gas pressure pushing thick mud to the surface, rising mud bubbles and creating small mud flows.

These mud volcanoes are a beautiful sight to see, and well worth a visit.

Varasoaia 2007 Caving Camp

2007-08-30T12:27:00.000-07:00

In the first part of August, I took part at the Varasoaia 2007 caving camp, organised by the Z Caving Club, in the Bihor Mountains, Varasoaia Glade, north from Padis Plateau. During the seven days spent here, I have visited the deepest Romanian cave, took photos in one of Romania's most beautiful caves, hiked through the deep Warm Somes Canyon, ate raspberries in Barsa Pit, and the last day I have visited the underground river of the Fortress of Ponor cave.

The V5 pothole with its -653 m depth and more than 10 km development, is the deepest Romanian cave. V5 has the second largest underground room in Romania, the Paul Matos room with 1,200,000 m3 and a length of 415 m. In some areas of the cave you can find clusters of aragonite crystals, some of them reaching more than 25 cm.

The Valea Rea Cave, the largest Romanian cave entirely developed in dolomites, is considered Romania's greatest underground mineralogical museum. Over 35 different minerals described as components of some speleological formations place this cave among the World's top 10. The cave has the greatest vertical underground waterfall in the country, the Ventilator Fall. 82 m height and 10 m diameter.

Romania Trip Log, Day 10, June 19

2007-07-17T17:01:00.000-07:00

Got 4 “wiener-wursts” for breakfast this a.m. plus the usual milk/sugared coffee. Paid the room, asked the young lady to inspect the room to see if I’d left it OK, she said yes. Peter arrived and we loaded up for the trip to Sibiu Airport. We arrived at the airport around 10am, Peter stayed and talked until about noon, then we said our goodbyes and he headed back home. The flight back to Munich, Germany left in mid-afternoon, I arrived in Munich at 5pm and was picked up by my brother-in-law for the trip back to his home, where I would spend the next several days (until June 29) before returning to the US from Munich. Postlogue: So many wonderful experiences and impressions, it will take months to process them all fully. However, this I can attest to: Peter is one serious hiker; he is also learning “caving” and is into “geocaching” with the most caches in his area of Romania. From his email to me today (July 16, 2007) he had just completed holding his own first hiking/caving clinic for which he had 7 participants; he hopes to do this annually and extend the number of days. Please visit Peter at this website: www.trekkingklub.com and also visit some of his links. To see the photos Peter took of our trip together use the website: www.trekkingklub.com/ed.php The photos are arranged by dates which should correspond to my narrative above. You can correspond with Peter and I highly recommend travel to Romania, the hiking opportunities are numerous and challenging, the people I encountered warm and friendly, the food hearty and filling, and since Romania was just ac- cepted into the EU this year (2007) prices are very reasonable compared to western Europe. Go and enjoy!!! Ed Kindley, Wildwood, MO (I’m 70+ and not the world’s best hiker but if I can do it so can you.)

Romania Trip Log, Day 9, June 18

2007-07-17T17:00:00.000-07:00

Picked up Dimitri and headed for the next village, where he bought the buffalo milk and polenta; they Ed needed to exchange some $s to RON, so drove to the next town where they had a money exchange. Along the way, noted most farming done in long narrow strips, with alternating crops (corn, potatoes, grain, hay); a man walking along the ...

Check out the photos from Fagaras Mountains and read the full story

Ed Kindley, Wildwood, MO

Romania Trip Log, Day 8, June 17

2007-07-17T16:59:00.000-07:00

Checked out of the pension to leave Brasov; unfortunately I forgot to unplug Peter’s battery charger from the wall, so after we were several blocks away the pension called Peter’s cell phone to let him know something had been left; we returned for it (they had his cell number because he had make the reservation for me). Overcast skies, not sure if we ...

Check out the photos from Rasnoavei Gorges and read the full story

Ed Kindley, Wildwood, MO

Romania Trip Log, Day 7, June 16

2007-07-17T16:58:00.002-07:00

Off to the Bucegi Plateau today. Parked near the cable car station; Ed will ride up, Peter will hike up instead. About an hours wait, lots of people, some with bikes, waiting to ascend; the ride about 15 mins. each way. Started to rain hard as I got into the cable car waitroom (had been lined up outside until then), the weather did not look ...

Check out the photos from Bucegi and read the full story

Ed Kindley, Wildwood, MO

Romania Trip Log, Day 6, June 15

2007-07-17T16:58:00.001-07:00

A small breakfast bar at the pension, with coffee out of a vending machine (tokens provided), quite adequate and nice. Out to wait for Peter (delayed taking man to emergency room), walked to a nearby bank (Volksbank) to exchange money but they don’t do exchanges. Returned to the pension, Peter there; to the room so Peter could ...

Check out the photos from Red Mountain and read the full story

Ed Kindley, Wildwood, MO

Romania Trip Log, Day 5, June 14

2007-07-17T16:57:00.000-07:00

Leaving Miercurea Ciuc for Brasov today, so up early, packed my bags and down to breakfast, this time served by Imola, again an omelet. Waited for Peter who had business to finish up before leaving for Brasov, I viewed the fitness center/pool on the grounds of the Bella Vita (Peter works out here sometimes.), a very nice facility. Before leaving ...

Check out the photos from Mohos Peat-Bog and read the full story

Ed Kindley, Wildwood, MO

Romania Trip Log, Day 4, June 13

2007-07-17T16:56:00.000-07:00

The charming Gabriela fixed my breakfast this morning; she fixed an omelet (the menu said scrambled eggs and ham) containing chopped ham and grated cheese, flipped over after browning on one side, and served unfolded on the plate. A side dish of saurkraut salad was also served, along with slices of crusty white bread. The next day ...

Check out the photos from Bicaz Gorges and read the full story

Ed Kindley, Wildwood, MO

Romania Trip Log, Day 3, June 12

2007-07-17T16:55:00.000-07:00

Had forgotten to set my alarm clock ahead 1 hour coming from Germany to Romania, but I managed to be ready for Peter when he arrived to pick me up. Breakfast was 4 slices of “ham”, slices of bread, 2 wedges of soft cheese, butter, jam and coffee (1 cup only). Enough food for me to make Peter a sandwich to take along for the day’s activities. He arrived ...

Check out the photos from Sovata and read the full story

Ed Kindley, Wildwood, MO

Romania Trip Log, Day 2, June 11

2007-07-17T16:54:00.000-07:00

After a buffet breakfast at the Inn, on the road again, headed west to the city of Sighisoara, dominated by the Citadel on a high hill overlooking the rest of the city. We parked below, and walked up; a covered wooded stairway of 172 steps led up to the Citadel entry, thru a couple stone archways, on cobblestone streets, and into the Citadel area proper, consisting of many winding streets.

Check out the photos for Sighisoara and read the full story

Ed Kindley, Wildwood, MO

Romania Trip Log, Day 1, June 10

2007-07-17T16:52:00.000-07:00

Flight from Munich, Germany to Sibiu (Hermannstadt), Romania on Tarom Airline, aboard a two turboprop machine probably of Russian design. A beautiful sunny day, a smooth flight, and a free glass of Romanian red wine along with a snack-lunch. Coming into Sibiu the mountains to the south (Cindrel Mountains, southern Carpathians) were beautifully green, many of the valleys running up into the heights were without roadways but had small streams coming down into the valleys...

Check out the photos for Ocna Sibiului and read the full story

Ed Kindley, Wildwood, MO

Caving in Retezatul Mic

2007-06-22T09:32:00.000-07:00

In the Retezat Mountains caves are located in the South-Eastern part of the mountain range, in the Retezatul Mic, which is formed in limestone. The majority of the caves are situated at high altitude. During a 5-day caving camp we have visited a few pits and caves from Scocului Mare Gorges and Scorotei Gorges. Pit no. 5 from Scocul Mare Gorges,

Cave no. 4 from Scorota Gorges and Zeicului Cave.

Caving in the Ic Ponor area, Bihor Mountains

2007-05-30T07:20:00.000-07:00

One of the best areas for caving in Romania is the Padis Plateau in the Bihor Mountains. Last week I took part at a caving camp near Ic Ponor, a little settlement to the north-east of Padis. The area surrounding Ic Ponor consists mostly of wooden valleys, hiding many beautiful caves, with no trail to them, and difficult to find without a local guide. During the 2-day caving camp we have visited the Cold Cave and the active gallery of the Humpleu Cave.

The crawling size tube entrance of the Cold Cave is located in the Ponor valley, on the right hillside. A traverse line from the entrance passes a rebelay to reach a 7 m free hanging pit into a fairly large room. This is followed by a very tight 5 m pit. After a few small rooms linked by muddy crawls and squeezes, a larger gallery is reached leading down a small climb to a deep lake. This can be bypassed through The Triangular Gallery, which is covered with crystals and speleothems.

This emerges into a bigger passage, which leads down to a river, sumped in both ways. The cave is not as cold, as the name suggests.

The protected and closed Humpleu Cave has a total length of more than 40 km. The main entrance in the system, with a strong draught blowing out of it, is situated on the right side of the Firei valley. The main characteristics of the cave are the wide dimensions of the rooms. The Giants Room (537/111/35 m), with a volume of over 2 million m3, is also the biggest underground room of Romania. The Main Active Gallery, 4900 m long, can be reached by descending a long slope in a large room.

Because of the low water temperature, 5 °C, a wet suit is needed here. But the richness and the variety of the speleothems, which decorates this active gallery, made our visit well worth.
Peter

A gorgeous day in the Bicaz Gorges

2006-12-03T10:11:00.000-08:00

Bicaz Gorges is a natural reservation, famous for its impressive dimension and lovely scenery.

We have started our hike near the Gate of Hell, the point in which the Maria Stone and the Bardos Wall almost touch each other. Only a few meters downwards is the Hell's Porch.

From here, one can see the Stone of the Shrine, the Bardos Wall, the Black Tower, the rocky formation of Maria Stone and the rocks from Surducului Stone. There is an unfinished bridge, called the Bridge of the Hungarians, at the mouth of the Bicajel brook. Here the marking leaves the main road and ascends to the Bicajel Gorges. Over the left bank of Bicaz river we can admire the Watchtower, a very interesting rock formation.

Following the yellow line marking, we crossed the bridge and continued our walk along the left bank of the Bicajel brook. In summertime, when the weather is fine, crossing is not a problem, but in the other periods crossing can be difficult. The tourist path ascends on the right bank of the brook. After a steep ascent in a forested region, we reached the belvedere points on the south-eastern slope of Surducului Stone.

We have started the second part of our hike, near the Waterfall cave and the Maria Spring. After a steep ascent we climbed on to the top of the Bardos Wall. Beneath us lies the Hell's Throat, the narrowest portion of Bicaz Gorges. From this panorama point, in front of us, we can see the Reservation of the Lost World, two natural reservations of Surducului Stone, the last place of refuge for certain plants like Taxus baccata. This places are accessible only for mountain climbers.

With over 250 climbing routes, Bicaz Gorges is considered the third greatest climbing area in Romania. Walls of 1180 feet and more with big ceilings in the final part. Medium to hard, and very hard difficulty. For free climbers and boulder climbers.

Finally, we reached the top of the Watchtower, our final destination with a nice view of the Bicaz Gorges. You can even see the Stone of the Shrine, only 3780 feet height, but the most beautiful rock from Bicaz Gorges. The first man who climbed the peek of the Stone of the Shrine, was Zoltán Keresztes from Joseni, who climbed the rock barefooted, without a special equipment and in Seckler folk costume. His courageous act it is still remembered by the local community.
Peter

Turda Salt Mine

2006-11-18T10:40:00.000-08:00

Turda Salt Mine is one of the most important salt mines in Transylvania, one of the largest in Europe. Turda's salt deposit was put into systematic operation of the deposit, by underground mining work, during the Roman conquest. It ceased activity in 1932, to be used as an anti-air
craft shelter during the Second World War.

The salt was extracted as clods, which were then cut by specialist workers. The mines were lit by candles and tallow rush lights. Explosives were never used for exploitation, nor mechanical equipment for cutting the salt.

Salt was exploited in rooms of 17-34m (56-112 feet) depth and 10-12m (33-39 feet) width, disposed one near the other and separated by a safety consolidation. The salt mine with its impressive galleries, long tunnels and mining system, great accoustics and very healthy microclimate is well worth a visit.
Turda Salt Mine
Peter

Sura Boghii cave

2006-10-29T05:15:00.000-08:00

Sura Boghii cave (Padis carstic area) has a lenght of only 212 m. After the entrance a big muddy hall continues in an ascendant corridor with a small room with high ceiling in the end.

Cave of the Living Fire

2006-10-24T10:56:00.000-07:00

During the caving camp in Padis carstic plateau, Bihor Mountains,
we went to see the Cave of the Living Fire (Ghetarul Focul Viu),
the second largest underground glacier in Romania.

Photos from the Cave of the Living Fire

The Living Fire cave consists of two rooms, the first big one
having a huge iceblock and ice stalagmites; and a smaller room
with no natural light, some lime concretions and ice stalagmites.

The entrance to the cave is through an old wooden stairway.
The ceiling of the big room is open. Through this natural
window a great quantity of logs, leaves and snow has fallen,
building an immense iceblock in the centre, with logs trapped in.
Around noon, the rays of sunlight are unveiling the splendour
of the ice stalagmites of the cave, creating a fairy scenery.

The exit from the cave was very pleasant, because the outer
temperature was far above that of the cave. The open ceiling and
the lack of ventilation keeps the cold air inside, allowing
the ice to last in the cave all year round.
Peter

Varasoaia caving camp 2006

2006-10-18T14:29:00.000-07:00

Photos from this summer's caving camp in Varasoaia,
Padis carstic plateau.
Peter

Bucegi, home of the wild chamois

2006-10-17T06:30:00.002-07:00

This summer I had the opportunity to take a few nice photos of the wild chamois living in the Bucegi mountains. The pics with the chamois are to the end of the photo set (pics no. 39-51)

Enjoy,
Peter

Piatra Craiului, Northern Ridge

2006-10-17T06:30:00.001-07:00

Photos from Piatra Craiului Mountain, Northern Ridge

Peter

Vanturis waterfall

2006-10-17T06:30:00.000-07:00

Photos from Izvorul Dorului Valley and Vanturis Waterfall

Peter

Poiana Brasov

2006-10-17T06:29:00.001-07:00

Poiana Brasov, surrounded by the Postavarul Mountain, is well known as one of the best ski resorts in Romania, with its 12 ski sloapes of various difficulty degrees. If you would like to reach the top of the mountain, you can take the cable car, or you can choose one of the well marked hiking routes.

Peter

Calimani, volcanic mountains

2006-10-17T06:29:00.000-07:00

Calimani Mountains are the highest and largest volcanic mountains in the Eastern Carpathians, with its highest peak, the 2100 m high Pietrosul Peak. A long ridge with great landscapes, large forests and strange rock formations.

Peter

Ciucas, mountains of outstanding beauty

2006-10-17T06:28:00.002-07:00

Ciucas Mountains are less known and visited, but of outstanding beauty. It is a smaller mountain with its highest peak the Ciucas Peak, at 1954 m.
Peter

Seven Ladder Waterfall

2006-10-17T06:28:00.001-07:00

Don't be depressed by the first photos (those with garbage everywhere), the Seven Ladder Waterfall is the most spectacular part of the Piatra Mare Mountains.
Peter

Sugo Cave

2006-10-17T06:28:00.000-07:00

The Sugo Cave is the biggest cave in Giurgeu Mountains, with 1021 m total lenght of galleries, 142 m extension and 67 m dislevelment. The cave has 3 fossile levels above its active passage. It is rich in speleothems like aragonite crystals and concretions, helictites and mace-like stalactites. Only the first 120 m from the cave's entrance are easily accessible for tourists. Saturdays and sundays you can find a cave guide in the wooden house, close to the caves main entrance.
Peter

Bike-hike to Madaras Peak

2006-10-17T06:27:00.000-07:00

Bike-hike to Harghita Madaras peak, 1801 m, the highest peak of the Harghita Mountains. Daffodils (narcissi) and charcoal-burners.
Peter

Huda lui Papara

2006-10-17T06:26:00.000-07:00

Huda lui Papara, the most impressive cave from the Trascau Mountains stretches on 2,000 m along a subterranean river, with lakes and waterfalls, wide rooms and spectacular narrow tracts. Next time I hope to visit the cave itself,
Peter

Hasmasu Mare Mountain

2006-10-17T06:25:00.001-07:00

Photos from Hasmasu Mare Mountains
Peter

Self-made snowshoes

2006-10-17T06:24:00.000-07:00

Last week I have decided to try my new self-made snowshoes, made from polypropylene pipe and banner-material.
r2012.jpg

So, I went on a hike to the Piatra Singuratica (The Single Stone), situated in the Hasmas Mountains.

Piatra Singuratica offers a beautiful view over the Ciuc depression (the area where I live) and is separated by a saddle from the top of Ecem's rocky walls, 1696 m (this time I came through this mountain pasture) and Hasmasul Mare peak, 1793 m (which I would like to hike next time this winter).
Peter

Saint Ann Lake

2006-10-17T06:20:00.000-07:00

I have made a first hike to this near volcanic lake on a gloomy, snowy sunday morning. Lake Saint Ann (Romanian: Lacul Sfanta Ana, Hungarian: Szent Ann-tó) is a crater lake located in the volcanic crater named "Puciosul" of the Eastern Carpathians, near Tusnad (Tusnád) in the Natural Reserve of Mohos, Harghita County, Romania. It has an area of 220,000 m2 and has a maximum depth of 7 m.
Peter

Killer Rock

2006-10-17T06:19:00.000-07:00

In 1837, which was a particularly rainy year, the heavily soaked clay surface of the side of the Killer Rock (Gyilkos-kő - Piatra Ghilcos) slid and blocked the Bicaz Brook. The Red Lake was the result of this landslide which dammed the course of the brook.

After the landslide, the limestone mixed with clay blocked the oozing waters and the lake gradually developed. The petrified trunks of the trees which once covered the valley can still be seen. The water containing ironoxide and lime preserved these tree trunks. In clear weather the lake mirrors the red lime rocks on its margins.

The name Killer comes, according to the legend, from the fact that during the catastrophe shepherds were grazing their flocks and they were swallowed by the falling earth.
Peter

The Gorges of Warm Somes

2006-10-17T06:15:00.000-07:00

The Gorges of the Warm Somes (Cheile Somesului Cald), are situated in the Padis Plateau, in the northern part of the Bihor Mountains. They offer some spectacular and wild scenery. In the upper part of the gorges, Radeasa creek carved an impressive tunnel, the Fortress of Radeasa (Cetatile Radesei).
Peter

One of the largest ice caves in the world

2006-10-17T06:11:00.000-07:00

The Scarisoara Ice Cave is situated in the Bihor Mountains, at 1200 m altitude, and shelter a glacier with a volume varying between 40000 and 55000 m3. It is said to be one of the largest ice caves in the world. An ice cave is a cave which contains ice, not a cave formed in ice. Those are called glacier caves.

The entrance is a 48 m deep and 60 m wide shaft. A stair of steep iron steps spiralles around the shaft until it reaches the bottom. The hall at the ground is filled with ice all year round. The reason for this situation is the height and the special shape of the cave. The cave stores the low temperature, as the cold air is heavier than the warm air outside.

This first chamber is already filled with ice. But the most impressive ice structures, the spectacular six meters high ice stalagmites, are found in the second chamber of the cave. The cave is very cold, so it is essential to use warm clothes and good shoes. The paths across the ice are very difficult to go.
Peter

New set of photos

2006-10-17T06:09:00.000-07:00

I have posted a new set of photos from Piatra Craiului Mountains. It was a short hike to the Tower of Piatra Craiului peak, 1923 m.
Peter

Ciur-Ponor cave system and the longest underground river

2006-10-17T06:04:00.000-07:00

The Ciur-Ponor - Toplita de Rosia cave system is situated in the Padurea Craiului mountains and has a surveyed length of 17,078 m and a total vertical development of 225 m (+25 m, -200 m).

The direct distance between the upstream swallet and the main outlet at Toplita de Rosia is 3,025 m. The cave system contains nearly 9,500 m of generally active galleries, the longest underground river in Romania, 5,000 m.
Peter

New photos from Piatra Craiului

2006-10-17T06:03:00.000-07:00

I have uploaded new photos from Piatra Craiului Mountains
Piatra_Craiului
Peter

Photos from King's Cave

2006-10-17T06:02:00.000-07:00

Photos from Pestera Craiului (Király-barlang, King's Cave), a 3500 m long cave from Padurea Craiului Mountains.
Padurea_Craiului
Peter