Hiking (hard): Jepii Mici - Vf Omu 2505m - Valea Cerbului

Please contact me on WhatsApp +40755044666 to secure your place (limited by car seats) and to add you to the event chat group once you signed up.

Warning: Jepii Mici is an abrupt track with many exposed sections secured with chains and cables. People who are afraid of heights are NOT advised to take this route.

Intro

Vf Omu (2505m) is the highest peak of Bucegi Mountains, the 6th highest peak and one of the 14 over 2500m peaks of Romania. The top is a flat surface, making it accessible to all level hikers. There is a chalet (open only during the summer weekends) and a meteo station. The place offers amazing views over the surrounding valleys and mountains and over the ridge of Piatra Craiului.

Vf Bucura (2503m) is called the bypassed peak (Varful Ocolit) as the path goes just around it to reach Vf Omu.

Track

Busteni (930m) - Jepii Mici - Cabana Caraiman (2035m) - Crucea Caraiman (2291m) - Varful Caraiman (2384m) - Vf Bucura (2503m) - Vf Omu (2505m) - Valea Cerbului - Busteni

Start time: 6:30am
Difficulty: Hard
Length: 28km
Elevation gain: 1850 m
Estimated time: 14-15h
Route type: Loop

Planning (estimated)
4:00am leaving from Bucharest (pickup details on whatsapp dedicated group)
6:15am park cars in Busteni (930m)
6:30am beging hike
10:15am arrive at Cabana Caraiman (2035m)
11:15am arrive at Crucea Caraiman (2291m)
12:15pm arrive at Varful Caraiman (2384m)
2:30pm arrive at Vf Omu (2505m)
2:30pm-3:00pm lunch (bring your own)
3:10pm arrive at Vf Bucura (2503m)
3:20pm - start return via Valea Cerbului
8:30pm arrive back at Busteni (930m)
11pm-11:30pm back in Bucharest and drop off

This is just a rough estimate, do not plan other events in the evening.

Make sure you have a headlamp (lanternă frontală) we might arrive after dark.
The weather conditions at the peak and generally in the alpine region above 2000m are very different from Bucharest and Busteni, bring more warm layers.

Arrival
This track is only accessible by car
The trip from Bucharest to Busteni is around 2h-2h30 depending on the traffic. We will arrange the car seats and pickup details on the dedicated WhatsApp group.

By train + taxi
You can alternatively come by taxi from Busteni (5km) but you will have to stay overnight before and after as there's no train that early/late.

Costs
The hike guiding is free. Since we go with our personal cars there are transportation costs that will be split equally between the participants, the amount will be communicated the day before.

Packing

• Hiking backpack 20-40L
• Hiking boots or shoes
• Via ferrata gloves (recommended)
• Headlamp (lanternă frontală) with spare batteries
• Rain or shell jacket
• Warm layers (avoid cotton): (1) quick dry t-shirt/thermal base layer (merinos or synthetic), (2) polar hoodie, (3) down/synthetic jacket
• Water/tea - 2.5-3L (can also buy more water at Cabana Caraiman and Cabana Omu)
• Hiking poles/sticks (optional)
• Fruit juice (optional) as energy drink
• Electrolytes, magnesium (optional)
• Energy gels (optional)
• Snacks - fruit, energy bars, dry fruit
• Lunch (dinner optional)
• Cash for buying food/drinks at Cabana's
• Power bank (optional)
• Sun protection - hat / baseball cap, sun glasses, sunscreen, lips balm

Feel free to contact me by WhatsApp +40755044666 for any questions.