Hiking (hard): Valea Cerbului - Omu - Brana Caprelor - Malaiesti - Take Ionescu

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: Brana Caprelor is a narrow track with a few exposed sections.

Intro
Vf Omu (2507m) 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.

Track
Cabana Gura Diham (1000m) - Valea Cerbului - Vf Bucura (2503m) - Vf Omu (2507m) - Vf Bucsoiu (2493m) - Brana Caprelor - Cabana Malaiesti - Take Ionescu - Poiana Pichetul Rosu - Cabana Poiana Izvoarelor - Cabana Gura Diham
Start time: 6:45am
Difficulty: Hard
Length: 30km
Elevation gain: 1900 m
Estimated time: 14-15h
Route type: Loop

Planning (estimated)
4:00am leaving from Bucharest (pickup details on whatsapp dedicated group)
6:45am park cars at Cabana Gura Diham (1000m)
7:00am beging hike
1:00pm arrive at Vf Omu (2507m) (water buying point)
1:00pm-1:30pm lunch (bring your own, there are some food and drink options to buy at Cabana Omu)
2:15pm - Vf Bucsoiu (2493m)
4:30pm - arrive at Cabana Malaiesti (water refill/buying point - spring might be dry)
5:00pm - start return via Take Ionescu path
8:30pm arrive back at Cabana Gura Diham (1000m)
11:00pm 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) it will be dark on the way back.
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 Cabana Gura Diham is around 2h-2h30 depending on the traffic. We will arrange the car seats and pickup details on the dedicated WhatsApp group.

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

Packing

• Hiking backpack 20-40L
• Hiking boots or shoes
• Headlamp (lanternă frontală) with spare batteries
• Rain jacket
• Warm layers (avoid cotton): (1) quick dry t-shirt/thermal base layer (merinos or synthetic), (2) polar hoodie, (3) down/synthetic jacket
• Water - 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) - can buy food at cabana Omu and Malaiesti
• Cash for buying food/drinks at Cabana's
• Power bank (optional)
• Sun protection - hat / baseball cap, sun glasses, sunscreen, lips balm

Contact me on WhatsApp +40755044666 for any questions.