Hiking (hard): Piatra Craiului: Southern Ridge (Creasta Sudica)

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: This track has exposed rock scrambling segments with cable/chains, as well as scree/gravel (grohotiş) sections on the descent. If you're afraid of heights, this is not for you.

Intro
The Piatra Craiului Mountains (Kings' Rock) are a mountain range in the Southern Carpathians in Romania, located in Brașov and Argeș counties. The Piatra Craiului mountains form a narrow and saw-like ridge, which is about 25 km long. The highest elevation in the massif is the "Vârful La Om" at 2,238 metres. The ridge is regarded as one of the most beautiful sites in the Carpathians.
We are going to explore the Southern Ridge (Creasta Sudica) between Vf La Om and Șaua Funduri.

Track
Hotel Nobilis (1190m) - La Table (1377m) - Refugiul Grind (1600m) - Vf La Om (2238m) - Șaua Grindului (2165m) - Vf Umerilor (2209m) - Vf Lespezi (2142m) - Vf Pietrei (2098m) - Vf Funduri (2018m) - Șaua Funduri (1890m) - La Table (1377m) - Hotel Nobilis (1190m)
Start time: 7:30am
Difficulty: Hard/Technical (cables/chains, rock scrambling)
Length: 25km
Elevation gain: 1500m
Estimated time: 12-14h
Route type: Loop

Planning (estimated)
4:00am leaving from Bucharest (pickup details on whatsapp dedicated group)
7:30am beging hike from Hotel Nobilis (1190m)
10:00am arrive at Refugiul Grind (1600m)
12:00pm Vf La Om (2238m)
12:00pm-12:30pm lunch (bring your own)
5:30pm Șaua Funduri (1890m)
7:30pm La Table (1377m)
9:00pm arrive back at Hotel Nobilis (1190m)
1:00am 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) in case we get caught by the dark on the way back.
The weather conditions in the mountains are very different from Bucharest, bring more warm layers.

Arrival
This track is only accessible by car
The trip from Bucharest to Hotel Nobilis is around 3h 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 - with good grip on rock and gravel
• Via ferrata or gym gloves (highly recommended or the cables sections)
• Headlamp (lanternă frontală) with spare batteries
• Climbing helmet (highly recommended)
• Rain or shell jacket
• Warm layers: quick dry t-shirt/thermal (merinos or synthetic), polar hoodie, down/synthetic jacket, avoid cotton
• Water/tea - 2-3L - can also refill water at La Table - no water source on the ridge!
• Hiking poles/sticks (optional)
• Fruit juice (optional) as energy drink
• Electrolytes, magnesium (optional)
• Energy gels (optional)
• Snacks - fruit, energy bars, dry fruit
• Lunch, dinner
• Cash for buying food/drinks at Cabana's
• Beanie / buff / gloves
• Power bank (optional)
• Sun protection - hat / baseball cap, sun glasses, sunscreen, lips balm

Contact me on WhatsApp +40755044666 for any questions.