Hiking (hard): Balea Lac - Negoiu - Custura Saratii - return

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 a long exposed rock scrambling segment with cable/chains. If you're afraid of heights, this is not for you.

Intro
Custura Sǎrǎții is a very technical section of the ridge of the Fagaras Mountains and is considered the most difficult marked track in Romania, being partly secured with chains and cables. Negoiu is the second highest peak in Romania with a height of 2535m, only 9m shorter than the highest Moldoveanu peak (2544m). Balea Lac is the highest point (2034m) of the Transfagarasan road.

Track
Balea Lac (2034m) - Lacul Cǎlțun (2135m) - Vf Negoiu (2535m) - Vf Sǎrǎții (2384m) - Custura Sǎrǎții - Vf Şerbotǎ (2331m) - return
Start time: 7:30am
Difficulty: Hard/Technical (cables/chains, rock scrambling)
Length: 20km
Elevation gain: 1800m
Estimated time: 13-15h
Route type: Out and back

Planning (estimated)
3:00am leaving from Bucharest (pickup details on whatsapp dedicated group)
7:00am beging hike from Balea Lac (2034m)
12:00pm arrive at Vf Negoiu (2535m)
1:00pm enter Custura Saratii
2:30pm Vf Serbota (2238m)
4:30pm arrive at Vf Negoiu (2535m)
9:30pm arrive at Balea Lac
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 Balea Lac is around 3:30-4h 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 for the chains/cables sections)
• Headlamp (lanternă frontală) with spare batteries
• Rain or shell jacket
• Warm layers: quick dry t-shirt/thermal (merinos or synthetic), polar hoodie, down/synthetic jacket, avoid cotton
• Water/tea - 3L
• 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.