Hiking (medium): Fantana lui Botorog - Piatra Mica - Cab Curmatura

The event is limited to the available car seats, will open more slots when other cars will join. Please join the event waiting list and then contact me on WhatsApp +40755044666 to confirm your car seat and add you to the dedicated event group. If you have your own car, let me know.

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 Piatra Mica, the small sister of the main ridge, with a pit stop at Cabana Curmatura.

Track
Fantana lui Botorog (860m) - Vf Piatra Mica (1816m) - Şaua Crăpăturii (1580m) - Fantana lui Botorog (860m)
Optional track (depending on timing and track conditions) - ascent to Vf Turnu (1911m) - 5-6h - +200m (technical ascent with cables and rock scrambling)
Start time: 8:15am
Difficulty: Medium/Technical (cables/chains, rock scrambling)
Length: 13.5km
Elevation gain: 910m
Estimated time: 8-10h
Route type: Loop

Planning (estimated)
4:00am leaving from Bucharest (pickup details on whatsapp dedicated group)
8:15am begin hike from Fantana lui Botorog (860m)
11:00am Vf Piatra Mica (1816m)
12:30pm arrive at Şaua Crăpăturii (1580m)
12:45pm lunch - Cabana Curmatura (1435m)
3:45pm arrive back at Fantana lui Botorog (860m)
Optional track (depending on time and track conditions) - ascent to Vf Turnu (1911m) - 5-6h - +200m (technical ascent with cables and rock scrambling)

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 Fantana lui Botorog is around 3-3.5h 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 / gym / winter gloves for the cables (recommended)
• Headlamp (lanternă frontală) with spare batteries
• Climbing helmet (highly recommended)
• 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 - 2L (can also refill/buy water at Fantana lui Botorog and at Curmatura)
• Hiking poles/sticks (optional)
• Fruit juice (optional) as energy drink
• Electrolytes, magnesium (optional)
• Energy gels (optional)
• Snacks - fruit, energy bars, dry fruit, nuts
• Lunch - can also buy some food at Cabana Curmatura
• Cash for buying food/drinks at Cabana's
• Beanie / buff / gloves
• Power bank (optional)
• Hand sanitiser / tissues / wet tissues (optional)
• Sun protection - hat / baseball cap, sun glasses, sunscreen, lips balm

Contact me by WhatsApp +40755044666 for any questions or car pooling requests.