Tha Blog ... care este ...: Romania, Cozia Mountains, 1-day mountain route

Romania, Cozia Mountains, 1-day mountain route

Intro:
Cozia mountains are located in the Eastern Carpathians (or Romanian Carpathians), in the center-west part of Romania being part of Southern Romanian Carpathians. On a road map, they are located nearest the E81 european road, between Ramnicu-Valcea and Sibiu cities, at the entry of the so called The Olt Valley, nearest the Cozia Monastery, at about 25km of Ramnicu-Valcea and 70km of Sibiu.
The highest peak from Cozia Mountains is Cozia Peak (alt. 1668m); the main route is the Cozia Chalet route, which was also my destination.

Route map

About this 1-day track:
It starts from Turnu Monastery (alt. 250m) and climbs to the "La Troita" springs on the red-band marker; here the track meets 2 other markers: the blue-band (from Pausa village) and the yellow-band (from the Cozia Dam); all 3 tracks continue together to a point where the red-band, that I further followed, turns to left and climbs over the "Muchia Traznita" Heights to the "Turneanu" shelter; from here the red-band turns to right over the "Turneanu" Heights and passes beside the "Pietrele Vulturilor" (Eagle Stones), the "Rotunda" Peak (1593m) and "Cozia" Peak (1668m); the red-band track arrives to "Cozia Chalet" (alt. 1573m) and "Cozia Relay" (located on "Ciuha Mica" Peak, 1629m). A beautiful view of The Olt Valley (to the South-West) is available here.

Elevation Curve: From the Turnu Monastery until the "Cozia" Relay, the track is a medium to hard one, practically the altitude difference is of about 1300m on a distance of aprox 6-6.5km which may be followed in about 4-6 hours, depending of various conditions.

From the "Cozia Relay", the red-band marker is lost (track finishes there), and the blue-band is followed; the blue-band descends via the "Muchia Vladesei" Heights to the "Stanisoara" Monastery; the track is a hard one, as it passes through massive rocks; 2 portions of the track present chains that are helpful for the tourists; some little caves may be seen beside the track and also the "Fruntea Oii" Heights; the track arrives at Stanisoara Monastery, a beautiful monastery, at an altitude of about 750m. Here a little time may be lost, as there are some objectives to see: a waterfall, 2 caves, aso. The blue-band meets again the yellow-band and further the red-band described above while the track descends to "La Troita" Springs. From here, the red-band is followed to the right, back to the Turnu Monastery.

Elevation Curve: From the "Cozia" Relay back to Turnu Monastery, the track is a medium to difficult one (the part from Cozia Relay to Stanisoara Monastery is difficult), practically the altitude difference is of about 1300m on a distance of aprox 6.5-7km which may be followed in about 2-4 hours, as the track descends, depending of various conditions.