Monday, July 9, 2012

Romania, Several Tracks in Parang Mountains - Parangu Mare Peak

Short Briefing
Parang Mountains are located in the Eastern Carpathians, in the so called Southern Romanian Carpathians, in the center-south-west part of Romania, at about 15 km North-East of Targu-Jiu city and 5 km South-East of Petrosani. The mountains are delimited at the East by the famous Transalpina road (DN67C, the Novaci-Obarsia Lotrului section). The heighest peak of the masiff is Parangu Mare (alt. 2519m).

Way of access
By road:
-> Targu-Jiu -> (DN67) -> Scoarta -> (DN67) Bengesti -> (DN67C) Novaci (45km)
-> Ramnicu Valcea -> (DN67) -> Horezu -> (DN67) -> Novaci (83km)

See also
Romania, Several Tracks in Parang Mountains - Cioara Peak
Romania, Several Tracks in Parang Mountains - Calcescu Lake
Romania, Several Tracks in Parang Mountains - Rosiile Lake

Track Description
This is the hardest track of the ones presented at "see also" section. The track requires 1 and 1/2 days. In the first day, we set as destination the Calcescu Lake (1900m), representing the tent location. The track starts at Urdele Pass, at an altitude of aprox 2100m, then follows the red band to Mohorul Peak (2337m), then the Plescoaia Peak (2250), then from the Plescoaia Saddle it gets down to Calcescu Lake via Hornul Lacurilor. From the Calcescu Lake, we followed the red cross to Zanoaga Lake and then to Piatra Taiata Saddle where we met a shepard. The shepard told us we have another 3-4 hours to Parangu Mare Peak (2519m), so we started to climb to Iesu Peak (2375m) on the same red band that we left with a day before when we got down to Calcescu Lake. After Iesu Peak, we followed the marker to Piclesa Peak (2335m), then Gruiu Peak (2345m) and after the Gruiu Saddle, we reached the most desired destination from Parang Mountains - the Parangu Mare Peak. From here we could see all the mountains around, several cities, the Polatiste Mountains that we followed in the past (http://vsorinel.blogspot.ro/2011/06/romania-parang-mountains-polatiste-key.html) and even the Danube. Then we had to return to Urdele Pass where we left our car, but as we chosen the return track to be a little different, we could see also the Setea Mica, Setea Mare Peaks and the Pasarile Lakes. As it is a ridge mountain track, beautiful views are available on all its length. Actually, this track is a variant of the most known track from Parang Mountains, the one red band marked, that starts from Rusu-Parangu Mic Peak Ski Resort, passes Carja, Gemanarea, Parangu Mare, Gruiu, Piclesa, Setea Mare, Mohoru Peaks, then Urdele Pass, then continues besides Papusa Peak and Cioara Peak to Curmatura Oltetului located in the Latoritei Mountains; you may see our restrained variant on the image below:
 Track Map

The elevation curve:


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Images:
Urdele Pass Valley - 2000m
(where we left the car)

 Path to Mohoru Saddle and view to Mohoru Peak

Looking back to Transalpina Road
Urdele Pass (2150m)

 Cross on the path to Mohoru Peak

Mohoru Valley

 View to Setea Mare Peak
from Mohoru Peak

 Path on Mohoru

 Day Two
Waking up at Calcescu Lake

 Calcescu Lake
View from Westside

 Heading up to Zanoaga Lake
(red cross marker)

 Westside View of Calcescu Area

 On the path to Zanoaga Lake

 Zanoaga Lake

The Twins (sheepfold keepers)
found at Piatra Taiata Saddle (2255m)

 Gheresu Saddle

 Iesu Peak (2375m)

 Gheresu Lake

 Looking back to Piatra Taiata Saddle and Setea Peaks

 View of Iesu Lake

 Near Paclesa Peak

 View of Gruiu and Parangu Mare Peaks

 Rosiile Lake - view from Gruiu Peak

 Closer look to Rosiile Lake
(deepest glacial lake in Parang mountains)

 View of Mandra Lake

 Closer look to Mandra Lake

 Heading up to Parangu Mare Peak

 Marker found at Gruiu Saddle

This is Parangu Mare Peak

 Parangu Mare Peak (2519m)
(... very happy to be here...)

 View back to Gruiu, Paclesa, Iesu, Setea Mare and Mohoru peaks
(from Parangu Mare)

 View of Gemanarea, Slivei, Stoinita and Carja Peaks
(from Parangu Mare)

 View to Sapa and Reci Peaks
(from Parangu Mare)

 Mandra, Rosiile and Lung Lakes
(from Parangu Mare)

 Heading back to Setea Mare Peak

 Setea Mica Peak

 View of Pasarile Lakes

 Setea Mare Peak
(from northside)

 View back to Setea Mare Peak
(from eastside)

 Mohoru Valley again...

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Romania, Several Tracks in Parang Mountains - Rosiile Lake

Short Briefing
Parang Mountains are located in the Eastern Carpathians, in the so called Southern Romanian Carpathians, in the center-south-west part of Romania, at about 15 km North-East of Targu-Jiu city and 5 km South-East of Petrosani. The mountains are delimited at the East by the famous Transalpina road (DN67C, the Novaci-Obarsia Lotrului section). The heighest peak of the masiff is Parangu Mare (alt. 2519m).

Way of access
By road:
-> Petrosani -> Jiet -> (DN7A) -> Jietului Gorges (DN7A, 10km) -> Mija Chalet (DN7A, 15km) -> Groapa Seaca Chalet (DN7A, 22km)
-> Ramnicu Valcea -> (DN7) -> Brezoi -> (DN7A) -> Voineasa -> (DN7A) -> Obarsia Lotrului (115km)

See also
Romania, Several Tracks in Parang Mountains - Cioara Peak
Romania, Several Tracks in Parang Mountains - Calcescu Lake
Romania, Several Tracks in Parang Mountains - Parangu Mare Peak

Track Description
Another easy track has as destination the Rosiile Lake (2000m), located under the Parangu Mare Peak (2519m). The track starts at an altitude of aprox 1200m from Groapa Seaca Chalet direction to the Rosiile Lake. The first half of the track consists of a forestry road of about 5km. Then, you will have to follow the red circle marker for another 3 km; on this section, the track follows a mountain path and starts to climb. The track is a very beautiful one, because of its diversity - you will walk in forest, you will pass river on wooden bridges, you will see the spectacular Agatat Shelter, you will pass through juniper trees with stony path, you will see sheepfolds and other lakes. The Rosiile Lake is the deepest glacial lake (aprox 16m) in Parang Mountains and above it at about 100m you will find the Mandra glacial lake. Near Rosiile Lake there is also the Lung Lake. You will have to return to the start point, so the total length of this track is about 16km, which can be walked in about 7 hours - 4 hours to climb to Rosiile Lake and 3 hours back to start point.



Track Map

The elevation curve:

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Images:

Track indicator at Groapa Seaca Chalet

Red Circle marker at the track start point

Track intersection at about 500m from the starting point

 Forestry Road

Forestry Road heading to mountains

View from a stone bridge on the track

Micro power plant on Jiet River

The track after Jiet power plant

Intersection with Gheresu Forestry Road

 Wooden Bridge on Jiet River

Jiet River

Jiet River

 Track in the forest

 Track in the forest

  Track in the forest

 Jiet River in the forest

 Wooden Bridge on Jiet River

 View from wooden bridge

 Refugiul Agatat (Hanged Shelter)

 Inside Refugiul Agatat (Hanged Shelter)

 After Refugiul Agatat (alt. 1800m)

After Refugiul Agatat (alt. 1850m)

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