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Munții Carpați - Piatra Mare Massif
The Carpathians, issue no. 22
English version adapted by Bogdan Kory-Mercea (Cluj-Napoca)
As the train runs along the Timis Valley between Predeal resort and Brasov city, there is a full view of Piatra Mare Mountain.
Seen from Predeal, the milder mountainside, with a huge rock (olistolith) standing on the edge of a large pasture-covered plateau, unveils before the eyes. Viewed from the Timis Valley, the mountain appears covered with high forest vegetation, with lots of slender rocks, scattered about or grouped together. Despite providing fewer tourist facilities (chalets, hotels, cable car) than its neighbour, the Postavaru Mountain, Piatra Mare (106 sq km) lasts in the memory of generations of tourists for its wonderful landscapes.
Among its attractions is the huge, spectacular, yet difficult to climb steep eastern slope, facing the Gârcin Valley, that dominates Clabucetele (smaller mountains) Târlung and the wild Șapte Scări (Seven Steps) Canyon, visited by scores of tourists from spring through autumn.
The building of a cable chair and of the Bonloc ski slope have facilitated access to the north-western side of the mountain and performing of winter sports.
The location of the fairly modest Bonloc chalet offers a splendid panorama of Brașov city and of the mountains surrounding the homonymous depression.
During wintertime, heaps of snow cover both path and tree. Above the sea of clouds filling the depression around the massif, the bright sunrays warm you up.
Piatra Mare (max. height 1, 843 m) stands in the western extremity of the Eastern Carpathians. It isn't one of the highest Carpathians summits but it rises above Brașov Depression and Predeal Platform by over 1, 200 m and 700 m, respectively. Its dominant geological structure - the eastern side of a handing syncline, with a steep eastward slope, consists largely of conglomerates, limestone and schistose-sandstone flysch. Each kind ofrock has a corresponding landform.
The conglomerates, formed of various rock fragments embossed in limestone cement, are found in forms shaped by the freeze-thaw processes and the action of snow, wind, water etc. (e.g. steeps, crests, funnels, needles, mushrooms etc.). The most spectacular forms are the limestone-modelled ones. In this case, beside the action of freeze-thaw, snow and wind, processes of dissolution were also involved, generating lapies, sink-holes, small cavities, screes, funnels, towers, needles and gorges (similar to those in conglomerates, yet not very long either). Characteristic of the central and north-western parts of the mountain is intense limestone modelling.
The small ice cave (Peștera de Gheață / Ice Cave) located under the Gâtul Chivei Summit, at the base of an 80 m high step, is developed on a vertical fracture cut in limestone. A specific trait is the cold air current gushing out at its mouth, and the presence of an up to 3m thick ice layer lasting until late summer.
Some of the major attractions in the Piatra Mare Mountain are the Șapte Scări Canyon and the Tamina Waterfall.
The Șapte Scări Brook falls into Șipoaia basin at a 60 m level difference over a small distance of 160 m. In this area, the valley sides are almost vertical, very close to each other, and polished by the falling water.
The cascade complex developed on the lower course of the Piatra Mică Brook, near its junction with the Timișul Sec de Jos Stream, is known by the name of Tamina Waterfall. It consists of a succession of five steps formed by breaks in the slope. The gorges sector walls are 50-60 m high with 50-60 degrees slopes. These two tourist sites lie at an altitude of 1, 100-1, 200 m.
Walks and points of departure
Brașov city (550-650 m alt.) Is situated in the north-western of the Piatra Mare Massif. Train or bus lines lead to Dârste, a print of departure for walks in Bonloc area.
Săcele town (650-750 m) lies at the northern foot of Piatra Mare. Here there are several paths (marked or not) leading to the main summit.
Predeal resort (1, 000-1, 140 m) extends in the south-western of Piatra Mare. Marked paths wind up to the main summit of the mountain.
Timișul de Sus (900 m) is a tourist settlement in Timiș Depression, located in the south-western of the mountain. Walks to Tamina Gorges and Waterfall.
Timișu de Jos (650-750 m) lies on the Timiș Valley. Point of departure for walks to the mountain heights, to the realm of rocks and the Șapte Scări Canyon. The routes pass through Dâmbu Morii and Bonloc chalets.
Dâmbu Morii chalet (690 m) is built in the north-western of the mountain, between Timișu de Jos and Dârste. Accommodation (200 persons) in the chalet and adjoining villas. Amenities: running water, electricity, central heating, restaurant, post and telephone office. Apart from these there are also other lodging availabilities and some food shops nearby.
Bonloc chalet (1, 100 m) offers a superb view of Brașov city and the mountains surrounding it. Accommodation for 20 persons; buffet, electricity, water spring source; ski slopes. In the western side of Bonloc Ridge, where the chalet stands, start marked paths to Săcele, Dârste, Dâmbu Morii and the massif heights.
Susai chalet (1, 350 m), located in Clăbucetele Predealului, on Mount Susai, is a major overnight stop between Predeal and the Piatra Mare heights. Facilities: nice furnished rooms (30 places), electricity, running water, buffet. Point of departure toward Azuga Valley, the smaller mountains of Târlung (Rențea - Tâlfa area) and the Neamțului Mountains.
Baciu chalet stands at the foot of Piatra Mare Mountain, near Baciu - Bonloc cable chair departure. Timiș chalet (Cotu Donului chalet), 885 m, on the Ploiești - Brașov highway. Dârste camping-site, and there are other chalets and hotels in the Timișu de Sus and Timișu de Jos area, Gârbova chalet etc.
Accommodation in hunter's huts, forest range cabins or student camps (Timiș, Tamina) is allowed only by permission from the administrators. Rențea chalet is closed to tourists.
Access routes The high-traffic electric railway between București and Brașov; modernised highways București - Brașov, through Predeal and București - Ploiești - Cheia - Săcele - Brașov; forester roads reaching far inside the main valleys and their tributaries. The forester roads used by tourists connect Săcele town with Azuga Valley and Predeal resort through the Gârcinu Mic Valley.
Bonloc cable chair links Săcele (Baciu chalet, Dârste camping-site) to Bonloc Ridge (level difference 470 m).
Path marks Although some towns or well-known tourist resorts lie in the neighbourhood of the mountain, many marks fail the standards, others are deteriorated. Paths crossing the pasture-covered heights, where landmarks are few, should be avoided during bad weather (snowstorms, mist, heavy rainfalls, strong winds).
In the Piatra Mare, Postăvaru and Clăbucetele Prahovei Mountains, the signs are relatively passable; part or the entire paths have been marked out anew by members of the mountaineering associations.
The situation in the eastern Clăbucete (Rențea - Clăbucet - Paltinu - Valea Azugii) isn't that good. The marks on our map represent the old marks still found on trees, poles or stones. The marks that did exist around Rențea chalet (out from the tourist circuit now) have been intentionally destroyed.
Dâmbu Morii chalet (680 m altitude) - Daschia Valley (the main path) - Poiana Livada Mare - Poiana Șurii de Piatră (Piatra Mare chalet, 1, 630 m) - Piatra Scrisă - Piatra Mare Peak (1, 843 m). Red stripe, 3 ½ - 4 hours. From Poiana Șurii de Piatră to Piatra Mare Peak (3/4 hours) a red cross is added.
Predeal (1, 030 m) - Cioplea chalet (1, 150 m) - Mount Susai - Șaua Pietricica (1, 230 m) - Poiana Stânei Pietricica (1, 400 m) - Coada Pietrei Mari - Piatra Mare Peak (high plateau zone, 1, 843 m). Red cross, 4 hours.
Predeal (1, 030 m) - Cioplea chalet (1, 150 m) - Timișul Sec de Sus Valley - Poiana Stânei Pietricica (1, 400 m). Blue point, 3 ½ - 4 hours.
Timișu de Sus (800 m) - Tamina Waterfall - Piatra Mică Valley - Piatra Mare Peak. Blue stripe, 3 ½ - 4 ½ hours.
Dâmbul Morii chalet (680 m) - Șipoaia Valley - Șapte Scări Canyon - Poiana Șurii de Piatră (Piatra Mare chalet, 1, 630 m). Yellow stripe, 3 ½ - 4 ½ hours. The Șapte Scări Gorges and waterfalls can be skirted following the red point, ½ hour.
Șipoaia Valley (downstream Șapte Scări Canyon) - Prăpastia Urșilor - main route. Blue triangle, 1 - 1 ¼ hours. Another path, marked with blue triangle link the area up the Șapte Scări Gorges and Waterfalls, through Prăpastia Urșilor, with the main route (1 hour).Cabana Dâmbu Morii (680 m) - drumul Țiganilor - Șirul Stâncilor - Gâtul Chivei - Peștera de Gheață (The Cave by ice). Red point, 2 ½ hours. At about 1 ½ hours from departure, a path marked with blue point goes to the main path (red stripe).
Dâmbu Morii chalet (680 m) - Pojarului Valley - Bonloc chalet (1, 010 m). Blue triangle, 1 - 1 ¼ hours.
Bonloc chalet (1, 010 m) - Bonloc Ridge - Bechia Ridge - Culmea (Ridge) Arsă - Gâtul Chivei - Peștera de Gheață (The Cave by ice) - Piatra Mică - Poiana Livada Mare - Poiana Șurii de Piatră (Piatra Mare chalet, 1, 630 m). Blue stripe, 3 - 3 ½ hours.
Săcele - Baciu Valley - Bonloc chalet (1, 010 m). Blue stripe, 1 - 1 ½ hours.
Săcele (Baciu chalet) - Bonloc chalet (1, 010 m) - Bonloc Ridge - Piatra Poienii - Mușat Valley - Gârcin Valley. Red triangle, 3 - 3 ½ hours.
Săcele - Turcheș Valley - Șaua Turcheș - Gârcinul Mic Valley (the small stream) - Poiana Șurii de Piatră (Piatra Mare chalet). Yellow triangle, 5 - 6 hours.
Poiana Șurii de Piatră (Piatra Mare chalet) - under Piatra Scrisă (makes an eastward detour of the high massif zone) - Poiana Stânii Pietricica - Andrei Peak - Mount Clăbucet - Mount Rențea. Blue triangle, 5 - 6 hours (3 ½ - 4 hours from Poiana Stânii Pietricica).
Susai chalet (1, 350 m) - Susai Peak - Azuga Valley - Retevoiu Ridge - Găvanu Lake - Azuga Valley - Tigăile (Țigăile) Ridge - Mount Clăbucet. Red triangle, 3 ½ - 4 hours.
Săcele - Șaua Brădet - Gârcin Valley - Tâlfa Ridge - Mount Rențea. Blue stripe, 3 ½ - 4 hours.
Săcele - Gârcin Valley - Gârcinul Mare Valley - Mount Rențea. Yelow stripe, 3 - 3 ½ hours.
Săcele - Muchia Cărbunari - Tâlfa Ridge - Mount Rențea. Red stripe, 3 - 4 hours.
Susai chalet - Șaua Pietricica - Azuga Valley - Mount Clăbucet - Mount Rențea. Blue cross, 3 ½ - 4 hours. >From the Mount Clăbucet, the summit path go to Paltinul Peak and farther to Predeluș Pass.
Don't forget, the durations of walks (hours) are estimated for fine, snowless, weather. | Autor: Dănuț Călin, Ică Giurgiu
Înscris de: Cătălin Olteanu
Vizualizări: 9821, Ultima actualizare: Vineri, 18 Iul 2003 |
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