Solo Climbing Moldoveanu, the highest mountain of Romania 🇷🇴
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- Опубликовано: 30 июн 2024
- Blog article describing my complete Romania road trip in detail: www.tim-tense.com/road-trip-g...
Detailed itinerary on how to climb Moldoveanu: www.tim-tense.com/hike-moldov...
It had been my dream to climb the tallest mountain in Romania. I started doing research and it seemed feasible. My alpine trekking experience was rather limited but I knew my will power and motivation could supersede my lack in experience.
Watch the video and find out if I actually made it to the roof of Romania varful Moldoveanu at an altitude of 2544 meter above sea level.
Chapters:
0:00 Driving on the Transfagarasan road
01:07 Arrival at Lacul Balea
02:43 Hike from Lacul Balea to Moldoveanu
11:27 Reaching the summit of Moldoveanu
12:33 Hike from Moldoveanu to Podragu
14:45 Arrival at Podragu
17:26 Hike from Podragu to Balea
22:11 Arrival back at Lacul Balea
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For more details about all the activities I do, visit my travel blog at www.tim-tense.com
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Gear that I use:
All-round backpack: shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=136190...
Multi-day backpack: shareasale.com/u.cfm?d=730788...
Waterbottle with filter: amzn.to/3hpjDjW
Current hiking/trailrunning shoes: amzn.to/2SWeIh0
Photo/Video Camera: amzn.to/3BAslnL
All round lens: amzn.to/3rwZa09
Drone: amzn.to/3y5JCD2
Action camera: amzn.to/3hZdtHz
Copyright free music library: artlist.io/Tim-Wouter-394613
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One of my favorite videos made so far on this channel. Can you spot the letters 'MAMA' in the drone shots?
Amazing, looks exactly like Switzerland, e.g. the Grimsel and Nufenen Passes area - the rocks, the meandering road, the lake, the vegetation, everything.
Congratulations! You took the hardest route to Moldoveanu Peak, 90% of the hikers take the "Stâna lui Burnei" route, which is just 3,5 hours hike.
Oh yes I heard about it. I prefered this one as it's way more beautiful 😍
The courageous lone ranger went on another great adventure... The ridges were steep, but his spirit was strong.
Beautifully put into words! Quitting is not in my dictionary. 😍
Mă bucur că un belgian mi-a vizitat țară, mă bucur că s-a îndrăgostit de Romania, mă bucur că și-a schimbat mentalitatea față de români și față de această țară.mulțumesc că ai vizitat România ,mai vino te reașteptăm cu drag.
Cu placere. Thanks for watching 😍
Sunt si Belgieni care au devenit Roman in inima.
Wow stunning!
Hi, Tim! My memories are back with the help of your trip.
I came back in time, on Moldoveanu peak, with your help... Back in 1983...👍🤓
When I was 6 y-o, I hiked Babele Peak (the Granies/the Old women Peak), a 6 hour tour - 3 hours go and another 3 hours back to Peștera Hotel (Cave Hotel). - together with my parents, of course.
When I was 8 I hiked Scarisoara Mică and Scarisoara Mare (the Big and the Litthe Ladder) in a 8 hour trip.
When I was 10 y-o I was in a 10 hour hiking trip on Moldoveanu with my parents.
Generally I hiked only Făgăraș, Bucegi and Parâng Mountains (not Retezat where my parents were much before my birth and where there are vipers) - all these are in the Southern Capathians. I have never climbed up the Western or the Eastern Capathians, which are lower than the Southern ones.
Back in 1983, an uncle drove us (in his car) on Țuica Peak (Țuica is a traditional alcoholic drink that you tasted in Vatra Dornei - I was there too), in the middle of nowhere and let us there. My father has always traveled guiding himself with the maps and moutaineering marks/signs (there were no internet maps at that time, of course... I am speaking about '83s). We walked for about 4 hours on alpin hights. We put a tent and slept in it over night, leaving all the food outside the tent in case of meeting a bear... My father read this: it was imperative to leave the food outside, so to have a chance not to be attacked by a bear... 🤓
The second day we passed over Moldoveanu Peak, walking 10 hours until Podragu Lake.
In the 3rd day, we reached Bâlea Lac. Luckily, we met no bear.
But you "can't" meet a bear on alpin hights/peaks, only in woods, around woods (probably you know that).
When I was little, I always thought that clouds are made of wadding 🤓 and the trip over Moldoveanu showed me that clouds are just... fog, dense fog. You were lucky (or maybe helped by a usual weather forecast 🤓) to catch such a shinny weather. Moldoveanu is moreover in the clouds... Being there, you can see the Danube River, like a shinny blue ribbon and all the small cities until it. Have you seen the Danube from that distance?
And, by the way, there was a big crack in the path when you climb down Moldoveanu - I jumped over it without fear bc. I was so little and unaware of dangers... How big is now that crack in the path?
From Podragu, you can see, during the night, Victoria City like a sea of lights. Have you seen it?
During your way from Bâlea to Podragu, I saw you passed over Strunga Dracului (the Devil's Midline) - that path with chains. Have you been afraid having that abyss/precipice down-below you? Or maybe it has just increased your adrenaline...
Podragu Chalet was veryyy crowded back in 1983. Now I saw it was almost empty. We slept in one of those huts, outside the chalet, and we caught some fleas bc. the administrators didn't use to or didn't have the proper tools for cleaning the rooms, the sheets, the blankets. I didn't also sleep well at Podragu Chalet.
I am glad you saw black wild goats!
For those who wonder why some people like hiking, i can tell them from my experience that gives a feeling of freedom, peace and of dominating the nature. By hiking you can "feel" the nature and appreciate it. In the mountains the water is more sweet, it feels almost "tasty" and the air is so pure that makes you more powerful and energetic. This is the real life, not how we use to live in towns/cities.
Without a proper and previous training, nobody should try such a hiking. Usually, after such a trip, you have a "muscle fever", which is very painful, but can be reliefed with an antipyretic (paracetamol, aspiri). Despite of all pains and inconvenients (like Podragu's bad accomodation conditions), people like to come back.
For those interesting in hiking, my father rules are useful:
1. Never hike a mountain wearing sneakers, but boots. Boots prevent ankle dislocation. Additionally, the boots prevent slipping and help you during bad weather conditions.
2. You have to wear all kinds of clothes on you: ftom a T-shirt to a jacket. In mountains, the weather can suddenly change from "sunny" to "rainy". And always have a waterproof jacket on you.
3. The best weather to hike "an over-2000 m mountain" is not in June-July-August but in September-October, when the snow melted. During summer it is possible to snow.
4. Don't eat meat during long-hiking (6-10 hours a day), only cheese sandwiches and chocolate and drink only a bit of water at half an hour. Meat is hard to digest during hiking and too much water freezes the muscles. But chocolate gives you energy. After arriving at chalet you can also eat meat, of course.
5. I have always tended to sit down after a few hours of hiking but my father has never let me. He was right bc. It was very hard to get up after a few minutes of sitting down. Better to stand up while you rest.
How do you feel after 10 hours of hiking? Like after a Covid-19' illness 😂. I have now the comparison term...
After 2 hours you feel tired but still can go on.
After 4 hours you think you wanna go back but maybe you are halfway btw. the start and the finish.
After 6 hours you want to sit down and have great mucles' pain and shoulders' pain (bc.of the backpack).
After 7-8 hours you move like a robot and don't feel that your legs are yours...You move forward bc. of inertia.🤓
Good luck to all who want to start hiking! 👍🇷🇴
Hi Gabriela, thank you for taking the time for writing such a thoughtful comment. I'm honored. I must say I didn't see that crack or I have missed it. I do remember the ridge between Vista Mare and Moldoveanu was very sketchy 😅 the lights from Victoria I might have seen a bit actually. Glad I could take you back down memory lane. Thanks for watching as well!
Absolutely stunning! 😊
Looks like a great outdoor adventure with really beautiful locations, of course the summit of Moldoveanu was awesome. Thank you very much for taking us with you, I really enjoyed watching. I really appreciate the work and effort you put into your production, as I create hiking videos myself and I know how hard the work can be. Great work. Best wishes, Mario
Thanks Mario. It was a great experience to summit this peak! Hiking and filming at the same time can be a struggle sometimes but I still love it. Thanks for watching!
Nice video, Tim!
Super relaxing to watch, another great video
Thanks bro!
I really like the vlog amigo!? Great location with great views! Keep it up man! One love 🙏
Thanks, it was a great experience!
Thank you, Tim! For showing us this beautiful hike. I'm actually from Romania but i didn't had the opportunity to go to this trail. But after watching this i will definitely go, maybe not this year but the next year I'm sure i'll go.
Take care of you, bro!
You're welcome, I'm glad you liked the video. It's a beautiful hike, I would definitely recommend it!
As an avid hiker myself I must say this route is easily the best I have ever done in the 2 to 3 thousands meters range. Haters will say I'm biased because I'm romanian xD But I probably hiked more out of RO than within it, lol. I live in Madeira now and man nostalgia hits so hard when I watch this, haha.
Moldoveanu is totally worth it and yes it can be done in a day, I did it that way, but make sure to leave while it's still darkish and not take too long breaks; 30+ km of distance and about 3000m elevation gain takes a lot of time and effort. Thanks for showing this marvellous trail!
Great video Tim!
Thank you for your support!
Wonderful video 😍 Thanks. I'm about to do this hike in spring, flowers and snowy peaks
It will be wonderful, I'm sure! You will love it 😊
Great job! Thank You for what are You doing
Thank you for your support!
Great video 👍👏👏 the nature is beautiful
Perfect video, a lot of amazing view, information in right moment, Subscribe and waiting for next video
Well done my friend ... I had the pleasure to go up there too and enjoy a wonderful peak ... Congratulations ... Let us stay connected !!!👌👍🙂🗻
It was quite a cool experience 😍
I was so glad for you,.I climbed that peak with you,Tim.:))
Every step, every drop of sweat.
Even if i was in bed after a long day of work.
You are a positive,brave and strong man.
Thanks. It was pretty hard but worth it! 😍
Found your videos while searching for some hiking trails on Madeira (for a future trip) and I was pleasantly surprised to see that you have also visited Romania (I'm romanian). I've also climbed Moldoveanu but on an easier route and it is definitely one of the nicest trails from Romania (that sketchy part you mentioned is definitely quite sketchy :)) ). I find your videos informative and relaxing. Excellent cinematic drone shots! Keep up the good work!
I'm glad to hear that you like thhe videos! When are you going to Madeira? Enjoy!
Thanks! I'll be in Madeira for 10 days in August. I plan to do some of the walks and trails that you did, as they seem to be among the nicest ones.
@@vanceacata you will enjoy it. Madeira is a magical place with great hiking opportunities!
Nice job , I want to do the same route next summer, and maybe, maybe to Negoiu too 😅
Awesome! 😁👏 Congrats!
I would have liked to maybe see a bit more of the drone captures up there 😜
I have lots more but I only included the best ones 👌🏼
That's not an easy trail man, good job 💪🏼
Super 🥰
Thanks 🙏🏻
Really beautiful video 😍 i can't belive that im Romanian but haven't been there yet😅ia definitely on my bucketlist but I will need to work on my condition first. Only hiked in Durau with the highest peak something around 1900m and I was dead 😂 oh and yes, i could read the word MAMA. Someone really loves his mother
Thank you so much! I was also dead after this one but it was totally worth it 😅 I only discovered during the edit that someone wrote it there. Strange though 🤣
Great hike and great footage Tim! I plan to visit Romania this year and do some hiking there and you've totally got me with this hike. I won't miss it.
I have two questions:
1) Is the trail well marked all the way up (I saw the marks a couple of times in the video)?
2) Is it possible to camp in the tent beside the second (higher) mountain hut?
Tnx.
The trail isn't clear at all times and there are a few forks. Camping at the buts or lakes is doable. I have a full blogpost on my website if you would like more in depth info. Hope this helps!
Nice hike! Watching right now. Hope one day I'll reach Moldoveanu myself.😊 why didn't you bring trekking poles? Min 21:16 you meant actually Capra Lake, which means Goat😊, and the lower point leading back to Balea Lake, is Capra Saddle.
Hey, i was curious when you went there...which season?
Looks really cool...I love the Romanian mountains! so many amazing places and beautiful nature, scenery and I especially love the mountain smell, of ferns, rivers, trees 🌲🌲🌲...
Trip tip: I like Tușnad a lot! Sorrounded by fir tree forests, amazing clean air, thermal waters, great hikes, a vulcano and carnivore plants! One if my favourite places. And you can try the smaller yet super beautiful mountains clise to the sea, Muntii Măcin - where I saw a turtle!!! And wild peonies ...and nearby an impressive citadel, Cetatea Enisala...Delta of the Danube is also nearby there, all amazing beautiful places
Oh btw itt would be interesting to show us also the sketchy parts and the hardest parts of a trail, it helps
Great video, Tim, and be proud of what you achieved 😊 Next time please go closer to the donkeys 😜😊
Thank you very much! Hahaha, I'll get a close-up next time 😅
Another subscriber :))
Thanks for the support!
@@timtense You deserve it,Tim!
You deserve more views, leaving a comment for the algo :)
Thanks a lot! I appreciate it 😅
Great video, I am due to arrive in Romania in June to hike this mountain and set off from Balea Lake, can the trek to the summit and back be done in a whole day?
Thanks! Yes it's possible in one day if you leave really early and come back late
@@timtense Cheers brother, that's a big help
Hi Tim! As a Romanian I had no ideea this kind of hike was possible, even though i have visited Balea Lake over 5 times but just for the sheer driving pleasure and scenery. I wonder if you could tell me what the best option for a 1 day trip blast would be. I am thinking of arriving at maximum 10 AM at Balea and starting from there. Cheers! (P.S: I do run regularly so hiking around 12 kms in one go should be no problem.)
Hi there! I have a blog post (link in description of video) where I explain the whole route to Moldoveanu. You could for example follow that route for 6 km and then return. If you have the time I would suggest to go all the way to Moldoveanu but you might need 2 or 3 days then with a sleepover at chalet Podragu.
@@timtense Thank you for the quick reply. Will furtherly look into it.
Bună! Pot să-ți spun eu cum este! Am fost pe Moldoveanu o singura data, când aveam 10 ani (acum am 49). Părinții mei traiau pe atunci si ma luau cu ei pe munte! Știu câteva sfaturi de la tata și din proprie experiență. Singura problema este ca nu am nai urcat pe munte de 29 se ani, pentru ca soțul și copiii nu sunt obișnuiți cu cățăratul (mai ales soțul...). Și din cauza asta mi-am pierdut și eu antrenamentul. Dar amintirile rămân... 👍🇷🇴
Hello. I am planning solo climbing up to Moldovenau. Is it safe going solo? I mean, are there any bears?
So, was it worth it at the end? At least a bit?
It was totally worth it. Would do it again immediately!
Can't believe you did not cover your head. Sun is painful after a while 😬
Yeah, I learned it the hard way!
The Moldovan President also hiked it some months ago.
Oh really? That's cool!
🙋
Unire
💪🏼
Not bad
Thanks for watching!
20:20 what shoes do you have? to me it seems all of them are made from plastic, rubber has become a luxury
Salomon trail running shoes I use nowadays. The advantage of rubber is that it's very lightweight so it's easy to move fast. If you prefer ankle support it's better to go for boots though.
You didn't had hiking shoes.
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