Hiking day in the Postăvaru Massif

Hiking day in the Postăvaru Massif: lets shoot some photos! 

My friends and I have been in many hiking trips before, but the goal of today’s excursion is to finally have a photography trip while hiking on snow in the Postăvaru Massif, so let’s hope that we won’t rush to the mountain peak this time.

We wanted to embark on this hiking trip during the New Year’s days, but back then the roads and the mountain resorts were all too crowded and full with tourists, so we decided to delay the excursion till today so we won’t have problems with such things like finding train tickets, get in stuck in traffic or being surrounded by too many people on the trails.

Getting the train from Ploiesti Vest, delayed as usual!

The train is finally empty, but delayed! We start in Ploiești Vest with a region train that was supposed to departure at 4.43 AM but it is a couple of minutes delayed, which is not a surprise for the Romanian train system. Nevertheless, we get in the train and in approximately 2 hours we are in Brașov.

How much costs a train ticket?

The train ticket is free for students, but for non-students one journey from Ploiești to Brașov costs 15 lei meaning 3,10 euros. The price is for the regio train which is cheaper and slower. 

Arriving in Brașov: getting the bus tickets 

At 7 AM we arrive in Brașov railway station and the first action that we have to do is to find storage lockers for the extra things we carry with us like laptops, chargers and cables.

We get out of the train station in a cold snowed foggy city. In front of the station there is a ticket office from where we buy tickets, ones to get in the inner city which costs 5 lei for 2 trips - meaning 1 euro and something – and other ones for travelling outside the city of Brasov, in Poiana Brașov, that cost 6 lei – 1,25 euros – for one journey.

But first we need to solve the heavy luggage problem!Where are the good luggage storage in Brașov?

One day in advance, one of my friends looked up on the internet about a storage place where we could leave our “unwanted” things and she has found a luggage storage on Nicolae Bălcescu street at the number 62.

Thus, we go there first by taking the bus number 4, from the bus station in front of the railway station, and then take off at Livada Poștei station. From here we have to walk for about 10 minutes on Bulevardul Eroilor street until we reach the red metallic lockers.

How much it costs to storage your things in here?

To leave the luggage in a small locker costs 25 lei ( 5,20 euros ) per day – 24 hours – on another hand, for large or long luggage like skies, a big locker costs 45 lei ( 9,45 euros) also per day.

Do we recommend traveller to use this place for storage?

We only have a backpack full of electronics, so a smaller container is enough for us. The locker system is all automatic, the process is quite fast and also easy. Ultimately, we do recommend the travellers who are visiting the city of Brașov and have extra uncomfortable luggage that they don’t want to carry all day, to use this storage because, from experience,( when we got back from hiking we have found everything inside ) is a safe place and I guess there is no possibility that somebody will break these metallic lockers.

We are not so sure about the ones located in the train station...

Before coming here, we also asked in the railway station for a storage place and we discovered one inside of the station, but there was nobody answering the bell because the schedule was supposed to begin at 7.30 AM and we were there just a bit earlier.

Plus, the luggage storage situated in Brașov train station looked kind of shady and not so trust worthy, we didn’t see any lockers, just a room. Indeed, the price was so much lower, like 5 lei for one day, but I am not entirely sure if it is as safer as the storage cabinets we used because these had a disclaimer saying that they are not responsible for the loss of goods such as electronics and this fact convinced us not to leave our stuff here.

How to get from Brașov to Poiana Brașov?

After getting rid of the heavy things we have on us, we get back in Livada Poștei station by walking back the Eroilor Boulevard because from here we need to take the bus number 20 which is leading us to the Poiana Brașov mountain resort.

We reach  the station and a bus just comes as we arrive, but there are so many people getting in it! The bus is literally full with skiers and snowboarders who are also carring their bulky equipment, thus there is no space for us or for some of the other humans wanting to take this car. One thing is clear, on a Saturday morning the citizens of Brașov must practise their beloved winter sports. 

We have to wait for the following bus which luckly do not delay to appear quite fast. We guess they are aware of the high amount of tourists these days by supplementing the number of buses, which is, of course, a very helpful thing for all the visitors. The bus we take is not so crowded as the other one was, so we can get in. The journey from Livada Poștei station to Poiana Brașov last approximately 20 minutes and gets us out of the city, passing through forests and then into the mountains. 

What activities people can do in Poiana Brașov?

Here we are in Poiana Brașov searching for the entrance of the hiking trail we are just about to follow. If people are not in this place for hiking they can do plenty of other activities especially in the winter time among which are skiing, snowboarding, sledding, tubing, skating, going up the mountain by using either the cable car, the gondola or the chairlift, eating traditional street food, drinking mulled wine or shopping for souvenirs.

Following the red cross hiking route to the to the top of the mountain: a slippery start

When it comes to us, we are here for hiking. After we get out of the bus, we are looking for the indicator which would lead our direction towards the forest and up in the mountains.

Today we will be guided by the red cross in our aim to reach the Postăvaru Hut and the Postăvaru peak. It is 9.00 AM and the indicator announces us that it will take 1 hour and 30 minutes to get to the hut and 2 hours and other 30 minutes to climb the highest peak of the massif. Now, we are not sure if the time mentioned is according to the summer or winter conditions, but we are about to find out.

We enter the trail passing the sled and tubing part and, in the beginning, the ground is extremely slippery being covered with ice, so we have to pay extra attention. The red cross introduces us into the forest leaving behind the streets of Poiana Brașov resort. Here, again, the path is very beaten – probably by the many tourists who have passed during the days of the winter holidays -, thus, also slippery and coated with frozen snow like ice. Slowly we manage to embrace this fragment of the footpath.

It feels so good and pleasurable to breath the cold crispy air of the forest!

Finding other two tourist indicators

After 10 minutes of walking, we find two different markings, an yellow triangle and a blue dot. The first one leads to the Postăvaru Hut and the second one to a cave called "Peștera de lapte" - "Milk Cave". 

A couple of years ago, when I had been in another hiking day among these mountains, I have followed the yellow triangle and got to the top of the massif, but I remember that the pathway was quite steep and tiring, so in the winter period, climbing it would have been even harder, that’s why we continue on the red cross.

Stumbling across the first slope: what do we do?

As we are hiking, taking photos and talking, we stumble across the first ski slope which we would have to traverse in order not to deviate from the route. The problem is that there are many skiers coming down the slope almost at all times, but we wait for the perfect moment to come and, when slope is empty, we rush our feet carefullyand manage to get to the other side of it.

In another train of thoughts, seeing the skiers descending the slope is very fascinatingfor us who do not practice the sport. They make skiing look so easy even if we are sure it is not.

Very soon, we notice the red cross mark we are guided by being placed on a tree positioned on the other side of what seems to be the second slope we would have to cross in order to continue on our pathway. So, once more we watch until the route is clear and safe to go over and we pervade it quickly.

The Wolf's cliff point and how about a bit of rest 

The forest appears afresh and its path runs beautifully through the coniferous green tress contrasting with the white snow. We walk, talk, shoot. The next point we encounter is called "prăpastia lupului" translated us "The Wolf"s cliff", a place where are formed some tall rocks creating a steep kind of spectacular cliff.

Because here is also arranged a resting spot with wooden benches, we decide to stop for a little, catch our breath, drink some water and have a few sweet snacks.

After a moment, the energy is back and up, thus we pursue forward on the track.

Watching the skiers and the snowboarders

We hike for a bit and get to some sort of panorama over the ski slope where we spend time watching the skiers and snowboarders doing their best moves. We are still amazed by how people can practice such sports.

Keeping the path ahead, the climb becomes steeper and, as we get higher in altitude, the landscapes opening up over the surrounding mountains are starting to appear pleasing our eyes and getting us excited to proceed on.

Over again, we have to pass across the third ski slope and, this time, there are so many skiers descending it and we have to wait a few more minutes until there is a free safe way to go through. In addition, the red cross marking puts us to climb a part with wooden stairs covered by frozen snow which seems to be a bit difficult to climb, but with small steps, we get through.

Seeing the Piatra Craiului Mountains

We are even higher now and the spectacular “wow” sceneries don’t delay to appear improving our mood and forcing us, in a good way of course, to stop many moments for doing the thing we are actually here for and that’s photographing.

Far in the distance we can see, raising up over the clouds, the "Piatra Craiului" massif. What a beautiful mountain! We are lucky regarding the weather because the sky is crystal clear and has a calming blue color.

The footpath leading up 

What follows this wonderful view is as well the most picturesque side of the entire hiking trail. The sun is strongly shining through the trees among which the footpath goes smooth and winding.

On the right side of the pathway continues a ski slope and we observe that here is placed the chairlift which is used now mostly by the skiers to go up the mountain slope. A thought comes in our mind to go down the mountain via the chairlift because it shows like an entertaining activity that offers amazing views but just takes a bit of courage, so maybe we will do that.

We climb more and again have to cross the ski slope. We manage to do it and the red cross leads us on the underside of the chairlift. There is a big cloud like thing covering the hills and separating from the blue sky and we keep wondering what’s that, just a large cloud or pollution?

The frozen little details of nature

The upcoming fragment of the hiking trail meets the slope in the right side and climbs very steep through the forest, but, at the same time, we are given the opportunity to see a weird but stunning natural phenomenon: the fir trees are coated in small delicate ice bitswhich make them appear as if they have been decorated.

The little details belonging to the vegetation always are to look for during a hiking trip amongst forests of any kind.

The confusing intersection of all pathways

This is maybe the steepest section of the climb but in the offing we encounter many tourist indicators showing information and guiding about all the hiking trails which are intersecting in this exact same spot.

If you are just starting with trekking, in an instance, it may be confusing to see all of these markings, but just read them with patience and clearness and for getting to know more about the Romanian hiking symbols, this article might introduce you into that: Worth seeing places in Romania: The mountains

Finally, here is the Postavaru Hut!

The red cross which we have been following since morning time, notifies us that the Postavaru Hut is basically just around the corner, at a distance of 300 meters translated in 15 minutes of walkingand that’s very good news because is getting kind of late, anyway, how beautifully shines the sun through the frozen leaves of the fir trees.

Seeing the Piatra Craiului and the Bucegi Mountains 

Suddenly, still going up the steep forest, we start to see the construction of the Postavaru Hut. Yeah! We are finally here! However, we are not actually looking at the hut, but, instead, opposite of it where the views over the surrounding mountains are such astounding. Now, the Piatra Craiului mountain is totally visible dominating the front sight from the Cabana SKV Postavaru.

On the right side of the hut, there are other large mountains raising up above the clouds and the fir trees, namely the snowy Bucegi Mountains. Initially, our plan was to take a break at the hut for having a warm soup and a bit of rest, but now there are so many people here who have thought like us and are enjoying foods and drinks here.

Being at an altitude of 1604 meters and in the middle of many people

Practically, from the silence of the forest, where there was no one on the trail, only we, we find ourselves in the middle of a lot of people and we feel like we have stumbled across a ski conference because the skiers and their equipment are everywhere around the Postavaru Hut, we have to pay attention to not be hit by any skis.

Thus, because the place is very crowded, we change the plan and stay around the hut just to take lots of pictures over the mountains surrounding us at that moment.

Moving forward to the Postavaru peak

We feel kind of uncomfortable among these people and after we take lots of photographs, we decide to continue the hike by following our guide, the red cross. An indicator tells us that the Postavaru peak is at a hour distance from the hut. The aim is to go there and then descend the mountain by taking the gondola.

The pathway leads us besides the slope and at one point entrances into the forest, but the frozen thick layer of snow is creating problems, slowing down our walking very much. When we sink into the softer snow, it gets to our knees.

Reaching the gondola

Eventually, climbing at a slow pace, we reach the gondola where, again, there are so many people which seem to appear from nowhere! Besides a few people, we were the only persons on the hiking trail today. Is it clear that they came here by using one of the three faster available ways that exist in the mountain: the cable car, the gondola or the chairlift.

From the gondola we can see the Postavaru peak too, but early on our arrival is covered by a thick fog and, thus, unfortunately, we get to admire the top of the mountain just for a brief moment.

We can't climb the Postavaru peak today...

Because is kind of late and, at the same time we figure out that from here is difficult to continue on the footpath due to the slope which is now literally placed on the hiking trail, we decide not to climb the highest peak, but, instead, to stay for a couple of minutes around the place and admire more the views and than to descend the mountain by taking the gondola.

Although we don’t reach the Postavaru peak, our hiking day is still a success because our purpose was from the beginning to go out in nature on a footpath, breath the fresh wintery air and photograph the beautiful surroundings we were encountering.

We choose to do like so owed to the fact that soon there will be no daylight anymore. Earlier, as we were climbing, we come to the conclusion that it would be quite difficult and dangerous for us to get down on the same path which was already slippery as we got up meaning that the other way around would have been even more slippery. To get down the footpath safely we would need to have spikes attached to our mountain boots.

Going back in Poiana Brasov in less then 10 minutes

We take one last breath of the clean crispy air and then we get into the gondola. Going down with it happens to be a very funny experience just for two of us because one of my friends is extremely terrified of it. Is intriguing how we got to the top of the mountain in many hours and now we are going down in not more than 10 minutes! Is that fair?

We are back in Poiana Brasov and the mountain resort is full with tourists of any kind. The silence of the forest is gone and we have to say goodbye to the Postavaru Massif, it has been a pleasure to be on its amazing pathway.

We consider that is better to go back in the city of Brasov for having something to eat because here, for sure, the restaurants would have been crowded and maybe overprized as well.

Back in the city of Brasov: let's have some pizza!

From the gondola, we walk straight to the bus station where a bus is just about depart, but is literally full packed with people, so, again, there is not enough space to get in anymore. We have to wait until the next one comes. Fortunately, we don’t have to expect too much for the following one to arrive. In 20 minutes we are back in Brasov and head towards a pizza place we have been to before.

The restaurant is called “Ando’s” and is not something fancy, but most like budget friendly type. I ask my friends to go here because last time I had a delicious plant based pizza that I really wanted to eat again, but, mournfully, this time their vegan pizza is acceptable because I am starving after an entire day of hiking, but no as satisfying and good as I remembered it to be. The employees are nice and the atmosphere too, thus we don’t like the food that much and we are questioning if next time we will choose to go here.

The "Astra Trans Carpatic" private train company

After the meal, we rush to catch a bus and get to the railway station for a train which departs in a couple of minutes. On the bright side, we manage to catch the train which, by the way, belongs to a private company named “Astra Trans Carpatic”, on the other side, we can seat down only for a short period of time because the train is completely booked starting with the mountain resorts of Prahova Valley and our seats are taken by those who have reserved the tickets in advance.

Speaking of  “Astra Trans Carpatic”, when it comes to their policy, people can buy tickets from the train controller without paying extra fees for doing like so, but if the train is too crowded, they will not accept passengers who don’t have a reservation of the ticket in advance.

When everyone arrives at their home, the hiking day has ultimately come to an end. 

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