This summer I went several times to the mountain and camped around Padina every time. The Bucegi Mountains are special to me, and in Padina the time seems to be expanding. Every time I come
This summer I went several times to the mountain and camped around Padina every time. The Bucegi Mountains are special to me, and in Padina the time seems to be expanding. Every time I come here I manage to relax and charge with positive energy. For me, Padina is like a place of worship, an ancient temple, in which I find myself and retreat every time.
Although I have been here countless times, I have never been to the Horoabei Valley. The truth is that it is a less known and unmarked route, but extremely spectacular.
Before you go on the road, dear traveler, I inform you that the route through the Horoabei Gorge is an unmarked route, and on the way you will meet some jumps that you must climb. I also recommend that you have waterproof equipment, because you will often pass through the water line, and in some periods in the canyon there is a lot of water. The area is quite wild, and is often frequented by bears.
Starting from the Padina chalet, you walk about 10 minutes on the road to Ialomiţa Cave, until you find a wooden sign on the edge of the road, indicating the beginning of the Valley. The trail starts smoothly through the forest, but will continue shortly with a sustained ascent. The path is not very clear, but as a general rule you will keep the water course on your right side, even if the path is still distant in some places.
The scenery is quite wild, but a few waterfalls will attract particular attention, through the steep heights and the hum of crystal clear water, which flows rapidly down the valley through the cold cliffs.
Don’t forget to keep the river always to your right. Adrenaline starts to increase with the inclination of the slope, and soon you will reach the first part with chains. From here the beauty of the landscape will catch you.
On your way you will meet two arches, dug by water in the rock, under which you will pass. At the exit of the second arcade awaits the natural hydrological monument – Izbucul din Horoaba. Izbuc – is a water source with intermittent flow that forms in the karst regions and operates on the principle of the siphon. You will cross the stream and continue on the other side of the water.
Shortly before you, the Ponorul din Horoaba will appear, great and cold, intimidating and spectacular. Ponor is a form of relief from the karst regions, or micro-depression, through which surface waters flow underground. For me it was the most spectacular part of the route. You will encounter heavier sections, where metal ladders have been mounted, to facilitate advancement. On rainy days or spring after the snow melts, you will have plenty of water in the canyon. Always follow the weather forecast before going on such a road.
Once out of the canyon, you will reach the valley of a river, now dried up, which has left behind boulders and extremely dense vegetation. The trail is not visible, but you have no way to go astray. Just follow the course of the valley.
Then follow a portion with the juniper tree, extremely beautiful and green, where you will go mostly through a small brook. Then you can take a break at the spring, rest and fill your bottles with water. The spring is impressive: from the steep rock it plunges into a light rain, as if the cold stone would cry with small tears, rolling over the green moss, the purest water, cold as December.
From here the valley widens. After another more intense climb, you will follow the Strunga Saddle to Padina Chalet.
And since not even the most impressive adjectives could describe the beauty of this valley, I leave you a video below.
