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  • TREKKING IN SW CARPATHIANS – MEHEDINTI MOUNTAINS AND RETEZAT MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
  • DAY 4. BUTA CHALET (1580M) – BUCURA LAKE – PELEAGA PEAK (2509) – PAPUSA RIDGE – BUTA CHALET (1580M) DURATION: 10-12 HRS; LENGTH: 12 KM; CLIMB: 1200 M, DESCEND: 1200 M.
Day 4. Buta Chalet (1580m) – Bucura Lake – Peleaga Peak (2509) – Papusa Ridge – Buta Chalet (1580m) Duration: 10-12 hrs; length: 12 km; climb: 1200 m, descend: 1200 m.

The day is quite difficult because of the big degree of height climbed, and then the main ridge with peaks over at 2300-2500 m will challenges your physical capabilities.

The alleged route introduces us in the wonderful world of Retezat Mountains up to the highest peaks.  We do first the hike on Papusa Mountain for about 300m. Over the ridge the main side peaks will be revealed in their splendor. Crested and lofty summits, covered place to place with alpine shrubs, fashioned by glaciers who modeled the unmistakable “U” shape of the valleys unfold to us; the glacier circus presents crystalline and cold lakes that have a layer of mountain flowers on the shores. We descend from Papusa ridge to the wide open valley of Lapusnicul Mare river. From here we take one tributary of the main river, Bucura valley uphill to the top. Several glacier lakes having girl names as Lia, Ana, Viorica, Florica make us to take few breaks on the way to the summit and enjoy the wild scenery. We pass nearby the biggest glacier lake from Romania, Bucura Lake, with a surface of 9 ha and then a final steep ascent takes us on the highest top of Retezat Mounatins, Peleaga peak at 2509 m.  From here we have a spectacular 360 degrees panoramic view over the entire complex of mountains from SW Romania. The trail continues then with few uphill and downhill variations following the summit ridge to East and South; we are going round Peleaga glacier valley, then downhill gradually on Papusa Mountain until the chalet we left this morning.

Accommodation in 2* Mountain Chalet.