Route: Buşteni (885m) - Valea Jepilor - Cabana Caraiman (2025m)
Altitude difference: 1140 m
Dificulty: Medium to Hard
Duration: 4 - 4 ½ h
CAUTION: Make noise as you walk through the forest as there are a lot of bears in the area that are used to humans.
I started trekking from the cable car station in Busteni, with the destination Caraiman Chalet. The altitude difference between the two points is one thousand one hundred and forty meters.
The beginning of the trail has several signs, warning tourists that the area is frequented by bears.
No matter, I started making some noise and enjoyed the gentile caress of morning sun that infiltrated the thick canopy of the forest .
At 1,100 meters altitude, the first cables appear on the trail. They seem to be more of a preview for what`s to come.
Sporadicly, a stream of water passes through the trail meandering among giant boulders.
As I moved forward, my eyes ware enchanted by the vivid colors of spontaneous flora.
Along with the flora the fauna started appearing from behind thick patchs of vegetation. The chamois didn’t seem to be disturbed by my presence or my poor imitation of a bear.
After she got bored, I moved on but trail seemed to have been engulfed by a giant snowball. After a short scrambling session on the rocky terrain, I started hearing the echo a waterfall. Not far away I had my first view of Caraiman Waterfall located at one thousand seven hundred meters. Its also Ghost Falls, due to its almost invisible flow during the torrid summer months.
As I leave behind the shelter of the forest, the slope becomes steeper and the cables make their way into the scenery regularly. These cables insure additional security in exposed areas, but most of these passages can be crossed without the help of cables, especially in sunny days when the terrain is dry.
After almost 4 hours of climbing, I reached Caraiman Chalet, where I was welcomed by a herd of furry acrobats.
Jepii Mici is a route that requires a good physical condition, adequate equipment and great attention in approaching the exposed areas, but the spectacular views and wildlife made the trek worthwhile.
13 окт 2024
