I have already written about it in the past, but I suspect that there will be a number of posts about Transalpina on this blog in the following years. It’s just that beautiful !
Just go and see it !
This crossing of Transalpina was part of a Holiday to Remeber in July 2010. Stay tuned (via RSS or email ) for more posts from this trip!
After last year’s expedition I knew we had to come back for more. I have agreed with the White Wolves to make another attempt to find the way between Horezu and Curmatura Oltetului last Saturday, June 26th, 2010 AD 
There is a lot to show, but for now I will only post some unedited videos ( HD video shot with a handheld Flip Camera)
And we reached the fitfh peak over 2000m high BY CAR in the past 12 months – Nedei Peak . After that we went down to Curmatura Oltetului and stopped a bit to see the overflowing dam at Lake Petrimanu
In Ciugnetu we split into two groups. My group went to Valea Macesului and did Strategica once again da capo al fine:
We did go into a deep fog after Plaiul Poienilor, so the only shots we could take after this were at the end of Strategica, where some colleagues from other forums said there was a 4 m deep pool. We just HAD to stop and check. Razvanutza plays Moses:
There are several additional videos on my youtube channel.
I have to admit that video is not my thing, but I would also like to invite you to come back very soon (via RSS or email ) for photos from this trip into a wonderful area.
During A.D. 2009 the powers that be decided to asphalt Transalpina. Letting aside the discussions on the real (hidden) reasons, the practicality of the idea (given the fact that snow is meters high from November until May !!), what this means for us is THE END of Transalpina as we knew it.
Transalpina used to be this hidden gem of a national road, higher than Transfagarasan, but unpopulated by the famous Romanian Buffalo . It used to be a road for ‘aficionados’, for people that love the adventure and nature, beyond the love for their cars or their image. You would see Fiat Pandas, Citroen BXs, Daewo Matizes et al trying their best not to fatally hit the underparts of their cars, just to be able to enjoy the extraordinary landscapes. It was not a road for SUVs (I have not seen X5s, GLs and the likes), for manelists and barbecue eaters.
All that is gone now, with the advent of asphalt and ‘civilization’ . I have personally vouched to search for alternative roads for those who would appreciate them (there are rumors about a passage between Curmatura Oltetului and Vaideeni). But until I find them, we do still have one option in the area: the Strategic road.
Like Transalpina this was built by ‘ze Germans’ during the second World War. It is approximately 60kilometers long, on the top of the Latoritei mountains. It is perpendicular on Transalpina, which it crosses in the Saua Stefanu. That is one end of the Strategica. The other is in Valea Macesului, between Brezoi and Voineasa. This end is well hidden, as well it should be:
Where from
When you see this sign, stop the car and start looking for an un-obvious ascent into the forrest:
Hidden Gem
Hidden Gem
In my opinion this is were your adventure should start, because the first 4 kilometers are literally tough for ‘normal cars’ (non offroaders). So I’d rather have the difficult part in the beginning of the day, with gas, energy and time ahead of me. For real offroad cars, when dry, it’s a walk in the park. If rainy, it could become tricky (lateral inclination, no trees, ruts, mud, etc).
When dry, the ascent has been done with cars as ‘low’ (offroad-wise speaking) as the Audi Allroad or the Subaru Outback. They DID however struggle (had to push, burn the clutch, etc). Enough with the small talk already, let’s look at some pictures:
Plaiul Poienilor, Obstea Mosnenilor
Plaiul Poienilor, Obstea Mosnenilor
This is the reason you want to get on this road: it’s so high that you actually look DOWN on eagles:
Where eagles dare
I made an inspired “stop” :
How Land Cruisers are meant to be used
and what I mean by “Inspired Stop” is that I chose the best damn place to take this LC picture, toghether with the fact that I did actually stop 3 meters from the abyss:
View from the top
You can notice the road from Valea Macesului to the Galbenul and Petrimanul lakes on the bottom on the valley!
After this, the road is easy, clear and simple (you can make mistakes, but they are correctable: if the road disappears or becomes to difficult, you took a wrong turn )
As you can see, somebody is taking care of this road:
Clear Road
This is the biggest danger to offroad cars on this road:
Very Useful to have MT tyres
which means that there is a lot to enjoy on this road:
Busy Bee
Real Help
There are some ugly things going on in the area, like the forest clearing on the road from the lakes to Curmatura Oltetului:
Say WHAAAT?
Forest Clearing
Forest Clearing
These photos are a dedication to those who say that offroad cars disturb the environment…
Oh, since we are having a parenthesis about destruction, here’s how the Muntinu Stairs died:
Say Whaaatt, take 2
“shooting works”
If anyone is still not convinced to make this trip, I end this post with a bang (actually what I hope to be a memorable photo of the area):
What you can see
PS 1: I have to mention the fact that the road passes through two peasant yards. So you have to stop the car, get out, open the gate, pass, get back out and close the gate, so that the animals don’t get out…
PS2: if you like these photos, and trust me when I say there are more coming about beautiful and interesting places in the world, then you might want to stay tuned (via RSS or email )
Shot on the newly asphalted Transalpina 
Avensis Photo Shoot
Sunday Sept 27th I managed to gather som4 cars from Bucharest, drove to Valcea where we joined the White Wolves (with some other 10 cars) and we all ventured high up in the Capatanii Mountains. As luck would have it, the weather was on our side, so we were able to enjoy nature’s greatness and take home some wonderful mountainscapes. This kind of imeages are what makes all the efforts worthwile. The serenity stays with you for days… If you say the teaser, the wait is over!
The beauty of the Capatanii Mountains
Ridge between Ursu and Balota peaks
Mountainscape near Romani peak
Panoramic view near Romani Peak
I decided to post the scenery photos separated from the offroad specific ones, so stay tuned for the offroad pics tomorrow’s post.
All the pictures are grouped in a dedicated gallery which has the advantage of having all pictures easily accesible with no gibberish from me, BUUT it would take you an extra click to get to see the real size images and would not get all this usefull info . Be warned!
Some time ago I read in an offroading magazine about a very misterious road in Romania, competing for the title of the highest road in Romania title and beating the pants off Transfagarasan (I do have pictures from there, but not at this new level of mastery. One day I will go back and give you a proper gallery).
Transfagarasan was lamenting that it was the highest paved road, but that was simply lame. Transalpina was built by ‘ze Germans’ in 1940 and only needed cleaning ever since (unlike A1 / A2, that need repairs every year and are not by far facing the same atmospheric conditions)
This summer I was in the area and found out it had incredible potential for traveling in nature and I started searching for more info. As usual, when you need to find something, there is already a HUGE thread on Softpedia. As I read more and more I realized I needed a proper offroader to enjoy the area.
In September I got my friends at Toyota Romania to loan me a Land Cruiser 120 for this trip.
Land Cruiser 120
I called some adventurous friends that were prone to accompany me on such a trip and they agreed. Turns out they were much nuttier than I was – they did the Transalpina with a Fiat Panda!!
NUTS
Transalpina, or the National Road (DN) 67C goes from Novaci to Sebes. However, the ‘real deal’ is between Ranca and Obarsiile Lotrului, a 31 km long portion with no asphalt at all, 1.5 cars wide, with breathtaking landscapes surrounding the road.Yep, that means one could easily fall off the ‘road’ and into the ‘ladscape’
Transalpina Preview
We took two days for the trip. The first day we visited the Arnota and Tismana monasteries and fruitlessly tried to visit the Bat’s Cave at the Bistrita Monastery.The cave was closed because ‘The Holy One came today’ (‘azi a venit Preasfintitul’)!!
Arnota Monastery
Autumn Leaves at Arnota
Arnota Monastery is a very beautiful secluded monastery atop a quarry. I visited it in the summer with the Avensis, you can easily go and you will not regret it.
At Tismana we found some very unfriendly nuns and a monastery that, in my opinion, did not leave up to it’s name.
I went to Tismana and all I got was this lousy shot.
Next day, because of a rally, the road between Novaci and Ranca was closed. Fortuantely I had read about that the night before we left on the National Roads Administration Website and we did not waste any time going to Novaci.
So, we chose to start the trip in Polovragi, near the cave, to climb up to 1600m to Curmatura Oltetului,
Real Blackberries in the forest towards Curmatura Oltetului
Pilgrim, Quench thy Thirst - Romanian hospitality even in the middle of the forest, at a mountain spring
Last Meters before Curmatura Oltetului - Emerging from the forest.
Curmatura Oltetului
Curmatura Oltetului
and then to descend to the Galbenul and Petrimanu lakes.
Galbenul Lake
Petrimanu Lake
From there we took the Latorita Gorge (Cheile Latoritei) to go to Ciungetu,
Latorita River
The Bridge over the River Latorita
then asphalt to Voineasa and Obarsiile Lotrului.
Colorful Tree between Ciungetu and Voineasa
Obarsiile Lotrului is where Transalpina changes character. The Obarsia – Sebes part is long and nice, but doesn’t come close in spectacularity or danger to the Ranca-Obarsia part:
Transalpina
This part of the road is ‘closed’ in order to keep neophytes out.
Of course no ‘hardcore’ explorer stops at a ‘Road Closed’ sign, nor is he deterred that there is no bridge and that he has to go through the river to access this road.
And wonderful sights await for the brave:
Transalpina
Transalpina
Transalpina
Very early on the road we found the famous aquapark, took some 5 minutes for fun:
Don't worry, I tested the water with a stick first (to be sure there are no big rocks underneath!)
And then proceeded along for more breathtaking scenery:
Told you this was a National Road - Red Caps on the markings!
Transalpina
Transalpina
Transalpina
Transalpina
Transalpina Dramatic Landscape
As the clouds were faster moving than us, we left these old shepherds and their cute little humongous and dangerous dogs behind and headed for the most difficult part of the road.
Passing the Shepherds
The most difficult part of the road is by far Muntinu: a steep, stairlike ascend. That’s if you come from Ranca. We were going to Ranca so it was a steep descent for us:
On the Top of Muntinu- Victor's View
Behold Muntinu! Told you it was steep and stairlike?
Muntinu Ascend - more dangers exposed
Muntinu Complete View - fisheye effect from 3 shots
Muntinu Extended View - I tried to capture the GREATNESS of this area using 13 shots
The Unseen Muntinu - The steep dangerous ascend gets all the headlines, but the 'wrong' side of Muntinu is also home to an exhilarating view.
After Muntinu everything seems quiet, but there is more: Pasul Urdele – 2140 meters high:
How to make a name for yourself when you are a road.
And still some great landscapes:
Transalpina - One more View
Headed home:
Neally Dunn
We reached Ranca around 1900 GMT+2, after some 9 hours in which we traveled roughly 130 km, but some 50-60 of those were on asphalt.
Victorious Bastard
All the pictures are grouped in a dedicated gallery which has the advantage of having all pictures easily accesible with no gibberish from me, BUUT it would take you an extra click to get to see the real size images.
Bear in mind that the web makes some of these pictures no justice: all the squeezed photos are huge panoramas in print, going up to 100cm wide @ 300ppi (true photo quality)
Remember: every time you see a picture, if you click on it, you will get a larger version! Click twice – twice as large
