Când a ajuns la Universitatea de Vară de la Izvoru Mureșului, Sabin a zis: "Suntem înconjurați de munți. Trebuie să reușim să facem măcar un traseu zilele astea. Știu eu un loc fain, unde am fost acum câțiva ani. M-a prins ploaia și am mers nuștiu câte ore pe jos, dar cu mașina ajungem repede. E Piatra Singuratică, lângă Bălan".
Suna excelent planul, așa că într-o dimineață, cu Emilia, Marcela, Irina din Bălți și Irina de la Chișinău, am pornit spre traseu. De la Izvoru Mureșului până în orășelul Bălan am făcut o jumătate de oră. Lângă biserica din centru erau marcate traseele din zonă și unul duce la Piatra Singuratică. De acolo, se merge pe un drum de asflat și apoi de pământ până la marginea orașului de unde începe efectiv traseul.
When I arrived at the Izvoru Mureșului Summer University, Sabin said: "We are surrounded by mountains. We must succeed in getting away and climbing a mountains at least once this week. I know a nice place, I went there a few years ago. It rained buckets and had to go on foot for hours, but now we have a car and we can reach it fast. It's calles the Lonely Rock, it's near Bălan".
It sounded like an excellent plan, so one morning, with Emilia, Marcela, Irina from Bălți and Irina from Chișinău, we went for it. We reached Bălan from Izvoru Mureșului in half an hour. Near the chuch in the center of the town there is a panel with the trails that lead to the Lonely Rock and other destinations. Then there is a dirt road leading to the edge of the town, where the trail effectively begins.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Suna excelent planul, așa că într-o dimineață, cu Emilia, Marcela, Irina din Bălți și Irina de la Chișinău, am pornit spre traseu. De la Izvoru Mureșului până în orășelul Bălan am făcut o jumătate de oră. Lângă biserica din centru erau marcate traseele din zonă și unul duce la Piatra Singuratică. De acolo, se merge pe un drum de asflat și apoi de pământ până la marginea orașului de unde începe efectiv traseul.
When I arrived at the Izvoru Mureșului Summer University, Sabin said: "We are surrounded by mountains. We must succeed in getting away and climbing a mountains at least once this week. I know a nice place, I went there a few years ago. It rained buckets and had to go on foot for hours, but now we have a car and we can reach it fast. It's calles the Lonely Rock, it's near Bălan".
It sounded like an excellent plan, so one morning, with Emilia, Marcela, Irina from Bălți and Irina from Chișinău, we went for it. We reached Bălan from Izvoru Mureșului in half an hour. Near the chuch in the center of the town there is a panel with the trails that lead to the Lonely Rock and other destinations. Then there is a dirt road leading to the edge of the town, where the trail effectively begins.
Al doilea panou, la pornirea traseului, la intrarea în pădure. Eram în Parcul Național Cheile Bicazului - Hășmaș. Pe panou distanța din Bălan la Piatra Singuratică e marcată 2 ore, iar mai departe pe vârful Hășmașul Mare, încă o oră și jumătate.
There is a second panel, at the start of the trail. We were in the Cheile Bicazului - Hășmaș National Park (Bicaz Gorge and Hășmaș Mountains). On the panel, the distance between Bălan and the Lonely Rock is marked 2 hours and then further to Hășmașul Mare peak another hour and a half.
There is a second panel, at the start of the trail. We were in the Cheile Bicazului - Hășmaș National Park (Bicaz Gorge and Hășmaș Mountains). On the panel, the distance between Bălan and the Lonely Rock is marked 2 hours and then further to Hășmașul Mare peak another hour and a half.
Biodiversitatea din Parcul Național Cheile Bicazului - Hășmaș, desemnat sit Natura 2000.
Biodiversity in Cheile Bicazului - Hășmaș National Park, a Nature 2000 site.
Biodiversity in Cheile Bicazului - Hășmaș National Park, a Nature 2000 site.
Am pornit urcușul. Prima parte este prin pădure și este destul de abrupt. Fetele nu prea erau obișnuite, unele dintre ele nu mai fuseseră la munte: altitudinea maximă în Republica Moldova este puțin peste 300 de metri. La un moment dat se întrebau dacă sunt astfel de urcușuri în republică, poate la Orhei sau la Saharna, opinau ele. "Nu", am tranșat eu. Am fost la Orhei și la Saharnași nu se compară: acolo e un delușor sau o stâncă pe malul Nistrului, care nu se pot compara cu Munții Carpați, unde ne aflam noi. Încă o dată reiese că unirea înseamnă muntele, înseamnă marea.
We started the climb. The first part is in the forest and it is quite steep. The girls were not so used to steep paths, some of them had never been on a mountain before. In the Republic of Moldova, the terrain climbs only as far as around 300 meters. They were discussing if there are such climbs in the republic, maybe at Orhei or Saharna, they thought. "No", I said resolutely. I have been at Orhei and Saharna and it doesn't compare: one is a hill, the other a rock on the banks of the Dniestr, they cannot compare to the Carpathian Mountains, where we were then. Once again it is clear the the Union means mountains and sea.
We started the climb. The first part is in the forest and it is quite steep. The girls were not so used to steep paths, some of them had never been on a mountain before. In the Republic of Moldova, the terrain climbs only as far as around 300 meters. They were discussing if there are such climbs in the republic, maybe at Orhei or Saharna, they thought. "No", I said resolutely. I have been at Orhei and Saharna and it doesn't compare: one is a hill, the other a rock on the banks of the Dniestr, they cannot compare to the Carpathian Mountains, where we were then. Once again it is clear the the Union means mountains and sea.
După ceva efort, am ajuns la prima poieniță, de unde se vedeau valea și vârful Ecem (1707m).
After some effort, we reached the first clearing, from where we could see Ecem peak (1707m).
After some effort, we reached the first clearing, from where we could see Ecem peak (1707m).
Marcaj bilingv pe cărare, spre alt traseu.
Bilingual sign on a path, leading to another trail.
Bilingual sign on a path, leading to another trail.
La ieșirea din pădure, spre poiana cabanei Piatra Singurarică.
After having crossed the forest, we reached the meadow of the Lonely Rock.
After having crossed the forest, we reached the meadow of the Lonely Rock.
Și am ajuns! Aceasta este cabana Piatra Singuratică, fără mai nimic de-ale gurii și un cabanier nu prea prietenos. În fundal, mândra stâncă numită Piatra Singuratică. Mie îmi pare că sunt mai mult care-și țin de urât, dar ăsta-i numele.
And we're there! This is the Lonely Rock cabin; unfortunately there was nothing to eat there, and the chalet worker was not very friendly. In the background, the mighty Lonely Rock. To me it looked like there were several rocks clustered together, but that's the name.
And we're there! This is the Lonely Rock cabin; unfortunately there was nothing to eat there, and the chalet worker was not very friendly. In the background, the mighty Lonely Rock. To me it looked like there were several rocks clustered together, but that's the name.
După un pâlc de copaci este o poieniță pe un delușor de unde se poate admira stânca fără a vedea și cabana.
Behind a tree grove there is a meadow on a hill from where you can admire the rock without having the chalet in your view.
Behind a tree grove there is a meadow on a hill from where you can admire the rock without having the chalet in your view.
Este un loc excelent pentru poze. Sabin s-a ocupat de ședințele foto individuale și de grup. :)
It was an excellent spot for pictures and Sabin obliged and took several of us. :)
It was an excellent spot for pictures and Sabin obliged and took several of us. :)
Mai departe, Sabin ne-a explicat faptul că se poate urca pe vârful Pietrei Singuratice, fiind amenajate lanțuri care permit cățărarea. De jos nu prea pare posibil, dar eu și Marcela ne încumetăm să-l urmăm. E un vers de la formația U2: "It's not hill, it's a mountain, as you start out the climb. Do you believe me, or are you doubting..." etc. :)
Next, Sabin explained that there is a path to the summit of the Lonely Rock, with steel cables to help the climbers. It looked almost imposible to climb the rock, from where we stood, but Marcela and I dared to follow him. You know the U2 verse: "It's not hill, it's a mountain, as you start out the climb. Do you believe me, or are you doubting..." etc. :)
Next, Sabin explained that there is a path to the summit of the Lonely Rock, with steel cables to help the climbers. It looked almost imposible to climb the rock, from where we stood, but Marcela and I dared to follow him. You know the U2 verse: "It's not hill, it's a mountain, as you start out the climb. Do you believe me, or are you doubting..." etc. :)
Din nou urcuș, întâi pe o pantă cu grohotiș, apoi pe un horn.
We climb again, first on a side with debris, then on a chimney.
We climb again, first on a side with debris, then on a chimney.
Foarte repede încep porțiunile cu lanțuri, care se continuă până în vârf.
We quickly reach the section equipped with steel cables, which go all the way to the top.
We quickly reach the section equipped with steel cables, which go all the way to the top.
Stâncile sunt aspre iar priveliștea taie răsuflarea.
The rocks are coarse and the view breathtaking.
The rocks are coarse and the view breathtaking.
Totuși, urcușul nu e așa greu pe cât părea de jos: lanțurile sunt în stare excelentă și există scobituri unde se pot pune picioarele, ca pe o scară.
However, the climb is not as hard as it seems from below. The steel cables offer a very good grip and there are places on the rock where you can place your feet, like on a ladder.
However, the climb is not as hard as it seems from below. The steel cables offer a very good grip and there are places on the rock where you can place your feet, like on a ladder.
În jurul nostru stâncile se ascut: aproape am ajuns!
The rocks are getting narrower as we climb: we almost made it!
The rocks are getting narrower as we climb: we almost made it!
Un alt grup coboară pe unde noi tocmai am urcat.
Another group is descending the way we came.
Another group is descending the way we came.
Grupul, pe vârf.
Us, on top.
Us, on top.
De acolo venim! Expediția a meritat: în premieră am făcut un traseu cu lanțuri, ce-i drept nu prea greu, dar totuși, ceva nou. Pe deasupra, eram pentru prima dată pe munte anul acesta, vorba lui Sabin "pe munte", nu "la munte". Mi-am reamintit cât de faină e trăirea de a contempla un orizont vast de jur împrejur, cum numai la munte se poate și de plăcerea acelui efort care duce la satisfacția de a fi depășit un obstacol. A urca pe munte înseamnă și a te depăși cu fiecare traseu mai lung sau mai dificil făcut.
That's where we came from! The excursion was worth it: I climbed on steel cables for the first time in my life, even if there was not much difficulty. On top of that, I was for the first time on a mountain this year and I really missed it. I remembered how good it feels to be way up high, contemplating a vast horizon all around, admiring a view only a summit can offer. I also remembered how good it felt to put an effort to overcome an obstacle and to succeed. Climbing a mountain offers us exactly that opportunity to push back our own limits.
That's where we came from! The excursion was worth it: I climbed on steel cables for the first time in my life, even if there was not much difficulty. On top of that, I was for the first time on a mountain this year and I really missed it. I remembered how good it feels to be way up high, contemplating a vast horizon all around, admiring a view only a summit can offer. I also remembered how good it felt to put an effort to overcome an obstacle and to succeed. Climbing a mountain offers us exactly that opportunity to push back our own limits.
Eram la 1587 de metri altitudine. Lângă noi, vârful Hășmașul Mare culmină la 1792 de metri.
We were at 1587 meters. Near us, the Hășmașul Mare peak rises to 1792 meters.
We were at 1587 meters. Near us, the Hășmașul Mare peak rises to 1792 meters.
Vârful Hășmașul Mare
Hășmașul Mare peak
Hășmașul Mare peak
Un ultim moment pe vârf, înainte de a coborî.
The last moments before climbing down.
Înapoi la baza stâncilor, grupul s-a reîntregit. Toată excursia a durat doar 6 ore, dar au fost printre cele mai bine folosite ore din anul acesta. În așa scurt timp am descoperit locuri deosebit de frumoase, mi-am reamintit cât de important este să mă țin de ceea ce mi-am promis, să urc măcar de două-trei ori pe munte în fiecare, iar nu în ultimul rând, am împărtășit experiența cu oameni faini, unii dintre ei în premieră prin propriile forțe la altitudini atât de înalte.
The group reunited at the foot of the rock. The whole trip took 6 hours, but they were some of the best used this year. In such a short time I discovered beautiful places and I remembered how important is is to keep the promise I made to myself: to climb a mountain at least two or three times a year. Te whole experience was shared with fine people, some of them for the first time by at such heights by their own means.