Hiking Routes

De la Hotel Pestera (1610m), the path heads north, crossing the Cocorei Valley and passing through the meadows of a wide, gently sloping plateau situated between the Cocorei Valley (on the right) and the Ialomița Valley (on the left). After 10-15 minutes, we reach the northern edge of the plateau at a trail junction (1640m, marked by a post). The path continues straight ahead, ascending along the side. Crossing through a wide curve of Valcelul Piciorului Babelor, the trail ascends on the western flank of the Piciorul Babelor ridge along a small valley descending on the left. At the base of the valley, we reach the ridge forming the frontal moraine of the Obârșia Ialomiței Valley, where we descend gently on the other side and soon cross the Valea Sugarilor (Sugar Valley). We continue with a slight ascent to the north, along the long ridge that separates the Obârșia Ialomiței Valley from a ravine descending from the slope of Mount Obârșia. At the end of this ridge, the trail passes through the meadows on the western slope of the Obârșia and then leads under a rocky crest (1885m). The path ascends gently along the lower part of the valley, still on the slope of the Obârșia, crossing a series of springs. On the left, beyond the valley, rises the western slope of Mount Doamnele, and on the right above, the western cliff of Mount Obârșia. After 1 - 1½ hours from Hotel Pestera, we reach the base of the high step between the lower and upper caldera of the valley, where the Obârșiei Waterfall forms. We cross the Izvorul Obârșiei stream coming from the right (1990m) and then, through several switchbacks, ascend the steep slope of the step, reaching the threshold of the upper caldera (2110m). We continue with a slight ascent, parallel to the course of the valley (which, from the waterfall upward, is named Valea Bisericii - Church Valley), then climb a low secondary step, cross the first ravine at the head of the valley (2250m), and reach the platform at the end of the upper caldera of the valley. To the left, towards the middle of the caldera, rises the immense limestone block with the vertical and polished frontal wall, Mecetul Turcesc; ahead to the north, above the caldera, is Vf. Găvanele (2472m); to the north-northeast, Vf. Văii Cerbului; to the northeast, Curmătura Văii Cerbului; on the right, Colții Obârșiei. Leaving Mecetul Turcesc on the left, we climb initially steeply, then through several switchbacks along the slope under Spinarea Doamnelor and Vf. Găvanele, and after about 20 minutes from the bottom of the valley, we meet the trail marked with a yellow stripe, coming from Babele. Immediately, the path leads us into a saddle near the rocky block, prominent, forming Vf. Văii Cerbului, on the ridge separating the Obârșia Ialomiței Valley from the Valea Cerbului (2360m). To the north-northwest is Vf. Găvanele; to the north, Vf. Bucura; to the east-northeast, Colții Morarului; to the east, Valea Cerbului; to the east-southeast, Vf. Coştila (2498m); to the south-southeast, Colții Obârșiei (2480m); to the southwest, Valea Obârșia Ialomiței; to the west-southwest, beyond the valley, Culmea Doamnele. Through several short switchbacks, we continue the steep ascent along the ridge until under the white limestone block forming Vf. Găvanele. From here, the trail crosses the side facing Valea Cerbului, leaving on the left a winter variation of the path that steeply ascends to the ridge under the rocks, then continues along the slope under Vf. Bucura, and soon leads us to Vf. Omu, at the cabin (2505m).