Cârja

Cârja (Romanian Vârful Cârja) is a 2,405 m summit in the Parâng Mountains of the Southern Carpathians in Romania. According to Romanian Wikipedia, only one Parâng summit exceeds 2,500 m – Parângu Mare (2,519 m) – and four more rise above 2,400 m: Gemănarea, Stoinița, Slivei and Cârja. The peak stands on the main ridge above the Jieț valley, in Hunedoara County; the nearest villages are Jieț (about 10 km as the crow flies), Slătinioara and Tirici.

The Parâng is one of Romania's highest ranges and, according to English Wikipedia, the second-largest in the Romanian Carpathians after the Făgăraș. It closes the Jiu Valley to the east, with the town of Petroșani at its north-western edge.

How to get there / routes

Romanian Wikipedia names two main approaches: from Parângul Mic, where the chairlift of the ski area above Petroșani ends, and from the south, from Stoinița peak, along the ridge path. A regional route marked with a red stripe passes 45 m from the summit, running from Petroșani via Parângu Mare to the Curmătura Oltețului pass, so Cârja fits easily into a traverse of the main ridge in either direction.

According to the same source, a small stone refuge stands at the northern foot of the peak; OSM also marks two mountain huts 2.7–2.8 km from the summit. The sources give no walking times or distances, so plan the route with a map, bearing in mind that this is high, waterless ridge terrain.

What you see from the summit

A photo on Wikimedia Commons taken from Cârja shows the neighbouring Mija peak (2,372 m). By position, the ridge runs south-east to Stoinița and Gemănarea, and below to the north lie glacial cirques with tarns. The sources give no more detailed description of the panorama.

Nature and history

The western, higher part of the Parâng main ridge was shaped by glaciers. Romanian Wikipedia lists Cârja among the glacial complexes of the massif and notes that on the northern slopes, including below Cârja, the cirques are much better developed than on the southern side. The most spectacular cirques formed between Cârja and Mija, near the Custura saddle, where Lake Cârja, also called Tăul Custurii, lies. The longest glacial valley of the range is the Jieț, about 8 km.

The massif consists mostly of crystalline rocks with granite outcrops; in the south there are limestones with caves and gorges. According to Romanian Wikipedia, tourism in the Parâng began in the late 19th century thanks to the Transylvanian Carpathian Society (SKV), while the ski area above Petroșani developed in the second half of the 20th century.

Safety, season and rules

The climate is harsh. According to English Wikipedia, above 2,000 m the mean annual temperature is below zero, westerly winds prevail at 8–10 m/s, and in winter they reach 15 m/s or more on the ridges. Snow lies for about 200 days a year at altitude, so in winter the waymarks disappear under it and avalanches are possible on the steep cirque slopes. In summer June is the wettest month – start early and leave the ridge at the first sign of a thunderstorm. Salvamont advises not to hike alone, to tell someone your route and to carry a map, a torch and a charged phone.

Bears are common in the Parâng. Stay on the marked paths, talk as you walk so that an animal hears you in advance, do not hike in the evening or at night and do not keep food in your tent. Sheepdogs near sheepfolds may rush at people – do not run, stop and shield yourself with your rucksack. In an emergency call the national dispatch 0SALVAMONT – 0725 826 668 or 112; advice on animal encounters is on the Salvamont România website.

Photos: Thalpha, CC BY-SA 3.0; Hardsr, Public domain; Hardsr, Public domain; Hardsr, Public domain; Hardsr, Public domain; unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0; Relu popescu, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons.