Vârful cu Dor

Vârful cu Dor (literally “the Peak with Longing”) is a 2,030 m summit on the southern edge of the Bucegi plateau, above the resort of Sinaia in Prahova County. Romanian Wikipedia lists it among the peaks of the range at 2,030 m. The summit has given its name to the Vârful cu Dor saddle, the Vâlcelul Vârful cu Dor stream, a tributary of the Izvorul Dorului, and a former mountain hut. The nearest towns are Sinaia (about 5 km as the crow flies) and Bușteni (about 8 km).

According to Munții Noștri, the Bucegi tower over Sinaia with an escarpment of more than 1,000 m, and the summits along its edge rise above 2,000 m. Vârful cu Dor is one of the most easily reached of them: the Sinaia ski area with lifts to Cota 2000 is right next to it, which makes the peak handy for short walks.

How to get there / routes

From the upper cable-car station at Cota 2000 (Furnica mountain) a short red-triangle path leads to the Vârful cu Dor saddle – about half an hour, according to Munții Noștri. It climbs a spur to the top station of the chairlift and drops into the saddle, where the red-stripe route and the yellow-cross path from Lake Bolboci meet. You can return to Cota 2000 on the yellow-stripe path past the former Miorița and Vârful cu Dor huts.

Next to the former Vârful cu Dor hut starts the yellow-dot path: in 10–15 minutes it passes below the Masa Ciobanului rock (“the Shepherd's Table”), from where, according to Munții Noștri, you can climb to the summit itself in 10 minutes for a fine view of the Prahova valley. On foot from Sinaia, the red stripe runs from the station past Cota 1400 and Cota 1500 to the Dorului valley; the same source puts this at 3–4 hours.

What you see from the summit

According to Munții Noștri, Vârful cu Dor gives a view over the Prahova valley. From the yellow-dot path south of the summit you see the Colții lui Barbeș escarpment and the Vânturiș valley with the peaks of Vânturiș (1,925 m) and Păduchiosu. From the yellow-cross path to Lake Bolboci, along the Nucet ridge, you see the stone “fortress” of Zănoaga, Lespezi and, in the distance, the solitary summit of Leaota.

Nature and history

The slopes below the summit are alpine pastures with carpets of rhododendron below the north face of Colții lui Barbeș. Wikimedia Commons holds photos of least primrose (Primula minima) taken at Vârful cu Dor. Where the Bucegi plateau breaks off between Colții lui Barbeș and Vânturiș, the Izvorul Dorului stream forms the cascade of the Vânturiș waterfalls, and below lie the small Vânturiș lakes.

Munții Noștri describes the mountain huts around the summit – Vârful cu Dor and Miorița – as former huts; the Dorului valley and the surrounding slopes, however, have long been the Sinaia ski area with the Valea Soarelui, Furnica and Pelișor runs. Sinaia itself, the same source says, is a former royal residence known as the “Pearl of the Carpathians”.

Safety, season and rules

The Bucegi plateau is part of Bucegi Natural Park, which requires a visitor ticket (10 lei per adult for three months, online or from the rangers). Munții Noștri lists the yellow-dot path as inaccessible in winter, and heavy snow causes trouble on the other routes too. Keep away from the edge of the escarpment in fog; in winter avalanches come down the steep Bucegi slopes – check the bulletin at meteoromania.ro. In summer beware of thunderstorms on the open plateau.

The Bucegi have many bears, and they also turn up near the resorts. Stay on marked paths, walk in a group and talk, leave no food or litter, and do not run from dogs near sheepfolds. In an emergency call the national dispatch 0SALVAMONT – 0725 826 668 or 112. Advice is on the websites of Bucegi Natural Park and Salvamont România.