Vârful Sărății

Vârful Sărății (Romanian: Vârful Sărății) is a 2,384 m peak according to OpenStreetMap (Wikidata gives 2,311 m without source) on the main ridge of the Făgăraș Mountains, on the sharp Custura Sărății section between Negoiu Peak (about 0.7 km east) and Șerbota (about 0.9 km west). Nearby is Lespezi (1.9 km southeast). The main Făgăraș ridge trail, marked with a red stripe "Olt valley — Podragului saddle — Lereasca saddle — Plaiul Foii hut", passes over the summit and coincides with the European E8 route.

Right near the summit, the map marks Bivouac site below Vf. Sărății, and about 560 m away is Negoiului Bivouac Site. Lower down, on the northern slope, are Negoiu Hut (about 2.6 km) and Refugiul Scara II (2023) (about 2.8 km).

Getting there / routes

The most popular loop via Custura Sărății starts from the Negoiu hut. According to muntii-nostri.ro, from the hut you follow the blue triangle up the Valea Zmeilor to the Șerbotei cirque (40 min), then to Cleopatra saddle (1 h 30 min) and to the Negoiu summit (30 min). From Negoiu, take the red stripe along the Custura Sărății ridge to Șerbota peak (2 h 50 min), then to the Scara shelter (1 h 20 min), and return to Negoiu hut via the blue cross (1 h 50 min); there is a spring near the Scara shelter. Pure walking time is 8 h 40 min, with breaks about 11 hours; one report gives 20.7 km and 2,320 m ascent, another 17.9 km and 1,460 m. The route is rated moderate to difficult. Vârful Sărății lies in the middle of the longest and most demanding section of the loop—from Negoiu to Șerbota—so allow extra time for this stretch (2 h 50 min without breaks) and start early from the hut: the authors set off at 8:00.

Cleopatra saddle can also be reached by the blue triangle from Porumbacu de Jos via Negoiu hut, the red triangle from Cabana Cumpăna past Izvorul Negoiului spring, and from Șerbota peak by the yellow stripe through the Pietroasa cirque.

Safety, season and rules

Custura Sărății is a narrow rocky ridge above 2,300 m: only attempt it in dry, calm weather, with experience on rocks and enough time; in storms or fog it is very dangerous, and in winter the ridge is for alpinists only. The Făgăraș Mountains are not a national park, but a Natura 2000 protected area "Munții Făgăraș" (ROSCI0122) with its own regulations: stick to marked trails and take your rubbish with you (regulations, as checked). Bears are common in the Romanian Carpathians: stay on marked trails, make noise, avoid dusk, and do not keep food in your tent; near sheepfolds, shepherd dogs may attack—do not run, stop and shield yourself with your backpack (see Salvamont România advice).

In case of emergency, call the national mountain rescue dispatcher 0SALVAMONT — 0725 826 668 or 112.