Vlădeasa

Vlădeasa (Romanian: Vârful Vlădeasa, Hungarian: Vigyázó-csúcs or Vlegyásza-csúcs) is the highest summit of the Vlădeasa Massif in the Apuseni Mountains (Western Romanian Carpathians), 1,836 m above sea level. According to Hungarian Wikipedia, it is the second-highest mountain of the Apuseni, only 11 m lower than Cucurbăta Mare (Bihor). The summit lies in Cluj County; the nearest villages are Rogojel (about 6 km), Lunca Vișagului and Vișagu (8 km).

The ridge is formed by two summits — Vlădeasa and Vlădeasa Sud (South), of almost equal height; they are linked by a narrow treeless plateau stretching about 700 m between the tops and over 2 km on the southern slope. On the summit stand a fenced weather station with its building and a telecommunications relay tower.

How to get there / routes

The main base for the ascent is the Vlădeasa mountain hut at about 1,430 m, roughly north of the summit. According to muntii-nostri.ro, it can be reached all year even by car on the gravel road Bologa – Săcuieu – Rogojel (high clearance recommended); on foot, a red triangle route leads from the village of Rogojel (3.7 km, about 470 m of ascent).

The most popular way to the summit is the «small Vlădeasa circuit» with the red dot (13MN06): from the hut to the ridge, to the summit, then along the main ridge to the Pietrele Albe massif and back along the Rogojanului road. It is 13.3 km long, takes 5–6 hours and is of medium difficulty. From the hut the path first follows a forest road, then reaches the ridge with a view over the Drăgan basin and Mount Tarnița, and then climbs gently for about 2 km across open slopes past junipers that barely withstand the local winds. The summit can also be reached on the blue stripe ridge route from Bologa and on paths from the Drăgan valley and Lake Drăgan.

What you can see from the summit

Romanian and Hungarian Wikipedia describe wide views: over the Padiș plateau and the Bihor Mountains, the Muntele Mare massif, the Stâna area with Buteasa peak and the Huedin Depression. On December days, when clouds lie low and the air above them is clear, you can even see the ridges of the Retezat and the peaks of the Rodna.

Nature and history

According to Romanian Wikipedia, the Vlădeasa Massif has an old crystalline base, but magmatic rocks dominate: volcanic activity began here in the mid-Cretaceous, and Vlădeasa peak itself is made of rhyolite. On the southern slope there are traces of periglacial processes, and on the descent towards Pietrele Albe the beginnings of a small glacial cirque. The Pietrele Albe («White Stones») rocks at 1,100–1,300 m are made of Jurassic and Paleocene limestone. The Hungarian name of the peak, Vigyázó, means «the watchman».

Safety, season and rules

According to the muntii-nostri.ro route description, strong winds blow on the ridge almost all year, and on the wide plateaus waymarks are sparse and there are no signposts — it is easy to get lost in fog, so carry a map or offline navigation. In winter the small circuit is walked only depending on the amount and condition of the snow.

Bears are common in the Romanian Carpathians. Salvamont rescuers advise not to hike alone, to talk loudly so that an animal hears you in advance, to keep your distance and never feed wildlife, and to store food in sealed containers away from your tent; if you meet a bear, do not run and back away slowly without turning your back.

Mountain rescue: Salvamont national dispatch 0SALVAMONT = 0725 826 668 and the emergency number 112.

Interesting facts

• Vlădeasa is only 11 m lower than the highest peak of the Apuseni.
• During winter temperature inversions the Retezat and the Rodna can be seen from the summit.
• A weather station operates on the summit.