Where else to enter the New Year than in the mountain wilderness of Romania?

We left Bucharest on the 30th of December, after noon. We knew we would be hiking in the dark. Yet, while driving up the last stretch of icy road, surrounded by the still forest, drowning in the silence of winter, we understood something. The dark we have imagined, the one we’re used to, had nothing to do with the I-wouldn’t-see-a-bear-even-if-it-was-sitting-right-in-front-of-me dark we experienced then.

Fortunately, the only creatures we saw were a couple of forest mice. Three hours after parking the car and a little after 10 pm, we finally reached Negoiu Chalet.

Our two days there were zen. No phones or internet. A bagful of wood to tend the fire in our room. “Strong” mountain air, sunny skies and great views of the Fagaras Ridge.

We went on a short hike to Serbota Waterfall:

We also tried ascending Negoiu Peak. Yet, the exposed areas were covered in ice and we didn’t continue. We’ll return next year, equipped with crampons!

There was a New Year festive meal set up by the chalet. We didn’t have a countdown timer to 2014, as nobody knew the exact time in seconds. Yet, we could enjoy the fireworks shows from the lower areas around Sibiu.

We left the chalet and hiked down the mountain, back to snowless areas, civilization, internet and modern times, on the 2nd of January. Already hatching plans to return and conquer these mountains.