Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

[NordicExpedition]

Hello!

My name is Jens and I live in Sweden. I drive a heavily modified Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ. I´ve traveled to both Iceland and Kola in Russia with it. I´m looking around for new places to go and the Carpathian Mountains seems very beautiful!

But I know very little language other than Swedish, English, German and some words in Russian. It´s hard to find information about mountain tracks and places where you should go. Maybe I should mention that we are aiming for the Romanian parts of the Carpathian.

When we go out we usually live in tents, is it allowed to camp in the wild in Romania? Should it be avoided due to the risk of bears?

Does anyone know where I can find maps? I use a Toughbook for navigation with Nroute, Touratech QV and Fugawi so most filetypes work well!

We will go with 4-6 vehicles, all have 33-35” MT tires, winch and expedition equipment. I´m looking for roads where 4x4 vehicles are needed, but not bottomless mudholes.

I´m very grateful for all the help I can get! :grin:

Best regards

Jens Grönberg

[ovidiu cica]

Re: Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

 

Hello!

My name is Jens and I live in Sweden. I drive a heavily modified Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ. I´ve traveled to both Iceland and Kola in Russia with it. I´m looking around for new places to go and the Carpathian Mountains seems very beautiful!

But I know very little language other than Swedish, English, German and some words in Russian. It´s hard to find information about mountain tracks and places where you should go. Maybe I should mention that we are aiming for the Romanian parts of the Carpathian.

When we go out we usually live in tents, is it allowed to camp in the wild in Romania? Should it be avoided due to the risk of bears?

Does anyone know where I can find maps? I use a Toughbook for navigation with Nroute, Touratech QV and Fugawi so most filetypes work well!

We will go with 4-6 vehicles, all have 33-35” MT tires, winch and expedition equipment. I´m looking for roads where 4x4 vehicles are needed, but not bottomless mudholes.

I´m very grateful for all the help I can get! :grin:

Best regards

Jens Grönberg

 

Hy Jens!

My name is Ovidiu.

If you and your collegues decide to make one expedition in Romania in the Carpathians Mountains don't miss Transalpina(Sebes-Sugag-Obarsia Lotrului-Ranca)-the highest road from our country(2245m altitude-Pasul Urdele).On this road almost you don't need for map .I strongly recomand Strategica(at a point you must exit Transalpina and enter to another road -the wildest views).Yes ,you can camp in tents (and rooftents)and yes in some parts of this road you could find bears,but don't be afraid - they are friendly(if is not hungry!):grin:

Another spectacular road is Transfagarasan(Sibiu-Avrig-Cartisora-Balea Lac-2000m altitude-Curtea de Arges).

I am convinced that my collegues wiill give you more and detailed informations and who knows if your group need a guide we will find one for you.

All the best!

 

Ovidiu

 

 

 

and now some photos:

Editat Decembrie 14, 2011 de ovidiu cica

[ovidiu cica]

Re: Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

 

more:here you will find an expedition from Switzerland

Editat Decembrie 14, 2011 de ovidiu cica

[gusteru]

Re: Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

 

Hello!

My name is Jens and I live in Sweden. I drive a heavily modified Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ. I´ve traveled to both Iceland and Kola in Russia with it. I´m looking around for new places to go and the Carpathian Mountains seems very beautiful!

But I know very little language other than Swedish, English, German and some words in Russian. It´s hard to find information about mountain tracks and places where you should go. Maybe I should mention that we are aiming for the Romanian parts of the Carpathian.

When we go out we usually live in tents, is it allowed to camp in the wild in Romania? Should it be avoided due to the risk of bears?

Does anyone know where I can find maps? I use a Toughbook for navigation with Nroute, Touratech QV and Fugawi so most filetypes work well!

We will go with 4-6 vehicles, all have 33-35” MT tires, winch and expedition equipment. I´m looking for roads where 4x4 vehicles are needed, but not bottomless mudholes.

I´m very grateful for all the help I can get! :grin:

Best regards

Jens Grönberg

 

tell me what region you need, i'll be traveling in Sweden next week, if you are in my way i can bring you some copys

[f_zoltan]

Re: Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

 

Don't worry about the language barrier, here a lot of people speak English. You should state the area you are interested in or at least the difficulty level of the route you'd like to have.

[NordicExpedition]

Re: Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

 

Thanks guys for all the answers!

 

Transalpin and Transfagarasan sounds like interesting roads! I´ve seen photos from them and they look amazing! I´m not worried but the bears, I just bring a axe with me to the tent when I sleep :wink:

 

About the region I will have to turn to you! I did actually think that most mountains were located in the north of Romania, but both Transalpin and Transfagarasan are in the middle and a little to the west. Is this the best region for going 4x4? I guess all parts of Romania has its charm? :)

 

To answer the leve of terrain, we made a trip to Kola Peninsula this summer, this is what it looked like. It´s was alot of rough gravel roads but the terrain could have been a little harder (sorry for the language here its in Swedish but the pictures tell alot):

http://www.jeepsweden.net/index.php?showtopic=18524

 

Gusteru, maps would be great! When are you going to Sweden? I live in Gothenburg, are you passing through?

 

I really appreciate all your response!

[gusteru]

Re: Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

 

i plan to be in jonkoping next week friday, a bit out of the way. i think is easier to post the cd when i'm there

[f_zoltan]

Re: Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

 

I watched the photos on the topic you sent. No problem I was unable to also understand the text, I just had a taste of what you felt "reading" our forum :grin: I am under the impression you are not looking for a tough trial in the mountains, more like an on-offroad sightseeing expedition with emphasize on the sights and people. Am I right?

 

Romania has mountains pretty much everywhere(in a 200 km radius), the Carpathians run through the country from North to South-West embracing all the middle of it. In the middle is most of Transilvania. My guess is everywhere you choose to go, you have great places to see, but my personal choice would include the Apuseni (the area between Cluj, Oradea, Arad and Deva) and part of the Meridionals (the area between Sibiu- Deva-Targu Jiu-Ramnicu Valcea). The second recommendation includes the Transalpina too, and you can return through Transfagarasan. Both of these roads are now asphalted, so there's no offroad experience in it. The Transalpina has some great side-roads that could offer a mild or medium challenge for your fun. In both these zones the sights are great and you have some interesting places tho check too if you are interested: castles, monasteries, medieval cities.

 

Ofcourse I recommended areas I know or I live in, and I guess anyone will do the same with his own area. It's a matter of local-patriotism :grin:

--------------------

Take care, you should come in the summer, otherwise you could be unable to cross some of the mountains. Some of the good routes go as high as 2100m and at that altitude snow resists even until late June. The Transfagarasan for example is opened officially only at July 1-st and closes down with the first snow in the fall.

Editat Decembrie 15, 2011 de f_zoltan

[Bogdan_mb]

Re: Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

 

Sorry for offtopic but here is Jens topic translated :

 

http://translate.google.ro/translate?sl=sv&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=ro&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jeepsweden.net%2Findex.php%3Fshowtopic%3D18524

 

Thank you Google Translate

[Max]

Re: Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

 

... Is this the best region for going 4x4? I guess all parts of Romania has its charm? :)

 

Hi,

Another perfect region for 4x4 is north of Romania, Maramures and Bucovina.

If you need any touristic information about Maramures county, please contact me.

 

All best

Max

max@club4x4.ro

or

info@maramuresguide.com

Editat Decembrie 16, 2011 de Max

[davidco_m]

Re: Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

 

Sorry for offtopic but here is Jens topic translated :

 

http://translate.google.ro/translate?sl=sv&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=ro&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jeepsweden.net%2Findex.php%3Fshowtopic%3D18524

 

Thank you Google Translate

 

Poti sa o pui si in romana nu doar in engleza :br:g

[Bogdan_mb]

Re: Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

 

Uite aici : http://translate.google.ro/translate?hl=ro&sl=sv&tl=ro&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jeepsweden.net%2Findex.php%3Fshowtopic%3D18524

 

Dar e usor, selectezi de sus limba in care vrei sa fie tradusa.

 

Am pus in engleza deoarece program-ul traduce prima data in engleza si dupa in romana si apar cateva incoerente

Editat Decembrie 16, 2011 de Bogdan_mb

[trenu]

Re: Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

 

Hej Jens,

If you plan to travel mostly on paved roads with a few escapes on forestry roads you probably won't encounter too many problems. Usually people are very friendly and they will help you IF you ask for help.

I took a short peek at your vehicle and it is very well suited for more off than on road, I don't mean every other our winching kind of offroad, but I do mean off the pavement as much as possible.

Normally you would enter Romania from the North or North West (Maramures, Bucovina) and then you would have three options:

1. Eastern Carpathians from North to South (a lot of woods scenery but slightly different than Sweden :P, and some river gorges but not so many)

2. Transylvania from North West to its' South East corner (town of Brasov) (high plateaus, hills partly covered by forrests but very many medieval history sites like old castles or fortified churches)

3. Western Carpathians from North to the point where they meet the Central Carpathian range ((Western Carpathians are like a giant piece of Swiss cheese, with a lot of karst like scenery (many river gorges, caves, waterfalls)

--but all the places you will see are inhabited. Then the Central Carpathians will offer more of an Alpine scenery, with high altitude lakes and rugged ridges which you can only observe from close range (sitting in a car) during the summer like my previous colleague said.

But that's only two thirds of Romania, you would still have many more things to see in the South, and the South East... flat lands mostly but -like you said- with their own charm, you can even find marshes (Danube Delta) or even desert (Baragan) like scenery in the S, SE of Romania.

If you decide to choose the 3rd option I can tag along for a part of your trip, I can come by bike or even by car if needed.

For further info you can contact me at:

+40 75230 4456

sebastian.banto@yahoo.com

[plummer]

Re: Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

 

Hy Jens, Seeing your track from Stockholm to Marienhamn(Aland Islands) and then to Helsinki, with Viking Lines :ti reminded me pleasent memories about those places. This autumn i went 2 weeks in Finland & Sweden and i had the chance to "taste" a bit from the wildlife. You have extraordinary country and the services are very good. You represent a special part from the European map, wich i canot replace with nothing else.

About Romanian places to "visit" 4x4, i can asure you that everything you read/seen here, worth the effort to come. You will have a big surprize about Romania, you will be amazed by our magical places, wild fauna and flora and not the last, the Romanian hospitality.

Wish you to enjoy your trip in Romania like i did in your country :h5

 

Good luck

[ipampu]

Re: Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

 

Hi Jens

Hi Jens

 

A link with free access to Romanian mountains maps here:

http://harti.mielu.ro/

A link about Romania but in German this tine is:

http://www.karpatenwilli.com/

Last a.m site is quite detailed (maps, trails, stories, tradition, people) if you'll be patient enough and digg deeper and deeper.

 

And by the way we settled ClubJeepRomania.ro, so if you need further details on souther Transylvania (Carpati Meridionali area) do not hesitate and send your questions to ipampu at gmail.com.

The are alsocwebsites in English 4 your interrest as well:

Sibiu area

http://www.turism.sibiu.ro/index_en.php

And a virtual tour of the same city

http://www.sibiul.ro/sibiu-virtual-tour/

Brasov area

http://92.114.87.131/~brasov/index.php3

An overland experience in German language

http://global-experience.de/assets/applets/Allradler13_Rumaenien.pdf

http://www.jeepforum.de/index.php?showtopic=74622&pid=766859&st=0entry766859

Some other hints

http://www.romaniatourism.com/the-carpathian-mountains.html

What I do recommend is a tour in Apuseni Mountains (Carpatii Occidentali maps). There are plenty of sites to see also.

 

Enjoy the ride and don't forget to call

Cheers

Ionut

(aka Irishcoffee on expedition portal us)

Editat Decembrie 17, 2011 de ipampu

[zolameister]

Re: Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

 

...eu as fii mai rezervat cu darnicia...poate ca ei sunt iscoade...cand va treziti cu cavaleria de 40 masini o sa va para rau.Vezi TRANCARPATICA.....cum gasesc teren prielnic cum vin ca lacustele...Atentie sa nu ne facem rau....:old

[flay]

Re: Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

 

Sa-i spunem si de baietii care "au ramas in pana"? Aia care umbla la costum si fac semne disperate la masini cu nr. strain ca nu le mai porneste masina? Va dati seama ca baietii mai educati vor musca din prima si vor sari in ajutor... E vorba de fauna noastra,ce dracu'

[NordicExpedition]

Re: Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

 

I´m overwhelmed with all the help, you guys are amazing! I´m trying to look through all links one at the time!

 

I just want to make it very clear that we are responsible offroaders. Our group will probably be about 6-7 vehicles. I´m very glad for all your help, and I will keep and use the maps with responsibility. There will be no invasion of Swedish 4x4 Monsters! We drive slow and rather use the winch than giving open throttle. If we use a winch we ALWAYS use a sling so we don´t damage the trees. Everything we have with us (food, equipment, gear), we bring back. I personally don´t accept anyone in our group to leave any trash, anywhere. We want to come to Romania and see your nature, and we will have great respect for it!

 

We have decided to go during the Summer 2012, 22/7-2/8. If it´s possible, we´d love if any of you would like to join us for a bit or just say hi along the way!

 

/Jens Grönberg

[NordicExpedition]

Re: Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

 

Hy Jens, Seeing your track from Stockholm to Marienhamn(Aland Islands) and then to Helsinki, with Viking Lines :ti reminded me pleasent memories about those places. This autumn i went 2 weeks in Finland & Sweden and i had the chance to "taste" a bit from the wildlife. You have extraordinary country and the services are very good. You represent a special part from the European map, wich i canot replace with nothing else.

About Romanian places to "visit" 4x4, i can asure you that everything you read/seen here, worth the effort to come. You will have a big surprize about Romania, you will be amazed by our magical places, wild fauna and flora and not the last, the Romanian hospitality.

Wish you to enjoy your trip in Romania like i did in your country :h5

 

Good luck

 

Thank you for that Plummer!

We are very curious about visiting Romania! :)

[ipampu]

Re: Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

 

Nice rigs Jens!!

http://nev.se/wordpress/?page_id=18

 

Any update from your side about the Romanian Expedition?

:-)

 

Cheers

Ionut

Editat Decembrie 20, 2011 de ipampu

[NordicExpedition]

Re: Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

 

Nice rigs Jens!!

http://nev.se/wordpress/?page_id=18

 

Any update from your side about the Romanian Expedition?

:-)

 

Cheers

Ionut

 

Thanks!!

I´m reading through the links and looking at the maps! It seems that we will enter Romania from the west/north west and our first destination will be Arad!

From Arad we can reach the Transalpin and Transfargas road pretty eaisy! Then I´m not really sure :j

Editat Decembrie 20, 2011 de NordicExpedition

[gusteru]

Re: Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

 

Thanks!!

I´m reading through the links and looking at the maps! It seems that we will enter Romania from the west/north west and our first destination will be Arad!

From Arad we can reach the Transalpin and Transfargas road pretty eaisy! Then I´m not really sure :j

 

it is actually a possibility to get to transfagarasan and further on the Iezer massiv on mountains tracks, avoiding the tarmac more than half way

[f_zoltan]

Re: Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

 

Since you are in the area, you should enjoy some routes between Transalpina and Transfagarasan. From Petrosani you could go NE crossing the Sureanu Mountains to Cugir or directly to the Oasa Lake, continue Eastwards through Valea Frumoasei (dirt road) until Sibiu, visit Sibiu, go on-road to Transfagarasan, cross to Curtea de Arges (visit some beautiful monasteries), follow a secondary road to the middle of the Olt Valley (some medieval monasteries too), go down to Ramnicu Valcea and from there Westwards until Polovragi, cross Cheile Oltetului and Curmatura Oltetului (Northwards) until Petrimanu Lake, follow the road (NE) until Ciungetu, take another mountain road parallel to DN7A (Westwards again) that takes you to the middle of Transalpina. From here you can cross to Ranca. You can now decide to go down to Novaci and return through Targu Jiu or return to the North and use again the Transalpina until Obarsia Lotrului or Sebes.

 

There are some interesting routes to SE between Resita and Caransebes too, but you can also choose to go NE from Arad and you get to the Apuseni Mountains. These you can cross in several directions, endin up in Huedin or the Alba region or in Hunedoara county in the Brad area. I'm sure the guys are able to give you some directions in this area.

Editat Decembrie 20, 2011 de f_zoltan

[ipampu]

Re: Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

 

Jens

The routes mentioned by @fzoltan are both interesting & spectacular.

I do recomend them especially if you choose also Apuseni mountains as POI in your Carpathian expedition.

Here some POI in Apuseni

http://www.karpatenwilli.com/images/apuseni.htm

And here a good intruduction for mountain chains within Apuseni (Carpatii Occidentali)

 

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Apuseni_Mountains&mobileaction=view_normal_site

Cheers

Ionut

[omoroka]

Re: Swedish Expedition to Carpathian Mountains 2012

 

Thanks!!

I´m reading through the links and looking at the maps! It seems that we will enter Romania from the west/north west and our first destination will be Arad!

From Arad we can reach the Transalpin and Transfargas road pretty eaisy! Then I´m not really sure :j

 

Hi Jens

 

you are welcomed in Ro and our comunity. You will find here lovely things... but not only. One thing is for sure: you will find here nice people and great landsacape. When you decide exactly the areas you want to cross just post it here and I can provide several tracks to use on your GPS with full descriptions.

 

Regards