Hiking to Omu Peak (2507m)
Omu Peak (Vârful Omu) is the highest point of the Bucegi Mountains (Romania) at an altitude of 2507 metres. At the top you can find a cabin (Cabana Omu) where you can drink a warm cup of tea, and if the weather conditions are good, you can see a beautiful panorama.
The trail I took begins at Cave Ialomița (Peștera Ialomița), passes by Ialomița Waterfall (Cascada Obârșia Ialomiței), and is marked with a blue stripe. This path is quite steep, as you have to ascend 1000 metres in altitude, but the views and experience make it completely worth the effort.
The hike typically takes about 5 hours without breaks. In my case, it took 7 hours because I stopped a few times along the way, including for a cup of tea at Cabana Omu. Despite starting late, around 13:00, I still managed to reach the summit and returned just before sundown at 19:00.
The beginning of the trail was windy and rather mundane, but after the first 15–20 minutes, the view behind revealed the stunning valley that I was about to hike.
The track crossed a small brook, one of the many along the trail. Nearby stood a shepherd’s hut with a pen, although it was empty at the time, I met the sheep on my way back.
I absolutely adore alpine valley landscapes, where the view stretches far into the distance. This trail was perfect for me, and the little brooks, seemingly springing from the stone, only added to the breathtaking scenery. Just before reaching Ialomița Waterfall, there’s a small brook where fresh mountain water seeps directly from the rock that’s refreshing and great for drinking.
Here in the Bucegi Mountains, the Ialomița River begins its journey, flowing from the Ialomița Waterfall (Cascada Obârșia Ialomiței) to Ialomița Cave (Peștera Ialomița), where I started, and continues across the Wallachian Plain all the way to the Danube. After climbing the steep section beyond the waterfall, you’re rewarded with a stunning panoramic view, a true payoff for your effort
From here on, it grew colder, with strong gusts of wind and a foggy atmosphere slowly setting in. Nevertheless, the effort put in was worth the scenery. Small clusters of pink rhododendron flowers were still seen, even though it was the end of June and their season was nearly over.
As I rose in altitude, the fog thickened, and the temperature dropped to 5°C (though it felt like 0°C). After 20–30 minutes of walking through the dense fog and strong winds, the summit finally came into view!
