The mountains of Transylvania are becoming moer and more popular
as winter sports destinations. Romania offers unforgettable holidays
to those who come for the downhill and cross-country skiing. The
best-known Romanian ski resorts provide well looked after pistes
slopes and complex recreational facilities.
The natural beauties of Transylvania show a special face in winter:
the snow-covered landscape, tiny villages hidden between the mountains,
with peaks stretching towards the sky and glittering in the sunshine,
so many inviting sights for the visitor. With the proper equipment
anyone can go trekking here; no need to be a well-trained professional
mountaineer to enjoy the beauty of the Carpathians. The same goes
for novice skiers: beginners going there for cross-country skiing
and ski-trekking can enjoy themselves just as much as experienced
downhill skiers who have seen many peaks.
Downhill
The ski slopes of Romania have excellent natural conditions, though
they may not be equipped with all the convenience services than
an average western European ski resort supplies. The best-known
ski resort in Romania is an exception to this, as Brasov-Poliana
does not only have excellently developed and maintained ski slopes
but also offers a full range of entertainment and recreational
facilities. The 15 kilometres of slopes marked as blue, red and
black according to difficulty level will satisfy even the most
demanding visitors. The ski region of Predeal and Sinaia also
boast of perfect natural conditions, although their infrastructure
is somewhat less developed. Sinaia offers blue, red and black
ski slopes with a total length of 10 kilometres. The Harghita
Mádára ski area has 4.5 kilometres of blue, red
and black ski slopes. Downhillers can also have a great time
on the slopes near Lake Bilea, in Baia Borsa, Harghita Bai, Baisoara
and Comandau. The Paring Mountains in the third block of hills
in the Carpathian mountain range are also an excellent ski destination.
This region is also ideal for winter trekking – the main
attraction is unspoilt nature, allowing one to wander for hours
without meeting a single person. The rocky hillside offers a
wonderful panorama to the trekker: the landscape appears to be
miraculous due to the multiplicity of lakes big and small, with
Lake Kilschesku and the turquoise Lake Green considered to be
the most beautiful of them.
Cross-country skiing and ski-trekking
Fans of cross-country skiing and ski-trekking can enjoy the luxury
of picking their trails almost without any restrictions. Those
practicing these sports are to experience a special adventure besides
the pleasure of skiing, as they have the opportunity of discovering
the hidden beauties of untouched nature covered with fresh snow.
But what does ski-trekking mean exactly? It is easy: one just needs
a pair of skis to go both uphill and downhill. One can as well
use cross-country skis, or special skis developed for trekking,
with an adjustable binding that allows the heels to move freely
when going uphill and can be fixed when going downhill. When going
uphill, a piece of fur is placed on the bottom of the skis to prevent
the skier from sliding back. The pace and the distance are to be
determined individually, in conformity with one’s capacity.
The most important rule, however, is never to be forgotten: one
has to show due modesty to the mountains when trekking. The designated
route is not to be abandoned and adequate equipment and multi-layer
clothing are necessary for a safe trip.
Transylvania is also considered to be an ideal scene for cross-country
skiing. Fresh air in the high mountains, untouched forests, designated
or random tracks, professional and caring mountain rescue brigades
contribute to pleasure and safety. Cross-country skiers can easily
escape from the crowded downhill slopes, to reach quiet forest
trails allowing them to admire the beauties of nature.
It has long been well known that cross-country skiing has a beneficial
impact on the sense of rhythm, speed and balance, and helps enhance
the mobility of joints. Also, cross-country skiing is a type of
sport that burns the most fat, and is also an excellent means of
keeping the cardiovascular system in good condition, of improving
the general level of fitness, as well as to strengthen the abdomens,
the back, arms and legs. The danger of injury is negligible. The
technique of cross-country skiing is easy to learn, and far less
time is required to develop a routine than in downhill skiing.
One does not necessarily need an instructor, and the ability to
ski is not a must either. It may even be easier to learn cross-country
skiing - which requires a completely different technique and equipment
- for someone who has not yet gotten used to the technique of downhill
skiing. And finally there is one more major aspect of cross-country
skiing: it’s a sport without any age limit!
Cross-country skiing and ski-trekking