Infinite white towards Șaua Strunga Refuge

Dear traveler,

I've seen these sights before but this is the first time I see them during winter. We are at Padina cabin and we'll be sleeping here today. 

During winter time everything looks different. 

I'm enjoying this infinite white, running and playing with my parents with a doggie met by chance. 

We stare at the snowy ridges, bathed in sunset's light and Mamarmot shows me places we've visited before. Babele cabin and her favorites, Doamnele and Obârșiei valleys. I don't see much but I kind of get where they're at. 

Inside the cabin is warm and nice and we find our friends which we planned to meet here. I really enjoy going into mountain trips with our friends but there's rarely someone my age I can play with in the group, and adults can be far too serious for me sometimes.

The fire burns inside the big fireplace in the center of the room and I get closer to get warm.

Mamarmot goes outside to photograph the stars, because the skies are clear tonight. In any other season I would join her, but during winter nights I don't even think about it.

Next morning, after a delicious breakfast with homemade blueberry jam, we start walking on the small path that climbs behind the cabin. I move like a penguin through this snow that reaches up to my knew. Even if we should follow the red stripe waymark, we mostly guide ourselves by the footprints of the ones that walked this trail yesterday. My folks tell me that the trails are slightly changing during winter. 

At the end of the forest, we see a big pile of snow which we must cross. Being a little steep, we put on our ice spikes and continue further.

We got used with getting lost from the marked trail somewhere in this area and it seems that we're doing it again. From here, we continue to climb transversely, led by the footprints. This ascent is quite annoying and I'm boiling hot.

Back to the waymark, everything opens around us. We even see the path we should have walked on. Seriously, parents, next time we come here do your homework. 

Now I recall what is around me. 

-"Look, it's Coștila!" And Babele cabin can be seen so clearly that I can see the tiles from the roof...and the lady selling corn. I'm kidding, of course, but still...mmm, coooorn! What I'd give to find a salty boiled corn in Mamarmot's backpack. 

-"Mom, I could eat something!"

Mamarmot says I just had breakfast and we don't have much food with us today, just some apples. Really? Does that even count as food? It's gonna be an interesting day...

I turn my eyes towards our walking direction and all I see is white, white and only white. And some skiers..and an old sheepfold! It's wonderful!

These sunglasses are kind of bothering me but my folks say I really need them. Truth is, if I take them off, this sun-lit snow makes my eyes hurt. 

We reach the second sheepfold where some dogs barked at us last year. Now there are no more dogs, sheep or people. The snow has taken over everything. 

From our waymarking which is usually placed on a pole which is taller than me, we can see only the topknot, all we actually need to know where we are. 

The snow is covered with an ice crust but from place to place it breaks and you sink in it.

We reach a valley and my parents show me two avalanches to our right. They seem small, they don't scare me, but I wouldn't have wanted to be there when the snow felt.

Although our friends were here a day before and told us which path to take, my dad says he doesn't like how the valley looks like and that it would be better to walk on the crest, above the trail.

-"But dad, I don't want to climb this entire mountain, look, the valley is right here!"

But dad will not change his mind. Those avalanches got him thinking.

My dad is very cautious when he hikes with me. When I'm not with him, he's like a chamois. But today, we turn around, following the footsteps of a hiker we saw before. 

We climb a slope where the snow is so scarce, that the grass under it can be seen. Reaching the top, Mamarmot is very happy, as she never saw what's on this side of the mountain. Holding the map, she tells us that we can still reach the refuge, because at some point we will reach the path that goes towards the Bătrâna saddle. That sounds familiar...aaah, it's that beautiful place, at the mushroom refuge!

We climb another ridge, and, as usual, another one follows. From here, the map tells us we have 700 meters more to go up to the refuge, but the map doesn't know that's it's winter and we cannot safely descend through where it leads up. 

From here, we can see people coming from Strungile Mici, a place we also visited last autumn. 

Even if we have footprints to follow, Mamarmot is not sure of the trail. But I want to reach the refuge, it's one of my favorite places! We're so close but we cannot see it because of this ridge in front of us. 

-"Marmot, if you want to get there you'll have to climb all this ridge."

Aaaa, well, if you put it like that...

Mamarmot is always trying to convince me to climb a little further, but, being unsure of how safe the trail really is, she prefers not to venture. I understand that during winter it's better this way.

We find a place to sit like lizards. on some rocks, and we let the sun warm us up. Enjoying a hot tea here is actually what I needed.

We photograph ridges and dried flowers and I'm trying to crack the ice beneath me. This ice covered snow is very interesting. 

And this is how we start our way back, not before enjoying the view once more.

And now it's my time to ruuuun!

I admit it, the descent is usually my favorite part!

There's just us in all this expanse and I can jump, sing or scream at the top of my lungs. 

Needless to say, we reach the end of the trail very fast and we stop for a snow fight, now that the snow started to melt. 

At the cabin, the doggies are enjoying the sun, just like us. 

I already forgot about the refuge..I'm sure we'll get to see it in winter at some point.

We let the winter sun caress us a little bit more. 

I ask Mamarmot:

"-Mom, what will be our next adventure?"

-"I'm not sure what to tell you now, Marmot, but I hope it's with spring crocuses."