There's lava everywhere in Călimani

Dear traveler,

We were already for a few days at Ursuleț camping, my favorite place where I like to come for my birthday. After we finished reading all books we had with us and a few bike rides through the surroundings, it was time for a hike. 

Looking at the maps, we decided together to go for a hike in the Călimani mountains. I can't wait!

Next day, we start off towards the place from where our trail starts, more precisely, Negoiu Saddle. I'm pretty sure I've heard about this Negoiu somewhere before, but I don't remind where. The road takes us to a place where the mountain looks like it was eaten by a gigantic rabbit. Dad explains what's a mining site. Hm, I was preferring my story with the rabbit. We explore for a while and then we continue driving on a road which becomes quite amusing. The car is jumping on the road and I feel like I am in a rollercoaster. Sometimes, the road is narrower than the car, being covered in vegetation of all kinds. 

Reaching a peak, I enjoy the wonders that surround me. The earth has is reddish and sandy, with interesting plants. I wonder if this is how Mars looks like.

It's time to get going and the first part of the trail looks very different from what we've seen earlier. Green and flower sprinkled meadows are covering the ground.

Mamarmot tells me that these are volcanic mountains. Hmmm, now I can explain the image I saw before. I wonder if we'll be seeing a volcano. The trail walks us on narrow paths, packed with mountain pines. I feel like in a labyrinth and I wonder what I will find at its end.

The labyrinth is winding without showing us too much, but if I look behind, I can see from where I climbed. Maybe at its end I'll find a volcano!

The vegetation disappears and on the path there are big wide stones, scattered around. Mamarmot tells me that these are stone ledges. Okay, if the volcano is not here, I can still imagine that there's lava on the ground, so, I jump from ledge to ledge. Before our eyes, a big stone mountain appears. 

-"Marmot, the trail goes straight up."

I feel like I could complain a bit but the I realize..we must climb on the roooocks. I love bouldering. 

After our share of bouldering, we reach in the crest, on the Negoiu Unguresc peak. Around us, you can see green ridges, pink ridges full of mountain peony and the rabbit carved mountain.

-"Where to?"

-"Towards that lump over there in the distance, on the Pietrosul Călimanilor peak."

Oook! I like seeing where I have to get to, even though sometimes it might seem far away. Now, the path is slowly winding on the mountain's crest and it does not seem that complicated. 

I think Mamarmot never dreamed she would find that much rhododendron as there is here.

A few steps ahead, other plants take the place of rhododendron. These fluffy flowers, remind me of an animated movie I saw some time ago, where the trees resembled cotton candy, of all possible and impossible colors.

I really believe we are on a different planet now. The view seems taken from another universe.

And now we are near the lump from the distance, which really looks like a volcano. Maybe this is it! Let's see. But the ground is covered in ledges now and there is lava everywheeeere! 

Reaching the peak, I cannot find the cone of the volcano, but I'm pretty sure that we're standing on one. For sure, it looks too much like one. I'm sure it's hidden somewhere. But I don't have much time to look for it as the clouds kind of gathered above us. It's very beautiful out here on the peak but it's time to ruuuun. 

The rain gives us a head start until we descend from the peak, but then soaks us wet. Luckily we already had our raincoats on. To be honest, I really like the summer rains, I don't know why people are afraid of them. It's soooo chilly.

I think my folks were mostly stressed about this descend on the wet stones. I can't like, it requires attention, but we can handle it. 

After we descend, we are welcomed by a blue slug in the middle of the path and a rainbow at the horizon. And at the end of the rainbow, our car calmly awaits.

Down in the valley, no cloud or rain are in sight and we're already dry. I wonder if that rain was started on purpose by the volcano, so I won't find it. It's quite a good explanation.

We take some time to gaze at this strange but beautiful place. But time comes for us to go.

-"Bye, bye, Călimani planet."

On our way back to Ursuleț, I ask Mamarmot:

-"Mom, in which strange places will you take me next time?"

-"Well, Marmot, we'll find something nice for you to climb."