Latoriței Mountains – Voineasa – Plǎișor Mountain – Pietrele Albe
Latoriței Mountains – Voineasa – Plǎișor Mountain – Pietrele Albe
Route: easily accessible, including in winter
Trail markings: red cross up to Stevia Ridge, then yellow stripe
Duration: 1½ – 2½ hours
This time we start from ZAN Hotel and follow the road that leads to the bridge over the Lotru River, descending the few steps located at its western end. From the last house downstream, we follow the path that first heads west along the edge of a spruce forest. After about 300 meters, we begin climbing south along a forested ridge.
The trail marking can be seen on the trees lining the wide path, and after a little more than half an hour of walking we reach the mountain pastures of Plǎișor Mountain.
From here we can admire the view to the north, where the peaks Dilme Peak (1,293 m) and Dobrunu Peak (1,880 m) of the Lotru Mountains rise, as well as the panorama of the resort town Voineasa. We continue climbing in switchbacks along the trail, which is marked from place to place, heading south until we reach the ridge, where we turn southeast.
From the left we meet an unmarked trail that also climbs from Voineasa, crossing Padina Mountain, and about 150 meters after the paths join we head southwest through a beautiful beech forest.
We cross the forest until reaching the ridge of Stevia Mountain, where we meet the ridge road Măceșului Valley – Ștefanu. From here we follow the road marked with a yellow stripe to the right (west) for about 2 kilometers, until reaching Gura Plaiului, where the road enters the forest.
We leave the road and climb the steep slope at the edge of the forest toward the south, and soon reach the limestone ridge of Pietrele Albe.
Ahead rises the impressive cliff, at whose base the roar of Rudăreasa Stream can be heard as it gathers its waters below Fratoșteanu Mare Peak (2,053 m), whose silhouette can be seen in the distance. We continue climbing along the rocky ridge to the highest point toward the west, where the view in all directions is truly impressive. The scenic route is enriched by numerous small caves and by the calciphilous vegetation characteristic of the area.
For the return, we can either follow the path over Padina Mountain or take the road that continues east to Chica Lupului Saddle, from where we descend toward Voineasa along the trail marked with a blue triangle.