Hiking where you might meet bears

The snow is deep at an altitude of 1,700 meters (5,577 feet) in the Carpathian Mountains. There is no sign of a hiking path, but Radu Zaharie knows his way around here. The sun is shining and the moment is perfect. "We now have a clear view to the north. To the north-west we can see the Depression of Sibiu, and way off you can see the eastern Carpathians. On really good days, especially in the winter, when we have these really cold days, there is a chance to see the entire Carpathian Mountain range all the way to the Ukraine, a vista of over 600 kilometers," he explains.

Radu Zaharie knows this area inside out, including the two 1,000-meter high peaks far off in the distance. As a mountain guide, he organizes one and two-week hikes, going from hut to hut.

In the winter, he also does skiing tours: "This niche is still relatively small, but yes, an increasing number of guests are discovering going to the Carpathians in winter." 

Humans are of no interest to brown bears

Radu Zaharie, like many in Romania, is trying to promote tourism, or more precisely soft tourism, which involves activities like hikes close to nature. As one of the poorest countries in the European Union, Romania needs this income from tourism all the more. 

"If you think of crossing the Carpathians, then some for instance want a ridge walk in the Fagaras Mountains, which means hiking from hut to hut in the Piatra Craiului Mountains National Park. But then there are also packages designed for those guests who say they want a little more comfort. Rather than spending the night in a mountain-ridge hut on a plank bed, they prefer a nice guest house with a steam bath. And where they can watch wild animals, like bears, and more."

Encountering bears while on a hike is a distinct possibility, but tourists should not be scared of them, says our expert: "For brown bears, humans are of no interest whatsoever. Humans would have to do a lot of silly things for a bear to pose a threat to them. Remember we are talking about European brown bears. These are not to be confused with Grizzly bears."

German Alpine Club as role model

Compared to the Alps, alpine tourism here is still in its infancy, but Zaharie is trying to revive the SKV Transylvanian Alpine Club "Asociația Carpatină Ardeleană a Turiștilor."

He also supports the restoration of historical mountain huts. Some of the most beautiful ones can be found in and around Păltiniş - which means high channel - Romania's highest mountain resort. "These huts are some of the oldest in the Carpathians. They were built by the SKV alpine club," Radu Zaharie explains. Sadly, in Păltiniş you also find slab buildings from the Ceausescu era. "Here you can see how easy it is to disfigure a charming mountain resort," Zaharie says. 

'We are really learning like small children'

Radu Zahirie says things are attractive when they aren't perfect and developed. Hence the Carpathians offering lots of untouched nature: "Sometimes I feel like a small helpless child who is trying to open its eyes and orientate itself. Especially when it comes to tourism, where we are taking the first careful steps in cooperation with the Romanian ecological tourism association Romanian Friends of Nature. It feels as if we are really learning like little children."   

And talking of children: When the brown bears have their young it can be dangerous for hikers, who should then keep their distance. Fortunately, during that time the bears hide very well, so you just might see their footprints in the snow.

Rolf Borchard/sbc (Deutschlandfunk)