How much does a hike cost?
Hikes are free. You only pay your share of the fuel if you travel in another participant’s car (the estimated cost is shown in each event, usually between 10 and 50 lei) and, if you like, the meal at the end. After the hike you can make a donation, but it is not compulsory and has no effect on joining future hikes.
Can I support the club without paying anything?
Yes. If you earn a salary in Romania, you can redirect up to 3.5% of your income tax to the club, between 1 January and 25 May, by filling in form 230 online on redirectioneaza.ro. Details on the Support the club page.
Do I have to be a member?
No. Hikes are open to everyone. Participants can become members by invitation from the president, after at least 10 hikes with us; see Become a member.
How do I sign up?
With the form on the event page, by Thursday of the hike’s week. On Friday morning you need to confirm by replying to our email. The steps are explained in Your first hike.
I don’t have a car. How do I get there?
No problem. When you sign up, say you need a seat and the club will place you in one of the participants’ cars. We split the fuel cost among the people in the car.
I’m driving. What do I need to do?
Say in the form how many free seats you have. On Friday evening you will get the list of people travelling with you.
What do the difficulty levels mean?
We use five levels, shown with 1 to 5 coloured bars. As a guide, based on our trails so far:
- Easy: short hikes without big climbs, good for starting out.
- Medium-easy: about 11 to 15 km and 500 to 800 m of ascent, around 6 to 7 hours.
- Medium: about 11 to 19 km and 550 to 1,100 m of ascent, around 8 hours.
- Medium-difficult: about 12 to 24 km and 800 to 1,300 m of ascent, 8 to 10 hours.
- Difficult: about 15 to 23 km and more than 1,100 m of ascent, 9 to 10 hours, usually in higher areas.
The terrain matters too: rocks, steep slopes, snow or ice in winter. If you are not sure a hike is right for you, write to us.
Can I bring my children?
Yes, children can come with a parent. Some hikes are not suitable for children; when that is the case, we say so in the event description. Our youngest participant so far was 8.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes. Dogs are welcome on our hikes, as long as they don’t bother other participants or other dogs. They don’t have to be on a leash.
Do I need hiking boots?
Yes, hiking boots are on the mandatory equipment list of our hikes. On rocks, mud or snow, trainers give no support and slip.
I don’t have crampons or trekking poles.
The club has 30 pairs of crampons and 10 pairs of trekking poles that it lends free of charge. Let us know when you sign up.
What happens if the weather is bad?
We follow the forecast in the days before the hike. If the weather requires it, we may change the route, and in extreme conditions we may cancel or postpone the hike. Any change is announced on the event’s Facebook page and by email.
I signed up but can’t come any more.
You can cancel at any time. It helps a lot, though, if you let us know by Friday at 5 pm, by email or WhatsApp, so we can rearrange the cars and give your place to someone else.
I’m slow. Will I be left behind?
No. With us, the slowest person sets the pace and nobody is left behind. Still, choose a hike that matches your fitness.
Where do you hike?
Mostly in the Apuseni Mountains (Trascău, Muntele Mare, Gilău, Vlădeasa, Bihor) and around Cluj, sometimes in the Țibleș Mountains. You can find them all on the map on the Trails page.
Do you speak English?
Yes. Events are written in Romanian and English, and the organiser speaks English. Participants from other countries are welcome.
Will I be photographed?
We take photos on hikes and publish them on the site and on social media. If you don’t want to appear, tell us; details in the privacy notice.