27 March, 2021

With the beginning of March, spring has officially arrived. On the gray winter evenings, writing the blog, looking at the map, I found this hike, which I am sharing with you. 

My friends reading the blog asked me to call them if I go hiking. Thus, in the following other familiar faces are likely to appear in the images.

Our destination was the Cheile Vălișoarei between Vălișoara and Aiud and the Data peak rising next to it. Unfortunately, several settlements of Alba county have been quarantined, such as Rimetea. Therefore, we approached the strait from Aiud.

We arrived in the gorge around 10 o’clock. We parked the car and we started the hike.

The hiking trail started on the road, then deviating from the road, crossing the mild stream we turned to the pathway marked with red dot which we followed until the end of the hike. 

USEFUL INFO: The trail can be shortened by skipping the Data peak.

MWe didn’t shorten, so we continued on the red dot all the way to the base of the huge giant in front of us. We only climbed another 50 m from the foot of the mountain before resting to have a better view.

After a short rest, we started the steep climb on the rocks and soon steel cables helped our ascent. You don’t have to worry, it’s not rock climbing, the cables are only there as a reassurance, you can go on the rocks without them. The steep part is about 20 m long and as soon as it is over, we immediately reach the Data peak which is 884 m high.

We have already found snow on the summit. We chose a sunny, more windproof place and had lunch in no hurry. We enjoyed the sunlight, the view, the fresh air.

After lunch, we continued our trail on the red dot, that had now descended into the woods. In the forest was a winter mood, and then as we got lower and lower it was almost noticeable how the season changes, the cm of snow disappeared and the spring flowers appeared.

The road reached a meadow, then continued in the forest and began to climb the peak called Rachiș. We also rested at the second peak. Below us was the Vălișoara Strait, on the other side of the strait, there were tourists, just like us.

Bypassing the Cetatii cliff, from the back, we slowly got back to the road and then finally to the car. There is also a legend about Cetatii cliff, rising above the gorge. Legend has it that there was a fortress in this area that was conquered after a battle. The only survivor of the siege was a guard on top of a cliff. Legend has it that the guard left the area and founded the town of present-day Straja, 5 km from Alba Iulia.

Recommand for everyone this beautiful trail!

My Strava trail recording:

My Wikiloc trail recording: