If you enjoyed this video, don't forget to subscribe to my channel!
The complete route taken for this video is as follows: Bratocea Pass - Bratocea Hut - Bratocea Relay - Tigailor Saddle - Ciucas Chalet - Ciucas Peak - return to Bratocea Pass.
Ciucas Massif is a geological formation that is part of the Curvature Carpathians, a segment of the Eastern Carpathians. It is located east of the upper reaches of the Teleajen and Tărlung rivers. Its neighbors include the Tătaru Mountains and the Siriu Mountains to the southeast and east, the Întorsurii Depression, the Întorsurii Mountains to the north, and the Grohotiș Mountains to the west.
The highest point is Ciucas Peak, with an altitude of 1,954 m. Other notable peaks include Gropșoare (1883 m), Tigăile Mari (1844 m), and Zăganu (1817 m).
The massif is formed by two main ridges, the Ciucas - Bratocea ridge in the southwest-northeast direction and the Gropsoarele-Zăganu ridge in the northwest-southeast direction, linked by the Chirușca mountain pass. The Ciucas - Bratocea ridge constitutes the western part of the massif, divided into two sections separated by the Tigailor saddle. The Ciucas ridge represents the northern section, reaching its maximum altitude at Ciucas Peak (1954 m), while the Bratocea ridge represents the southern part, stretching for over 5 km.
The main access points and accommodation in the massif are Cheia Resort, Muntele Roșu Cabin, and Ciucas Cabin, accessible through Bratocea Pass from Brașov. Cheia Resort has two hotels and many guesthouses, and the Muntele Roșu Complex includes the original cabin built in 1948, the Bujorul Roșu cabin, and a disco hall, near which are the Silva cabin and a seismic station.
The former "Alexandru Vlahuță" cabin (now known as "Ciucas Cabin") has been rebuilt on the same site on Chirușca Mountain and operates as a three-star accommodation unit. Access is via a gravel road following the course of the Beer Creek, but the last part of the road is only accessible to four-wheel-drive vehicles due to the steep slope and rockfall.
There is a natural reserve with a rugged relief and rich vegetation of meadows, shrubs (blueberries, juniper, wild rosemary, juniper), and rocky plants (green sedge, edelweiss). Many wild animals live in the Ciucas Massif: bear, wild boar, deer, lynx, fox, pine marten, squirrel, wildcat, chamois. Birds are represented by eagles, mountain eagles, buzzards, nightingales, titmice, magpies, and reptiles by the common viper and the mountain lizard (Lacerta vivipara).