The Mountain SportsFestival "Parângul Mare"

The Mountain Sports Festival "Parângul Mare" was the 4th stage of the Ștafeta Munților (the Mountain Relay) National Championship and brought together more than 300 people from all over the country at the beginning of August 2013 at Cabana Groapa Seacă, in the Parâng Mountains, people who were able to compete in various mountain-specific activities.
The Mountain Sports Festival "Parângul Mare", like a feature-length film that ran for 3 days in the Parâng Mountains, was a real success in promoting Romanian tourism and in educating young people in a green spirit, by offering them opportunities to spend their free time in nature.
Those who came in very large numbers took part as teams, made up as follows: children accompanied by adults, juniors, families and experienced people.
The children who registered in the category intended for them were able to learn how to find their way in the forest with the help of a compass, what a hike is and how climbing is done, and what a united team means; they recited poems, sang and performed plays.
The first day of the festival was dedicated to welcoming the participants and lighting the campfire.
The second day brought surprises for the little ones: a 6-year-old girl, a member of the Jnepenii team, organised creative activities exclusively for and with the children who had arrived at the camp.
The grown-ups also had plenty of activities, including a hike whose objective was to cover a mountain route: Refugiul Agățat – Stânca Roșiile – Lacul Zănoaga Stânei – Lacul Lung – Lacul Roșiile – Lacul Mândra, while the experienced ones climbed Parângul Mare Peak.
The orienteering event was enjoyed by everyone, but the most delighted were the children, who took part as a team rather than individually like the grown-ups. Using the coordinates, they had to find the lanterns hidden in the forest, and the climbing event was great fun, the difficulty of the route being low, so that even the inexperienced managed to climb to the top of the rock.
A special moment – as we had also organised at previous editions – was a marriage proposal, in front of everyone, by the campfire, with placards bearing various messages and good wishes.
At the cultural evening, young and old delighted the participants with folk music, poems, plays and comic sketches, with laughter and singing until morning.
The raffle held as part of the Mountain Sports Festival "Parângul Mare" was the highlight of the third day, and the little ones received the most prizes of all those who took part.
Based on the rankings, drawn up according to the events and the scores obtained, substantial prizes were awarded, thanks to our supporters.
Special prizes for various activities were also awarded at this festival.
We thank our supporters: CH-Center Hosting, Cuculis și Asociații Law Office, Green Smoke, Belkin International, OSF Global Services, Gorj County Council, Craimont, Doppelherz, IBU Publishing, Just t, O&R Bacău, Hamace Minor Swing, Mozartinno, Euro Park, Casa Bobo Baia de Fier, Vector Di Sign SRL.
Partners: the Guard Forest Foundation, the Hunedoara Salvamont Public Mountain Rescue Service, Cabana Groapa Seacă, Cocor Store, 2rism – Tourism Promotion Network, Cazare-Hotel – Efficient Hotel Promotion, Polaris M. Holding.