The "Via-Retezat" Mountain Tourism Association, together with the "Retezat Între Pământ și Cer" Association, with the Romanian Federation of Sports Tourism as co-organiser, under the aegis of the National Sports Tourism Championship: Ștafeta Munților (the Mountain Relay) & FRTS, invites you to take part in Trofeul "Via-Retezat" (the Via-Retezat Trophy), 5th edition, on 19–21 July 2024 in the Râușor Resort, in Munții Retezat (the Retezat Mountains).
The competition is the 3rd stage in the competition calendar of Ștafeta Munților & FRTS 2024. On this occasion we invite all mountain clubs, NGOs and mountain lovers in the country to join us, the organisers, in as large numbers as possible. This competition is aimed both at people affiliated to the Ștafeta and at those who are not affiliated but who wish to live this wonderful experience in an organised setting.
All participants in Trofeul Via-Retezat will have the chance to reach the splendid Tăul dintre Brazi lake. Imagine the blue sky mirrored in its clear waters, as you breathe the clean air and admire the amazing landscapes of these spectacular mountains.
For the more experienced participants, we have a special stopping point: Lacul Galeșul (Galeș Lake). The famous lake is located at an altitude of 1990 m, in a spectacular alpine clearing, surrounded by impressive rocky ridges and rich vegetation; this place offers an unforgettable view and an authentic mountain experience.
And for the restless and energetic ones, the mountain runners, there will be the chance to enjoy a dream panorama of the main ridges of the Retezat, seen from a height of over 2300 m, from Șaua Vârfului Mare (the Vârful Mare Saddle).
Thus, this competition will take place in 7 categories: Family, Juniors, Women, Elite, Seniors, Veterans and Open, and each team will be made up of 3 members.
Competition events:
· Mountain raid - a mountain route of 8 hours' hiking time, which will reach the wonderful Galeș glacial lake and Șaua Vârful Mare (altitude 2370 m). Sports footwear with a special grippy sole for trekking is compulsory for this event.
IMPORTANT: the Family category will have a shorter route of 4 hours and 40 minutes, and they will reach the wonderful and famous lake – Tăul dintre Brazi. For this event, all participants will be transported by minibus from the camp area to the Cârnic tourist area, from where they will start the event.
Points awarded: 10,000 points. Penalties: 10 pts / 1 minute and 500 pts / 1 PFA
· Theoretical knowledge – 15 multiple-choice questions about the competition area, giving first aid in case of accidents, mountaineering, meteorology and the flora/fauna of Romania. All the questions are of easy difficulty and have ONLY ONE CORRECT ANSWER. You will find the questions on the website www.stafetamuntilor.ro.
IMPORTANT: the theoretical event will be held before the other events, in the camp, on the terrace of Pensiunea Dora. Each team member will answer 5 questions.
Points awarded: 1,500 points. Penalties: 20 points / 1 wrong answer
· Orienteering - a speed event on the map. The whole team will enter this event. The event will take place in the resort, on the return, after the end of the raid and climbing events.
IMPORTANT: Keeping the maps when leaving the course and communicating with the teams entering the event later is forbidden!
Points awarded: 5,000 points. Penalties: 1 pt / 1 second
· Climbing - The event involves climbing a rock route of medium difficulty, belayed, in a top-rope system, using only natural holds. The event is held in the categories: men, women and children. One member of the mountain route team takes part in this event, individually.
Prizes are awarded separately. The ranking is based on the height climbed and the time achieved.
· Mountain running; the event consists of a 1.5 km run on a forest road, from the end of the mountain raid event to the Start area (Cârnic car park). The event is held in the categories: men, women, children. Participation in this event is individual.
Prizes are awarded separately.
· Cultural Event, each club has 20 minutes to present a performance on a theme specific to mountain tourism: music, poetry, sketch/satire and humour, the club anthem. To obtain the maximum number of points you will also have to present a quatrain containing three compulsory words: Retezat, Galeș, pădure (forest).
Points awarded: the average of the marks multiplied by 100. Penalties: depending on the marks received, in accordance with the SM rules.
Competition categories:
1. FAMILY – teams made up of at least one adult and, compulsorily, at least one child aged 13 or under;
2. JUNIORS – competitors aged between 14-20, regardless of sex;
3. ELITE – competitors regardless of age and sex;
4. OPEN – competitors regardless of age and sex. The times for this category are calculated as hiking times;
5. SENIORS – competitors aged over 35, regardless of sex.
6. VETERANS – competitors aged over 50, regardless of sex
7. WOMEN - teams of girls, regardless of age.
Compulsory equipment:
- Individual - hiking boots, whistle, rain clothing/cape, torch, fire source
- Per team - first aid kit in accordance with the rules, water bottle, compass, telephone with a camera or a photo camera.
The camp will be set up in the Râușor Resort. The resort is located at an altitude of 1250 m, on the northern slope of Munții Retezat, with easy access on an asphalt road that winds along the Râușor stream, below the famous Colț Fortress (Cetatea Colț). Because of the modernisation works in the ski slope area, the tents will be pitched in the green area between the chalets next to Pensiunea Dora. For those camping, there is a sanitary block (toilets and showers) in the building next to the fenced football pitch.
Those who want accommodation can call the guesthouses on the list in the invitation in advance, or can access the link with the guesthouses in the Râușor Resort area.
You can also choose where to eat. The Dora and Clif Alpin guesthouses offer breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Competition programme:
Friday, 19 July 2024:
· Welcoming the participants - at Pensiunea Dora in the Râușor Resort,
· Technical briefing (in the evening, after the arrival of the last club announced),
· 24:00 - lights out in the camp.
Saturday, 20 July 2024:
· 6:40 Collection of the competition numbers, on the terrace of Pensiunea Dora,
· Team photo,
· 7:00 Theoretical Knowledge event, to be held on the terrace of Pensiunea Dora,
· 7:30 Departure of the first minibus to the venue of the mountain raid and climbing events,
· 8:30 Start of the Mountain Raid event. On arrival from the event, the raid card is handed in and those who wish can register for the running event,
· At the end of the running/Mountain Raid event and on arrival in the Cârnic car park, registrations are taken for the climbing event and the teams can board the minibuses to travel to the area where the event takes place, in the Râușor valley. The other participants will leave by minibus, further on to the Râușor Resort, where they will enter the orienteering event, depending on their arrival in the camp,
· 21:30 - Lighting of the campfire and the Cultural Event, in the car park area of the Râușor Resort.
Sunday 21 July 2024:
· 10:00 - Prize-giving ceremony,
· 12:00 – Cleaning up the camp and departure of the participants for home.
Access to the Râușor Resort is possible from the following directions: the Hațeg Depression, Caransebeș and the Jiu Valley.
· The Hațeg Depression: can be reached from Simeria on DN 66: Simeria — Hațeg – Râu de Mori – Râușor Valley – Râușor Resort;
· Caransebeș: on DN 68, Caransebeș – Clopotiva - Râu de Mori - Râușor Valley – Râușor Resort;
· Petroșani: DN66, Sântămăria Orlea – Unciuc - Râu de Mori – Râușor Valley – Râușor Resort.
From Hațeg there are 3 access routes to Râu de Mori:
· Hațeg – Cârnești – Ostrov - Râu de Mori,
· Hațeg - 2 km before Sarmisegetusa, turn left towards Clopotiva - Brazi - Râu de Mori,
· Hațeg/ Petroșani - Sântămărie Orlea - Unciuc - Râu de Mori.
Distance: Hațeg – Râu de Mori – Râușor Resort: 30 km
GPS coordinates of the Râușor Resort: 45.41815N 22.84339E
Organisers' information
For more information about the competition, the organisation and access to the Râușor Resort area:
· Ina – 0726125776, (Via-Retezat) – organisation + access to the area;
· Carmen – 0744494026, (Victoria Brașov) – organisation + access to the area;
· Ghiță – 0726210641, (Via-Retezat) – organisation + access to the area;
· Simona – 0756193173, (Via-Retezat) – organisation + access to the area;
· Călin – 0722566929 (Pensiunea Dora) – access to the area, accommodation and meals.
Mobile phone signal in the Râușor Resort area
· Telekom - signal throughout the resort;
· Vodafone/Orange - only in certain areas of the resort.
Contact details for guesthouses in the Râușor Resort:
· Pensiunea Clif Alpin - 0743 797 096, accommodation and meals, Bill – competition partner;
· Pensiunea Ancuța 0722 40 40 87
· Cabana Rustic - 0722 40 40 87
· Vila Artemis – 0723 159 041
· Vila Ioana - 0722 876 200
· Cabana de la Munte - 0724 320 347
· Roxmar – 0722 607 735
· Pensiunea Sarah – 0726 155 110
· Vila Sergiu - 0722 224 245
· Cabana Inabela - 0783 074 745
· Cabana Râușor - 0726 584 963
…plus many other chalets and guesthouses, which you can find by accessing the following links:
· https://retezat-rausor.ro
· https://www.turistinfo.ro/rausor/cazare-hoteluri-vile-pensiuni-rausor.html
· https://www.infopensiuni.ro/cazare-rausor ....
IMPORTANT: For accommodation – The guesthouses in the area usually rent out the whole guesthouse, but for the competition it will be possible to book by the room. Specify that you are coming for "Trofeul Via-Retezat" and you can book accommodation by the room.
