i am just an nostalgic communist

winter

It was a late september or probably november, i can't recall exactly. We decided to make a weekend trip on Bucegi. We left with the morning train and we got off at Sinaia. We were supposed to climb to the 2000 level and then to Furnica and stop as far as we could get - Piatra Arsa most likely.

We start climbing. There was not much snow in the city and teh weather was stable though the sky was cloudy. After passing the 200 level, we also left behind the forest. The wind was blowing harder here. We were not protected anymore by the trees.

After a tight curve, we arrived in a spot sheltered by a large boulder. Thomas said we need to stop and eat something. He takes out a box with fried fat from Sacele. We ate. It was good. After this we opened a chocolate and we started going again - we were still far from the peak.

Just at the foot of the slope, a warning sign: Danger Avalanches! There was indeed lot of snow from here up. We start climbing with snow reaching our waists. Though we are both quite good climbers I have to admit that Thomas is better than me. He heads up cutting the thick snow.

After some time (45 minutes or more) we start seeing the salvamont cottage. We start pusing harder though is still quite far. The last part is a very steep part I feel like my powers are deserting me. We had passed the old lift shelter, where we had stopped to eat some more chocolate, and we started climbing next to the rusting lift's pillars.

We finally reach the cottage - i think that there was only one salvamont guy. He invited us in. He was happy to see us. Not too many people are climbing during winter here. We ate together with him while listening to the radio. He shared a bit of his life there. In winter he would go twice a week down the city. If it was an emergency it was possible to call some reinforcements. There was no running water adn electricty was provided by a power generator. He had rain water. He shared some of it with us - water is precious there. The cottage was shabby and you couldn't stop wondering how it resists the strong winds.

After leaving the cottage and its man we start climbing to Furnica. Thomas was again in front cutting the snow. We pass the new expensive looking cotage and we stroll through the meteo station. Wind is really hard.

We can't see much ahead but there is still light and this gives you hope. After passing the large antenas, we climb down to the saddle heading for Piatra Arsa.

I remember reaching the Piatra Arsa through some pines. We check in at the prici (the common dorm) which is outside of the solid looking, wealthy, refurbished main building. The dorm is mearly a tin covered shelter with many beds inside like a bunker. It is still light when we enter and set in.

We eat. Though it might seem that we eat all the time we are actually eating cause we need and this is at some hours distance between. When is cold you consume lots of energy. We eat fried fat, onion, cheese, salamay and bread.

After this Thomas decide to go out hoping to reach the cross. Then i didn't knew so well the plateau and hence i didn't knew that even during summer that was a 2 hours distance - while in winter with that snow and wind would have been 3 times maybe as much. Hence i don't try to stop Thomas - he anyway moved much better.

Meanwhile in the dorm some more people come in. I guess there were 4: 2 girls and 2 boys.. one of the girls (and from here i rememebr now i met Victoria) was student at teh civil engineering faculty just like me. We discuss. She was to select the bed up since the heat is going up - that's what she knew from physics.

It was getting late and thomas don't show up. It has been like 2 hours maybe since he left and no sign. Should i start to worry? i am not sure - what i am thinking is that (for my own comfort) my socks are still wet and my feets are freezing - boots I don't want to think to put them on again. I decide to wait - though a bit worried (what was i thinking????) The girls asked also about my companion: isn't he going to come - its already night. I am SURE he will be ok i say. (what te fuck!!!)

Indeed night had fallen and wind is blowing even harder. Whenever is dark outside the outside conditions tarts to get worser wether is only your feeling or its just the actual truth. What happened to Thomas? What should i do? Go after him? I didn't even had a headlight... Better to wait.. There was i think some 30 minutes maybe more of intense waiting and indecission.. Maybe i was started to think what if.. though at the very surface I was telling myself that it can't happen to Thomas.
Should i insist of how i felt then, while staying in bed in my sleeping sack?

He had finally arrived and looked pretty bad. He didn't had his glasses anymore. He went off while there was still light and he headed north to the cross. He walked pretty easy because the road from Piatra Arsa on is between the small pines that were protecting the road from snow and winds. He realised when it was starting to get darker that he wouldn't be able to reach the cross and that if he don't return he is jeopardising his life. Hence he returned though it was already night. On the way, he lost the track: the wind blew so much that covered all the marks behind. He headed in the direction he thought was right but he felt in a thick layer of snow.

It could have been that he was walking above the pines that were covered by snow. He didin't realised that it might fell between their branches and get stuck in there.
He started fighting to get out, but the snow wouldn't provide him enough support to help him - it would constantly go down like quick sands. He started to call for help, but who could hear him on such a weather? This could have been the end.

I am not sure if he succeded in getting out of the snow trap before or after he has saw the light from the cottage. In any case he had realised that he might survive now that he knew where to head to. It might have been that the wind allowed the clear sight of the cottage and he could see the island of hope. He strolled back slowly and he had arrived to the dorm.

While he was eating he told his story in his unique Romanian. He looked down and he obviously blamed himself for this unwise decission. His glasses, he took them off and put them in his pocket - when he took them out they were full of snow.

We slept in the beds under the window - it was not a good spotsince it was colder than anywhere in the room. However we slept well since he had survieved.

The second day both our lives had been putted to the test.

my room

Pisicuta lis, lis, lis....