General description:

 

     The 100 km route belongs to the category of self-sufficient races, the profile being particularly difficult, with steep ascents and descents on all types of road and paths and having an altitude gain of over 6400 m. The race, in short, follows the route below:

   Bran Castle (departure) - Poarta village (2 km of asphalt to the Opris Bridge) - Saua Tiganesti (via Clincea, marked with red tape) - Cabana Malaiesti (marked with yellow tape) - Hornurile Malaiesti (marked with blue tape) - Varful Omu - Refugiul Batrana (red tape marking) - Salvamont Pestera (red triangle marking) - Babele (blue cross marking) - Omu Peak (yellow tape marking) – Poiana Costilei (yellow tape route) - Partia Kalinderu (yellow tape marking, red triangle and unmarked path, clear) - Busteni cable cabin (unmarked, clear path and marking with yellow dot) - Piatra Arsa Cabin (blue triangle marking) Valea Soarelui Cabin (marking with yellow tape + unmarked path, clear + marking with red tape) - Bolboci Cabin (marking with yellow cross) - Plaiul lui Mircea (marking with red triangle) - Saua Strungulita (marking with yellow dot) - Saua Strunga (marking with red tape) - Valea Băngăleasa Barrier (marking with red cross) - Moieciu de Sus (clear path, unmarked on Malul Laichii) - Poiana Guțanu (unmarked path, clear + marking with red tape) - Poiana Gaura (marking with blue triangle) - Valea Poarta (marking with red cross) - Bran Castle (on Muchia Grajdului, unmarked path, clear).

 

   Detailed description:

 

     The 100 km race starts from the courtyard of Bran Castle and after 2 km of asphalt, through the village of Poarta, at the Oprișului Bridge, it turns left and follows a steep country road to the edge of the forest. From here, there is a gentle climb to the base of the route towards Șaua Tigănești, via Clincea. Along with the red tape marker, a sustained climb through the forest and then through the alpine gap begins, to the Tigănești refuge (2195 m), about 5 km, with an altitude gain of 1100 m. From the Tigănești refuge, the route leaves the marker with the red tape and go down to the left, towards the Mălăiesti cabin on the yellow tape marking, via Lacul Țigănești and Padina Crucii - approximately 3.5 km, with a difference in level of 500 m. From the check point at the Mălăiesti cabin (1720 m) the route continues with a steep ascent on a stone path and in places grassy, ​​through the Mălăiesti Valley - about 3 km, with an altitude gain of more than 600 m, marked with blue tape - ending at the Hornurile Malaiesti exit (2378 m). From the exit of Hornurile Mălăiesti follows an easy climb through the alpine gap to the Vârful Omu check point (2505 m), the highest point of the route. From here to the Bătrâna refuge, there is a very good section of running, about 5 km through the alpine gap, also passing through the jnepeniș (marked with a red tape). From the Batrâna refuge, it descends quite steeply, 5 km with a difference in level of 600m, to Salvamont Peștera through Valea Doamnele, marked with red triangle. At the check point at Salvamont Peștera, competitors can also revitalize themselves with a hot soup. Also here the 50 km and 80 km/100 km races separate, the 80 km/100 km climbing steeply to Babele (2206 m), about 2.5 km, the difference in level 600 m, marked with blue cross. Once in Babele, the competitors will continue with an easy climb through the alpine gap to the Omu Peak - about 4.5 km with an altitude gain of 400 m, marked with yellow tape. After the check point at Vârful Omu, the competitors will start a very steep descent down the Valea Cerbului, until the entrance to the forest - about 4 km with a difference in level of 1100 m. Once the entrance to the forest, the slope gets sweeter and after still approx. 2 km the route leaves the yellow tape marking at Poiana Coștilei, turning right and following the red triangle marking towards the Bușteni Alpine Lodge. About 500 m before the Alpine Lodge, the route turns right, through the forest, on an unmarked, clear path to the check point on the Kalinderu Ski Slope (km 45), where the competitors will be able to refresh themselves and retrieve the drop-bag, which will be transported here by the organizers. From here, after a short and steep climb - approx. 150 m, the route follows an unmarked, clear path through the forest, meeting on the last part the route with the yellow dot that exits at the Bușteni Cable Cabin. After crossing a stream and a forest road, the route starts to climb steeply towards the Piatra Arsă cabin, on Jepii Mari, via Cantonul Schill - about 5 km with a difference in level of 1000 m, marked with blue triangle. From the Piatra Arsă Cabin control point (1905 m), there is a 10 km gradual descent section, very good for running, towards the Bolboci Cabin (1460 m), through the alpine gap and through the forest. This section briefly follows the yellow tape marking towards the yellow tape marking towards the Miorița cabin - approx. 400 m, after which it turns right on an unmarked, clear path through the juniper and emerges into the alpine hollow, following the trail to the old Schill funicular, where it turns right on a steep grassy descent that ends in a stream in Valea Izvorul Dorului. From here, follow the route marked with a red tape, along the stream, to the Valea Soarelui Cabin, where it turns right on the route marked with a yellow cross, to the Bolboci cabin. At this check point the runners will be rewarded with a portion of pasta, in addition to the other snacks and drinks. When leaving Bolboci, the route turns left and after 500 m on a forest road, there is a 1.5 km climb to the cross on Plaiul lui Mircea. From here it turns to the right, following the route from the summit, towards Strungulita, marked with yellow dot. After reaching Strungulita, the route turns right, on the path to Saua Strunga, marked with red tape. After passing through Șaua Strunga, the route continues on the red cross marker, on Piciorul Boului and Băngăleasa Valley. From here continue to the barrier and go up to the left, passing through several gardens until you reach the asphalt, where the route turns right and after 100 m you reach the Moieciu de Sus School, where there is also the checkpoint with pasta, soup, snacks and drinks. At the exit of the check point turn left on the tarmac for 250 m and then left again over a wooden footbridge, from where a steep climb begins on an unmarked, clear path that takes about 15 - 20 minutes to reach the forest. An easy ascent follows, during which you meet the red tape marking that leads to Poiana Guțanu. At Cabana de Vânătoare, the path turns left towards Poiana Gaura, on the blue triangle marking. From here the route follows a gradual descent until the finish, except for the short climbs to Saua Polițe and Muchia Grajdului. Thus, the route will follow the red cross marking through the forest (7 km) and a section of forest road. From here, for the last 4.5 km, to avoid the traffic on Valea Poarta, the race continues, turning left and going up a path from Muchia Grajdului, where you reach the Sports Hall. The last 200 m are parallel to DN 73, the arrival being in the courtyard of the Bran Castle with the entrance to the right through the Bran Customs.

 

   Difficulties:

 

     - first ascent: Bran Castle (750 m) - Saua Tiganesti (2195 m), 9 km with an altitude gain of 1450 m;

     - the steep descent from Padina Crucii to the Malaiesti cabin;

     - the ascent of the last 350 m from Hornurile Malaiesti;

     - the descent from the Batrana refuge to Salvamont Pestera;

     - Pestera - Babele steep ascent;

     - the descent to Valea Cerbului, between Omu Peak and Busteni;

     - Busteni Cable Cabin ascent - Piatra Arsa Cabin;

     - the sections of the route covered at night: Piatra Arsa Cabin – finish line (Castelul Bran);

     - the long descents that follow the ascents are very difficult for the muscles and joints.

 

   Checkpoints:

 

     - Malaiesti Cabin (km 13) - food, fruit, water, energy drinks;

     - Vârful Omu I Cabin (km 17) - control;

     - Refugiul Batrâna (km 22) - control;

     - Salvamont Peștera (km 27) - soup, food, fruit, water, energy drinks;

     - Vârful Omu II cabin (km 35) - control;

     - Kalinderu ski slope (km 45) - food, fruit, water, energy drinks, drop bag;

     - Cabana Piatra Arsă (km 54) - food, fruit, water, energy drinks;

     - Cabana Bolboci (km 63) - pizza, food, fruit, water, energy drinks;

     - Strunga Refuge (km 71) – control, first aid point;

     - Moieciu de Sus (km 82) - pizza, soup, food, fruit, water, energy drinks;

     - Poiana Guțanu (km 90) - food, fruit, water, energy drinks.

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