Carpathian Mts. - Bucegi Massif

[Gabriela]

Hmm. I am tempted but can't before about 10th of July this year. Maybe a bit late?

Well, you can never catch everything in flower no matter what. There is good variation in altitude that extends the flowering period for many species.
This year the vegetation is really advanced so I cannot say precisely. I can give you a seed list to collect 

[Robert]

Gabriela,

I finally had an opportunity to check out your photographs from the Bucegi Massif.

How beautiful and interesting! 

Thank you for sharing. I look forward to seeing more plants and scenery if you get the opportunity. I would love to learn more about the plants and the region in general. I am as likely to travel to the Bucegi Massif as Tuvo - i.e. it is not going to happen. One good reason why I enjoyed your postings. Very 

[Hoy]

Well, you can never catch everything in flower no matter what. There is good variation in altitude that extends the flowering period for many species.
This year the vegetation is really advanced so I cannot say precisely. I can give you a seed list to collect 

If I go and if I come across ripe seeds I will collect some, list or no list

[Jacek]

Paths maintained by  use by BEARS??!!!!!!

I admired your reaction to the "bears". You, the inhabitants of the Britain, are not personally familiar with this animal, the brown bear, Ursus arctos. How long time ago it became extinct in your area? Centuries?

The Carpathian population of brown bear is big and present in every country having a share in those mountains, including Poland. The Polish population is really small (about 80 individuals), yet growing. In the lowlands of Poland bears became extinct in 1800's.

But the Roumanian bear population is between 4000 and 6000! So I believe, they are numerous enough to help maintain mountain paths.

This animal is not completely safe while accidentally meeting a hiker, but the risk is low. The risk rises while meeting a female with offsprings (mainly in the spring).

During my numerous hikes in Carpathians in Poland I have never met a bear, but I have seen a footprint on the snow.

[Maggi Young]

1000 years, Jacek!   The thought of sufficient bears to  be making good paths  was  quite a thought!

 I am, however, quite confident that one is NOT  going to meet one behind every tree and rock on a trail in that beautiful scenery! 

[Gabriela]

Robert,

I am glad I reciprocate a bit the enjoyment I get from your explorations! Life is too short to travel everywhere. So little time and so many wonderful place and plants! Here is an edelweiss for you:


Regarding the bears, again - going back anyone can see I said maintained by "chamois, bears and occasional hikers". If to break it down, it would be let's say for 25 chamois - 1 bear and 10 hikers.
Although the bear population is high as Jacek said, they are not all on the same mountain and there are lots of mountain ranges in Romania besides Bucegi.

But since we are talking bears, this is a photo someone sent it to me a few years ago

[Hoy]

I thought only suitors used that way

[Robert]

Gabriela,

The photograph of the bear is priceless! 

I am still laughing and smiling when I think of this image.   

It make me think of the raven that started and drove off in a car (truck). This thing has to be on the internet somewhere. I saw it years ago on the American PBS. Then there is the bear that walked into a super market in Alaska in the middle of the day. I do not watch TV but it was on the American CBS nightly news. 

Anyway very    Thank you for sharing.

[Gabriela]

I thought only suitors used that way

Does it bring back memories? 

Gabriela,
The photograph of the bear is priceless! 

That's why I kept it too; it will make me smile no matter what  I still have to see a raven driving a truck!

[Steve Garvie]

Does it bring back memories? 

That's why I kept it too; it will make me smile no matter what  I still have to see a raven driving a truck!

I once saw a two-headed Giraffe. 

[astragalus]

Gabriela, your picture of the bear is priceless.  All sorts of scenarios come to mind!

[Tristan_He]

Perhaps they need a cat:




edit by maggi : The  link showed a message that the video  had been disabled to play outside Youtube  so I amended the link to lead  to it there.    Pretty fierce little cat!!

[Gabriela]

Very amusing  Almost everyone there has a sort of guardian dog around the house.
Which is a think the explanation of the image - the bear, who seem to be a youngster, got scared, started to climb and thought about the attic like a place to hide.

[Maggi Young]

I think the bear is a teenager - climbing in the window after being out all night!

[Gabriela]

You may be right with this one Maggi!