Șerbota Peak

Route 18 BA connects Negoiu Cabin to Șerbota Peak, in an aerial ascent at times exposed, but with a beautifully wide horizon. A route with approximately 800 m elevation difference, in about 2–2.5 hours of hiking. The effort is rewarded by the perspective over the main ridge, surrounding ridges and the valleys at the bottom of Căldarea Sărății. 

Starting from Negoiu Cabin, one of the most spacious mountain cabins, with an old history – one of the first cabins established in our Carpathians – (see description of route 17). About 150 m from the cabin's annexes we find the signpost marking the intersection of the 4 routes in the area: PR (route 12) to Bârcaciu Cabin, CA (route 14) to Scara Refuge, TA (route 17) to Cleopatra's Needle, on the Dragon's Road, and BA, the route to Șerbota Peak.

Soon after we leave TA to the left and gently climb through the forest towards S-SW, on the western slope of Muchia Șerbota, on the trail marked CA, BA and PR, reaching the point where the route splits, then we climb in switchbacks through the forest and juniper shrubs, keeping to the ridge. After approximately 20 minutes we reach the alpine clearing. We keep the mountain ridge, enjoying the landscape with a beautiful view toward Negoiu Peak, Custura Sărății and Căldarea Sărății with Șerbota Waterfall below us.

A few short switchbacks lead us through rhododendron bushes to a sector of large slabs with lichens, then we continue on the ridge through a sometimes exposed area. The next sector crosses a stony groove in a wilder area and climbs steeply through a chimney to the main ridge, at the intersection with the BR mark (route 1B).

A final climb on an easy path, but rapidly gaining altitude, takes us to Șerbota Peak (2329 m), a place with a remarkable panorama over Custura Sărății, the surrounding ridges, the valleys at the bottom of Căldarea Sărății and the Lespezi and Negoiu giants. From the peak we can continue towards Scara Refuge, to Custura Sărății – an aerial, rugged sector, difficult to cross for those with vertigo and without experience – or we can bypass Custura Sărății on BG (route 19), through Căldarea Pietroasă.