My first winter hike! Tarcu Peak (2185m) in Carpathians Mountains

One winter morning, I set out for the Țarcu Mountains with my golden retriever Geena and my boyfriend at the time. The air was crisp and cool, and a light dusting of snow covered the trail, enough to sparkle without slowing us down. Geena bounded ahead, pausing now and then to look back as if checking we were still following.

As we climbed, the trees thinned and the ridge opened up to sweeping views of snow‑blanketed peaks and valleys. I kept my camera at the ready: wide shots of rolling drifts, close‑ups of frost on pine needles, and the way the pale sunlight illuminated the slopes.

Late in the afternoon, we reached a small clearing with a perfect westward view. The sky shifted through golds and pinks as the sun dipped behind the mountains.

When the last glow faded, we made our way back down, tired but happy, with memory cards full of winter landscapes and sunset hues that I couldn’t wait to share.