People looking for wilderness think of Alaska or Patagonia. Yet the largest continuous primeval forest in Europe lies two hours away by plane: in the Romanian Carpathians.
This article explains what makes that area so remarkable, and why we run our wilderness training there instead of in the Alps.
Figures that characterise the area
- The Carpathians form an arc of roughly 1,500 kilometres through Central and Eastern Europe. The Romanian section is the largest and the least developed.
- Romania holds the vast majority of the European brown bear population outside Russia, alongside wolves and lynx. It is the only place in Europe where those three species still share one ecosystem.
- Considerable areas of primeval forest remain: woodland that has never been logged. Large parts of it are on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
What that means in the field: you walk for days without crossing a road, and the tracks you see are not human.
Why the terrain teaches you something
The Carpathians are not high mountains. The summits stay below 2,550 metres and there are hardly any technical climbing sections. The difficulty lies elsewhere.
Dense forest without paths
Navigating in forest is fundamentally different from being above the tree line. You see no landmarks, reception is unreliable and your speed is half of what you calculated. Excellent for actually learning to navigate rather than following a route.
Weather that turns fast
A continental climate means big differences between day and night, and thunderstorms building over the ridges in the afternoon. You learn to plan your day around the weather instead of around the map.
Large animals
Where bears live, your camp protocol changes. Storing food, choosing a camp site, making noise at the right moments: not folklore but routine you learn and keep up, even when you are tired.
From wilderness area to training ground
Precisely that combination, demanding but not technical, makes the Carpathians suitable as a training ground. You can build skills without a mistake being immediately life threatening, and still face real consequences.
Our nine day wilderness training builds on that: night navigation, rescue techniques, rappelling, shelter building and field logistics. It is also the first step in the selection process for anyone who wants to become an X Guide.
Why late March
Snow still lies on the highest ridges, the valleys are passable and the area is empty. It is also the moment when conditions are at their most variable, and that is exactly what makes the training valuable.
Who this is for
Two groups find their place here, and they strengthen each other in the field.
- Those who want to work outdoors professionally. Future guides who want to lay the groundwork thoroughly, with assessment and feedback.
- Those who want to push their limits. Entrepreneurs and high performers who want more than a trek, and want to know how they function when it gets uncomfortable.
The level is Challenge, four out of five. Heavier than our Highlands expedition, lighter than Xtreme Patagonia. What those levels mean is explained in which destination suits you.
Preparation
You do not need experience with navigation or ropework, you learn that on site. You do need to be physically able to move through heavy terrain for several days with a full pack. That is what the preparation programme of three to six months is for, with a physical analysis and a tailored training schedule.
Practical questions about gear? Start with our packing list for an expedition.
The Carpathians wilderness training
Nine days in the Romanian Carpathians, in two phases: months of preparation, followed by the training itself. Small group, guided by X Guides, and for those who want it the first step in the X Guide selection process. Dates and the current price are on the product page.