Downhill skiing
Poina Brasov, the main ski resort in Romania, is around 40mins drive from the villa. The skiing is interesting but not extensive, and includes quite a large beginners slope. Ski and boot hire is available in the resort.

Resorts in other towns and areas of Romania are smaller and less well developed. There are ski pistes at several of the small towns between Sinaia and Brasov along the Prahova valley, and a number of single pistes with tows have appeared next to small towns over the last few years, eg Bran.

500m down the road from the Casa is the well known Calea Gradisti (small) hotel complex. Within the grounds is a small downhill ski piste and lift, which was opened in early 2004. We haven't had a chance to try it out yet, but will do so and update this later.

Cross country skiing
This is not well developed as a general sport or means to travel in Romania, although Romania has a national cross- country skiing team. The lower slopes of the mountains range from gentle to steep, and the higher slopes are often steep cliffs leading up to wider ridges. On foot access to the ridges will be via paths which wind up the side of the cliffs at a few places, following small escarpments or valleys. There is cable car and chair lift access up to some of the ridges from downhill ski areas, and some cabana's in higher locations. Both day trips, and ski touring between huts are possible, but subject to snow conditions. The Fagaras ridge is the highest, most dramatic, extensive and dangerous in Romania, but it's relatively inaccesible in winter. Consequently, it offers interesting ski touring as yet untried or tested. Fagaras usually has snow, but changeable conditions increase the risk of avalanches

Snow record
The highest peaks around Poiana Brasov are around 2500m, but with it's continental climate Romania often has a lot of snow. The temperature in the mountains can change very quickly, resulting in rapid freeze or thaw conditions. The snow record in Romania has been variable over the last few years, ands in winter 2003 there was good snow for skiing from December through to April, but it was patchier durinr winter 2004.

More details available later.