Hiking the Wild Carpathians: Untamed Romania on Foot invites readers into one of Europe's last great wilderness frontiers-a realm where primeval forests, shepherd trails, and wooden villages still pulse to the rhythm of older centuries.Told in an intimate first-person voice, this journey unfolds across the vast spine of the Carpathians, from the limestone citadels of Piatra Craiului and the wind-swept ridges of the Făgăraș Mountains to the storybook valleys of Maramureș and the silent peaks of Rodna. Mary M. Slessor brings readers face-to-face with Romania's raw and unspoiled landscapes, where bears leave prints in morning mud, mist cloaks the fir trees, and shepherds still guard their flocks beneath wide Transylvanian skies.Blending adventure travel, cultural portrait, and wilderness reflection, the narrative captures both the hardship and grace of mountain life. Along remote footpaths and forgotten hamlets, Slessor encounters the enduring spirit of the Carpathians: people who live by the seasons, traditions kept alive through song and craft, and a landscape that resists modern taming.With poetic observation and field-worn authenticity, Hiking the Wild Carpathians reveals the timeless connection between humanity and nature-a bond carved deep into the heart of Romania's highlands. Whether you're a seasoned trekker or an armchair traveler, this book carries you beyond the map's edge, into a Europe that still breathes with myth and mountain wind.