Alinsky Monastery 2023

Another more or less "traditional" hike during the early spring months - to Alinsky monastery in the Plana mountain. This is definitely one of my favourite trails, as it is more or less level, with open tracks, here and there some woods and quite unpopular. I know I often qualify the unpopularity of the trail as one of its merits and that might sound misanthropic, but climbing with hundred of others like one does along the trails to Cherni vruh, Musala and other popular destinations, kind of defeats the purpose of the hike - to enjoy nature, beauty and silence.

We hiked to Alinsky Monastery on Sunday, the day of the fifth election in two years in Bulgaria. We chose to start early and hike first and vote later, which could easily explain the total lack of other tourists along the trails.

St Kipryan chapel

The day was sunny, with some chill in the air, but still warm. The cold and snow were to come later in the week.

Hike info:

Destination: Alinsky Monastery

Mountain: Plana

Total length: 13 km

Elevation gain: 200 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 3 hours and a half

Average difficulty: 3 / 10

 

My love for Rila's snow covered peaks never tires :)

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

I: lingerie, socks, Sabrina Slims II, Burda hoodie

Husband: men's boxers, Knipmode cargo pants, orange blouse

To spice up the hike, we rose the speed and covered the trail in less than 3 and a half hours with the picnic. At one point I was sure I would have muscle aches on the following day, but I was OK actually.

The church of Alinsky Monastery. We had our picnic on the grass on the hill by the church