Alinsky Monastery

The unusual summer temperatures for our latitudes continued during the first fortnight of April - no complaints, keep up the Mediterranean weather! So this year spring is almost a month ahead compared to previous years and on Plana early in April the trees were already in bloom. Our hike there on the first Saturday of April was a leisurely walk up and down mountain trails with breathtaking views to the snow-covered peaks of Rila, framed by the blossoming plum trees on Plana.

The photo-reportage from our hike might seem a bit monotonous - snowy peaks and blossoming trees, but I just couldn't stop myself taking pictures of these beauties :)

Hike info:

Date:  06 April 2024

Destination: Alinsky Monastery

Mountain: Plana

Total length: 13 km

Elevation gain: 200 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 4 hours

Average difficulty: 3 / 10

Vitosha on the other side of Plana

The trail to Alinsky monastery is a bit unusual, as it starts somewhere mid-altitude at 1220m , goes up and down until it reaches some 1280 m and then down to 1060 m at Alinsky monastery - the lowest altitude point of our hike.

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

I: lingerie, Sabrina Slims II, orange Burda fleece jacket

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

We had our picnic and first beer outdoors for this year :) on a hill above the chapel. As usual along these trails in the lower mountains around Sofia, we were the only hikers there.

Across the fields - the hills of Manastirishte, the summit of Plana (1336 m)