Rilska Skakavitza 2025

One of our most favourite places - the valley of Skakavitza river in the Rila mountains and the big waterfall at the end of the valley. We hike here almost every year and it is always a fulfilling and at the same time different experience.

Yesterday was Saturday and August, so by definition the place was packed, unlike last year, when we hiked mid-July on a Friday and we were almost the only people for the entire 13 km of the hike. The day was warm, but cloudy, very pleasant for a hike in the high mountains.

I haven't posted lately about sewing, because I haven't done much lately, but in these pictures you can see my latest make - a pair of mid-calf leggings by Love Notions. The pattern is free, intended for children up to 14 years old and I've long ago found out that the largest children size fits me perfectly and I prefer them to the adult legging patterns I have.

Hike info:

Destination: Rilska Skakavitza Waterfalls

Mountain: Rila

Total length: 13 km

Elevation gain: 585 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 5 and a half hours

Average difficulty: 4 / 10 

The valley of Skakavitza river was at its best - green and colorful and full of flowers.

We climbed up the waterfall to a terrace in the mountain wall and had our lunch there, overlooking the valley.

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxer shorts, Burda hoodie, Burda blouse

I: lingerie, Love Notions LDT tunic, Love Notions joggings

Our lunch place. We found a small plantation of big ripe blueberries, growing there and picked a small box for a couple of blueberry cream cakes.

For our return back we chose the long alternative trail through the forest, where we picked another small box of berries - this time raspberries. Lots of berry cream cakes in our nearest future :)

Peak Selimitza, Vitosha 2025

On one of the hottest days of the year husband and I decided to hike high up on the plateau in the open and in the sun, instead of staying put at home, as normal people do. Crazy, right :)

We started fairly early, but it was one of those days, with equatorial nights, that were hot right from sunrise, even above the 2000 m line. Well, of course, the temperatures there were in the 20-ies, not in the 40-ies degrees, as down in the city.

We started from Zlatnite mostove in the direction of Kumata hut, where we refilled our water bottles and some additional water containers for the hike - bitter experience has taught us to carry excess water rather than risk dehydration during hikes on hot July days.

Konyarnika - the place is practically a raspberry garden, alas it's still early - the raspberries need a couple of weeks or so to ripen.

The plateau - my favourite part of this trail, with a glimpse to Ushite and Kamen del from a different point of view

Hike info:

Destination: peak Selimitza (2041 m)

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 17 km

Elevation gain: 650 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 5 hours

Average difficulty: 6 / 10 

Peak Samara and Cherni vruh in the distance

Our destination - peak Selimitza. Surprise, surprise - a pile of rocks :)

This is our second climb of Selimitza, one of Vitosha's dozen. The day was hot, the peak is a bit aside from the popular tracks, so it was no wonder, that we were the only ones around for miles :)

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

Husband: men's boxers, green Burda T-shirt, orange Burda T-shirt

I: lingerie, Burda blouse (mostly in the backpack), Burda shorts

Although it is probably the lowest of the Vitosha's dozen peaks above 2000 m, it is one of the most panoramic, with views in all directions, stretching from the Balkans to Rila and Pirin.

We had our lunch directly on the stones under the sun, cooled by the constant breeze on the top, enjoying our cold(ish) beers and the vast views.

On the way down we took the long and winding trail through huts Zvezditza and Edelweiss to Zlatnite mostove.

Blueberry Cream Cake

The idea for this cake was inspired by the traditional German Kirsch-Schmand-Blechkuchen - layer cake with a cream filling, made with pudding and sour cream. I don't think I had ever met such a combination and I was very curious to try it. In the original recipe the fruit is cherries, usually from cans, but I used the blueberries that i picked on Mechit specifically with this cake in mind.

Instead of a butter cake layer, I chose to make a biscuit cheesecake base out of cracker biscuits and butter. My cream layer is custard, mixed with sour cream and the last layer is blueberries (no idea how much, all that I had managed to collect) and one packet of tortenguss - German fruit glaze, which I ordered from amazon.de.

Ingredients: 

Biscuit layer:

• 200 g cracker biscuits
• 100 g melted butter 

Cream layer:

• 2 eggs
• 100 g sugar
• 50 g flour
• 400 g milk
• 150 g sour cream  

Berry layer:

• blueberries
• 1 pack red tortenguss 
• 50 g sugar
• 220 g water 

Preparation:

This cake is made without baking, but you still have to cook the custard and the tortenguss. First prepare the biscuit layer - grind the biscuits, mix them with the butter, spread the buttery crumbs on the bottom of a cake form and press. Leave in the fridge for at least half an hour to cool and harden a little.

Meanwhile cook the custard - beat the eggs with the sugar, add the flour, stir, add the milk gradually, while stirring with a whisk. Bring to boil on a hot plate, while stirring constantly, until the custard is cooked. Leave to cool completely, covering the top with a stretch foil to avoid the formation of a crust.

Once the custard has cooled to room temperature, stir in the sour cream until smooth and homogeneous.

Spread the cream on top of the biscuit layer and leave in the fridge for at least half an hour.

Place the berries on top of the cream layer. Cook the red glaze according to the instructions. Cover the berries with the glaze and leave the cake in the fridge overnight.

The resulting cake is very light, creamy, with a fresh fruity taste, ideal with the morning coffee.

Peak Mechit, Rila, 2025

Last Saturday we had our most brutal hike for the year so far - we climbed peak Mechit in the Rila mountains. Technically the hike is not very difficult, as there are no dangerous places or tricky climbing, but the elevation gain is quite harsh - 1252 m and the length is a killer. Additionally, there are no water sources after the Mechit lodge, so one has to bring sufficient water in the backpack.

The trail starts at the end of the village of Govedartzi and the first third is a very steep climb though a forest to Mechit lodge. 

We were lucky with the weather of Saturday, as it was fairly sunny and warm, but not scorching and at the same time the forecasts stated zero chance for rain or thunderstorms.

After Mechit lodge the trail turns into the so called Ferdinand's road. According to some information on the web, there was probably an old roman road, which was restored by king Ferdinand as the most direct pass from Borovetz on the nordern side of Rila to Rilski monastery on the southern side of the mountain.

On peak Maluk Mechit - the views get wider and farther

Hike info:

Date: 19 July 2025

Destination: peak Mechit

Mountain: Rila

Total length: 24 km

Elevation gain: 1252 m

Total duration (plus picnic): 9 hours

Average difficulty: 8 / 10

A glimpse from Maluk Mechit to Govedartzi and the other villages nearby, Samokov, Iskar dam and farther on to the Balkan mountains

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

Husband: men's boxers, cargo pants, Burda red T-shirt and blue T-shirt, Burda hoodie

I: lingerie, Burda blue reglan blouse, Love Notion Sabrina Slims II, Sinclair Lotte blouse

As we near peak Mechit, further the chains of peaks become visible and the view is breathtaking - Musala, the summit of Rila, is in the center of the picture.

The final access to the peak is through broken stones, but the path up is short and not that tricky.

Peaks Bezimenen and Lopushki to the south

We were lucky to be the only ones on the peak at that hour, so we had our picnic directly on the peak, with the million dollar view :)

After our late lunch, we continued along the Ferdinand's road to peak Bezimenen, to see the memorial plate

Peak Mechit from the south and the clearly visible Ferdinand's road

We returned to the car along the same path, passing by Mechit lodge. The whole hike took us 9 hours - with some significant blueberry picking along the way :)