This is our second hike to peak Ushite on Vitosha and it is now in my list of favourite trails. The track starts from Zlatnite mostove - a major hub on Vitosha with trails in all directions, plenty of lodges and a few parking lots. As is our habit, when the weather permits it, we chose a Friday for our hike, as the access to the mountain by car is much easier on work days and the crowds are thinner, which is very noticeable in the summer.
The day was the first after a sequence of rainy days with thunderstorms and the heatwave had not hit yet, so it was pleasantly chill and a bit cloudy.
The forests in May and June are at their best, IMHO, lush and green, and the rivers are at their fullest.
Hike info:
Once we got to the plateau, we were in the realm of clouds, which breezed by and through us most of the time we spent there. Peak Ushite in the distance at the center of the picture:
The trail to the peak on our maps passed through large boulders and low shrubs. It was a struggle to climb up, it was not marked and we had to free-style it most of the time.
On the peak, which is a pile of enormous boulders without a name plaque - I suppose they will provide it soon, as these are appearing lately on most of the hitherto unmarked peaks on Vitosha.
Me-made items, worn on this hike:
A view to plateau with Cherni Vruh in the distance
Peak Kamen Del across the track - the popular cousin of peak Ushite
We found a sheltered spot on a couple of rocks, with a glorious view to the plateau, and spent a delightful hour, eating our tortillas and homemade muffins and drinking in the cold beer and the views.
From our lunch place we noticed an alternative trail, much easier and clearly discernible. We'll know for next time, as climbing up boulders is not my favourite pastime (my husband seems to love it, for some inexplicable reason :) )
And back to Zlatnite along an alternative trail. We passed by Momina skala meadow again and I picked some more fresh nettles and dock leaves. My freezer is getting filled up with the green goodies, while I can still find them young and delicate.
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