Kopitoto, February 2025

Today's was a quick, but very satisfying hike from Zlatnite to Kopitoto and back through Momina skala. The round trail is one of my favourites, when we are looking for something short in the higher parts of the mountain. 

The day was cloudy, but warmish, even at the 1500 m altitude. To my surprise the snow at the skirts of the mountain had completely melted, at the higher altitudes there's still plenty of it, but the trails are well trodden and easy to hike.

Hike info:

Date: 28 Feb 2025

Destination: peak Kopitoto (1345 m), lowest point of the hike

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 9.5 km

Elevation gain: 140 m

Total duration (plus picnic): 2 and a half hours

Average difficulty: 3 / 10

Although the trail is easy and fairly popular, there were no other people but us on it. Maybe because it is Friday, a work day, maybe because of the forecasts for rain, which turned completely false, maybe because it is the long weekend here in Bulgaria and most Sofia residents are travelling further to take full advantage of the holiday.

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

Husband: men's boxers, Burda cargo pants, Burda longsleeve, Orange Hat

I:  lingerie, socks, Sinclair Lotte blouse, CC copycat hat, gloves

Without blue skies, the pictures look mostly black-and-white :)

We had our picnic on our favourite bench on the meadow, with a view to the city down in the distance. It was so satisfying to be back in the mountains, I hope the cold weather is behind us and I'm looking forward to our spring hikes.

Kopitoto in December

This Friday's hike on Vitosha was like from a winter fairy tale. The sun shone brightly, the sky was crystal clear and blue, the trees were covered with frost and everything was just out-of-this-world beautiful.

Sofia remained under a thick cover of clouds and smog, but once we were near the 1500 m altitude mark, the clouds cleared and the sun was finally visible.

We followed our usual round route from Zlatnite mostove (Golden bridges) to peak Kopitoto, then up to Momina skala hut and back to Zlatnite.

I couldn't stop taking pictures of the frost-covered forests, I always find these views simply breath-taking.

Hike info:

Destination: peak Kopitoto (1345 m)

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 8.8 km

Elevation gain: 140 m

Total duration (plus picnic): 2 and a half hours

Average difficulty: 3 / 10

A group of children with their supervisors were playing on a hill near Momina skala. We were actually impressed, knowing how much effort it takes to take on a trip and supervise your own children, not to mention a whole class.

Once we got near the tv tower, which is situated lower than Zlatnite, we were again in the clouds. The tower itself looked very impressive, like a launching rocket.

The "view" from the peak, or rather the lack thereof :)

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

Husband: men's boxers, Burda cargo pants, Burda longsleeve, Orange Hat

I:  lingerie, Grasser black top, Chaika pullover, CC copycat hat, brown shawl in the backpack

We had our lunch on our favourite bench, overlooking the city and the nearby Kamen Del peak.

It was amazing how clear one could see the ridge of the Balkan mountains on the horizon, rising higher than the clouds, covering Sofia valley.

Friday was a rare exception and I am so glad we took advantage of the extraordinary weather. back in Sofia, it's been rainy and cloudy again all weekend.

Kopitoto 2024

Climbing the higher mountains feels like traveling back in time by a couple of weeks (or months). While down in the city, spring is steadily stepping in, up on Vitosha, even at the mid-altitude level, winter still reigns. The snow line is just starting to recede uphill and the first spring flowers are showing. 

Today, we hiked from Zlatnite mostove to Kopitoto, following the current snowline. It was fascinating to observe the snow appearing and disappearing on the trail as we ascended and descended along the circuit route.

Hike info:

Destination: peak Kopitoto (1345 m)

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 8 km

Elevation gain: 140 m

Total duration (plus picnic): 2 and a half hours

Average difficulty: 2 / 10

The large mountain purple crocuses are always such a delight:

Kopitoto TV tower

A view to Sofia from the peak:

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

Husband: men's boxers, socks, dark grey longsleeve, cargo pants, orange hat

I: lingerie, Grasser blouse, brown hat, green gloves

After a week of cloudy and rainy days, today was a pleasant break from the capricious March weather, sunny and calm. We had our lunch on a bench on this sunny meadow, with a view to the city below, where we enjoyed cups of hot tea and homemade rolls with cheese. Then we continued along the circuit route by Momina skala back to Zlatnite mostove and the car.

Easter Day on Kopitoto

This weekend was the long Easter Weekend in Bulgaria and we enjoyed the company of our grown daughter, visiting from Vienna. As is traditional for us, we celebrate Christmas and Ester hiking and picnicking in the mountains. This year the weather during the Easter holidays was quite unstable and rain and even thunderstorms were forecast for the Easter Sunday, so we planned a quick and short hike on Vitosha, from Zlatnite mostove to Kopitoto peak and then through Momina skala back to Zlatnite along a circular trail.

The weather was kind to us and it kept calm and without rain almost the whole day, so we were able to enjoy our hike thoroughly. 

:The forests at the mid-altitude are still in the early spring stage, with patches of snow here and there and early spring flowers in bloom.

Hike info:

Destination: peak Kopitoto (1345 m)

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 9 km

Elevation gain: 140 m

Total duration (plus picnic): 3 hours

Average difficulty: 2 / 10 

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

Husband: men's boxers, Knip Mode cargo pants, Houndstooth hoodie, orange hat

I: lingerie, Burda striped blouse, Houndstooth hoodie

Gaby: socks, CC copycat hat

:Peak Kamen del in the distance

:The Boyana river

:An interesting flowering shrub, Daphne mezereum. It is a poisonous plant with an amazing aroma

:A common finch on the path

 

:Momina skala meadow