Dragalevtzi - Simeonovo 2023

A few photos from our hike to Simeonovo lakes on Vitosha. Today's weather was supposed to be warm for the season, but Sofia woke covered with clouds and though the air was warm, there was a strong wind.

Luckily, we had chosen a trail through the forests in the low parts of the mountain, and though we could hear the hauling of the wind all the time up in the tops of the tall trees, down along the trail within the forest it was fairly calm and quiet.

We didn't know what to expect at this altitude, so we even brought our snow protectors in the car, but the paths were actually snowless and dry. Luckily, we had a very mild winter this year.

Hike info:

Destination: Simeonovo Lake

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 11 km

Elevation gain: 180 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 3 hours

Average difficulty: 3 / 10

The trail passes by the small, but scenic Aleko Waterfalls. We've seen them frozen, we've seen them full-watered, today they were in between - half-frozen, half-running :)

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

Husband: men's boxers, Knipmode Cargo pants, Knipmode blouse, hat

I: socks, lingerie, Sinclair Lotte hoodie, hat, gloves

 

We had our lunch here, by the second of the Simeonovo lakes.

Here and there, the first spring flowers are testing the air.

On our way back we passed by the Dragalevski Monastery.

Simeonovo Lakes 2022

Today's hike was an impromptu hike from Dragalevtzi to Simeonovo lakes.We started this morning to Aleko hut, and though we were within the time frame private cars are allowed on Vitosha, there were too many cars on Aleko, so the traffic police had started to stop and turn back cars some 5 km before the hut. The day was glorious, sunny and warm and the road was so overfilled that the only place we managed to find to park the car was near the Dragalevski monastery. I say near, as the official parking lot was full and the additional extension on the road nearby was quickly filling with turned back cars.

Despite the disappointment, we quickly reorganized our plans and decided to go to Simeonovo lakes along the 5 km trail from Dragalevski monastery. We have actually never hiked this trail in winter and it was really different and unrecognizable from how we've seen it before.

:Aleko's Waterfalls, beautifully frozen

 

Hike info:

Destination: Simeonovo Lake

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 10.4 km

Elevation gain: 180 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 3 h 30 min

Average difficulty: 3 / 10

 :We had our lunch on a sunny spot near the river Starata reka

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

Husband: men's boxers, Knip Mode cargo pants, old sweater I knitted pre-blog, knitted socks, hat

I:  socks, lingerie, Grasser sweater, CC copycat hat, Borika gloves, scarf

:A view over Sofia

:As our trail ended at the Dragalevski monastery, we went in to have a look at its beautiful grounds