Snowy Vitosha

We had our traditional snowy Christmas hike today, a couple of days after Christmas. Unlike other years, this year Christmas was pretty cold and snowy and we had to wait for the weather to clear a bit and for the mountain roads to be accessible, to go on a hike.

The snow on Vitosha was at least a meter high - which husband found the wrong way, by stepping outside the trodden track and getting stuck in the fresh snow almost up to his waist!

We climbed the trail from Zlatnite mostove to hut Zvezditza. Our initial plan was to go to hut Edelweiss, then cross the panoramic track to hut Kumata, have our lunch there and from there return to Zlatnite - a pretty common and beloved route. Unfortunately, the trail between Kumata and Edelweiss - the cherry of the cake for this hike, was freshly snowed and not trodden. We tried a few meters, but the snow was too deep and it was impossible without snowshoes, so with some regret we had to abandon the idea and instead continued to hut Zvezditza.

Hike info:

Destination: Zvezditza hut

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 10 km

Elevation gain: 330 m

Total duration (plus rest): 3 hours

Average difficulty: 5 / 10

We had our lunch in one of the snow covered gazebos on the meadow in front of Zvezditza hut. Hot herbal tea with sugar and a splash of dark rum has never tasted so delicious!

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: men's boxers, Burda green longsleeve, Burda grey hoodie, Burda Cargo Pants, orange hat

I:  lingerie, Grasser black top, "Page" hoodie, blue C.C. Copycat hat

Gaby: white C.C. Copycat hat

The pine forest was really beautiful in its winter outfit

Frosty Vitosha. Zlatnite - Kumata - Edelweiss

Winter is coming :)

This Saturday on Vitosha its presence was very noticeable, though the areas below the 2000 m border are still free of snow. The day was sunny and very quiet and we had an extraordinary nice hike along the frosted paths to Kumata and Edelweiss hut and back to Zlatnite.

Hike info:

Destination: Edelweiss hut, round route

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 8.5 km

Elevation gain: 360 m

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

Average difficulty: 3 / 10

Husband: men's boxers, knitted socks

I:  lingerie, Black Grasser sweater, brown cc copycat beanie, fingerless mitts, Rustic gloves

:The frost covered trail between Kumata and Edelweiss huts was simply breathtakingly beautiful

:The temperatures, however, were pretty low and my hands felt cold, so I put on both of my pairs of gloves - the fingerless mitts and above them the rustic alpaca gloves

Zlatnite - Kumata - Edelweiss 2022

A perfect day in the snow! It was sunny, warm and extraordinarily beautiful! Meanwhile it was quite a cardio hike in the snow and we enjoyed it thoroughly. I can't wait for the winter and snow to be gone from the city, but snow in the mountain is a fairy tale!

Some photos from my phone:

Hike info:

Destination: Edelweiss hut, round route

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 9 km

Elevation gain: 360 m

Total duration (plus rest): 3 hours

Average difficulty: 4.5 / 10

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: men's boxers, Beige Sweater, KnipMode Trousers, grey scarf

I:  lingerie, socks, Mystic Pullover, brown cc copycat beanie, green scarf

Zlatnite - Kumata - Edelweiss, 2021

This weekend the weather was still comfortable, in some parts of the country even warm for the season, and it was a manifestation on Vitosha. An old woman we passed along the track even remarked that the trail, which is somewhat off more frequented tourist routes, was unusually popular this Sunday. 

We hadn't been there since the end of 2019, when it was spectacularly white. On Sunday the trail was still in the grips of late autumn, with leafless trees and brown grass, but no frost or snow. The snow did come on the following day, but more about this - in another post.

Although down in the city it was quite above zero C, it was cold and windy along the open parts of the path and we had to put on everything we had in the backpacks, hats, gloves and hoods on.

 

The wind cleared the air and Sofia was finally ridden of the smog, at least for a while ...

Hike info:

Destination: Edelweiss hut, round route

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 9 km

Elevation gain: 360 m

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

Average difficulty: 3 / 10 

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: men's boxers, Navy Sweater, KnipMode Trousers

I:  lingerie, starry night socks, Black Grasser sweater, brown cc copycat beanie, fingerless mitts