Kladnitza 2024

The beginning of November was the perfect time for our traditional hike along the southern slopes of Vitosha, in the vicinity of the village of Kladnitza. We've been doing this hike yearly for a while now and it is always a great pleasure.

This year the 2nd of November happened to be a warm and sunny day, with very comfortable temperatures and almost no wind - just perfect for a long hike. So husband and I decided to prolong the long hike with some additional detour to a small peak, which meant 2 more hours and 5 more km of hiking :) - totally worth it!

Hike info:

Destination: round trail Kladnitza

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 20 km

Elevation gain: 500 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 7 hours

Average difficulty: 5 / 10

Unlike most hikes, where we go up a peak and then down, this round hike included several climbs and descents along the sunny hills of southern Vitosha. Because the climbs were more or less evenly distributed along long distances, the whole hike felt leisurely and not exhausting at all. The fact, that we are now probably more experienced and trained might also play some role :)

The place was as usual at this time of the year absolutely marvelous!

We had our picnic at the usual place at the Bear's Spring and then climbed up to the plateau - my probably most favourite part of the hike.

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: men's boxers, Burda Cargo Pants, Burda longsleeve, Hound's Tooth Hoodie

I:  lingerie, Sinclair longsleeve, Hound's Tooth Hoodie

When, at the end of the trail, we found a handful of ripe blackberries, my husband exclaimed that this hike just couldn't get more perfect!

Kladnitza 2023

Over the years we've found places which are at their best at certain moments in time. Yes, sometimes we would decide to deviate from the usual and visit them in a different season, but to get the best experience, it has proved to be important to catch them in their prime. Thus, we've been to southern Vitosha in winter, spring, summer and autumn and nothing compares to the beauty of the forests there in late October - early November.

Thus the circular trail around Kladnitza is one of our autumn staples and a hike I look forward to every year. The trail is moderately long, but easy, with a comfortable place for lunch and filling water reserves. This Saturday the weather was so hot, that we drank all of the water we had brought and also almost all of the refillment. Not only all of our second and third layer clothes stayed in the backpacks, but for the second half of our hike I took off my blouse and stayed in my sports top - it was unbelievably sunny and warm for a late October day.

Hike info:

Destination: round trail Kladnitza

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 16 km

Elevation gain: 500 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 5 hours

Average difficulty: 4 / 10

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: men's boxers, Knipmode Cargo Pants

I:  lingerie, Teal Boatneck tee, flared Knipmode pants, Central Park Hoodie

 

The unusually warm autumn showed in the forest - some parts of it were a bit greener than in previous years. What was really surprising was the warmth of the air even in the shady parts early in the day, where on previous years we've been cold and found ice and frost on the ground.

I love this part of the trail, where we pass through the grassy plateau under peak Selimitza.

And back to the river and the village. Until next October :)

The Magic of Autumnal Kladnitza

There's no place like Kladnitza to visit in October - it is the epitome of autumnal beauty to me and a must in our hiking plans each autumn since we found it.

We are still enjoying a very long and warm Indian summer and last weekend was again warm and sunny and brilliant in a long chain of warm and sunny autumn days.

Hike info:

Destination: round trail Kladnitza

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 16 km

Elevation gain: 500 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 5 hours

Average difficulty: 4 / 10

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

Husband: men's boxers, Knip Mode cargo pants

I: lingerie, Grey "Page" Hoodie, raglan Burda blouse, flared Knipmode pants

I'm sure part of Kladnitza's charm is due to its predominantly beech and elm forests, which color so spectacularly in October,

followed by my probably most favourite part of the hike - the plateau with its bales of hay and views to the distant Rila mountain.

The trail is circular and takes a wide round along the sunlit south slopes of Vitosha.