Dupevitza 2025

This Saturday husband and I decided to check the wild strawberries and raspberries on Lulin. We've had luck some other years, picking the tiny but aromatic berries during our hikes there, but this year we returned empty-handed.

The day was hot, but most of the track was through the forest, so the hike felt pretty easy.

Hike info:

Date: 12 July 2025

Destination: round trail to peak Dupevitza

Mountain: Lulin

Total length: 10 km

Elevation gain: 320 m

Total duration (plus picnic): 3 hours

Average difficulty: 3 / 10

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

Husband: men's boxers, Burda T-shirt

I: lingerie, Burda blouse, Burda shorts

 

We debated having our picnic on Dobrinina skala, with a view to Sofia and Vitosha, but the sun was too strong and the peak is too open, with no suitable trees to throw some shadow, so in the end we chose a meadow on the way down, with some trees for shelter from the sun. It was nice, but nothing beats a lunch with a view :)

All in all, it was a nice leisurely hike, but in the hot summer days higher peaks are much more appealing to me, so we'll probably plan a climb on Rila or Pirin next week.

Dupevitza on a Foggy April Day

After a few weeks of perfect weather in March, the temperatures dropped and it has been cold and rainy for almost two weeks now. The forecasts for today envisioned more rain and clouds, but we decided to risk it and go climb peak Dupevitza on Lulin anyway, come rain or come sunshine :)

The day did start with a slight drizzle, but luckily it stopped before we got to the start of the trail and we enjoyed a cloudy and coldish, but calm and dry conditions.

The wild plum and apple trees were at the peak of their bloom

Hike info:

Date: 04 April 2025

Destination: round trail to peak Dupevitza

Mountain: Lulin

Total length: 10 km

Elevation gain: 320 m

Total duration (plus picnic): 3 hours

Average difficulty: 3 / 10

The view from the top was non-existent - we were in a cloud. We had our rather quick lunch on the benches there and expeditiously continued along the trail towards the next peak.

At Dobrinina skala

Despite the lack of sunshine, the hike was very pleasant - there was an abundance of spring flowers, quietude and solitude - we met no one along the trail the whole way over.

Even when it's cold, spring is colorful and green and this makes a world of difference for the hiking experience.

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

Husband: men's boxers, Burda longsleeve, cargo pants, orange hat

I: lingerie, Lotte blouse, ankle warmers

The All Saints chapel

The forests are getting slowly green

St. Cyril and Methodius Monastery

Dupevitza in December 2024

Peak Dupevitza in Lulin mountain is one of those places we hike whenever we want something quick and not far from home. The round trail to the summit of the mountain is about 10 km long and usually takes us 3 hours with picnic and pauses for pictures, with the added bonus of the delicious mineral water of Gorna Banya, which we rarely miss to fill up a few containers with, when we travel in this direction.

The forests on Lulin presented a mixed scenery, late-autumn like in the low parts of the mountain and with remnants of muddy snow on the ridge. The day was fairly warm for December, with some sun behind the clouds and cold and strong wind on the peak.

An early hellebore

Sofia from the peak, covered with thick smog

We had our quick picnic on the peak, but the wind was so cold and strong, that we literally gulped our tortillas and hot tea and got out of there in no time.

Hike info:

Destination: round trail to peak Dupevitza

Mountain: Lulin

Total length: 10.5 km

Elevation gain: 320 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 3 hours

Average difficulty: 3 / 10

The only significant quantities of snow had kept on the ridge. It is snowing in the city right now, so I suppose if one were to hike there today or in the coming days, there will be lots of snow there as well.

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

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

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

Sofia from Dobrinova skala

The slopes of the mountain after Dobrinova skala were sheltered from the wind and had a very late autumn vibe

Dupevitza in August 2024

Today on Dupevitza. The day was again hot, but there was some wind, especially on the open paths and the hike was easy and pleasant. Still, these low mountains are much better left for spring - autumn - winter hikes, in late summer they are all burnt and flowerless, especially in this year's extremely hot summer. 

Dupevitza, however, has some advantages, which were important for us today - it is near, it is short and most of all - we were able to fill containers with my favourite mineral water, so all in all I am very satisfied with today's hike.

The wild plums were abundant with ripe fruit. Pity, that the taste is sour and unpleasant and all that fruit is more or less inedible.

The peak used to be a counter air strike base in communist times, and there are still abandoned structures on the top, covered now with interesting graffiti.

We had our picnic on the top, enjoying the views to Vitosha and Sofia. The trail was recently enhanced by adding new signs and two tables with benches for a small picnic area at the peak and this makes having our lunches there very nice and comfortable.

Hike info:

Destination: round trail to peak Dupevitza

Mountain: Lulin

Total length: 10 km

Elevation gain: 320 m

Total duration (plus picnic): 3 hours 20 min

Average difficulty: 3 / 10 

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxer shorts, Burda red T-shirt

I: lingerie, Love Notions LDT tunic, Love Notions leggings

 

A view the south to Pernik and Radomir

and to the North to Sofia

On Dobrinina skala

All Saints Chapel

St. Cyril and Methodius Monastery