Kokalyane Bachun

Spring in March is a strange animal - look at the weather forecast for the week at the end of this post :) Today was summer - hot, though quite windy and husband and I had a perfect long hike in the Lozen mountain. We started from Kokalyane, gradually climbed through forests and peaks to peak Bachun and then back to Pancharevo and from there to Kokalyane by the Pancharevo lake - a total of 18 km.

The trees need probably just a week to get into their spring mode, but the spring flowers are already here and in abundance of colors and species.

A view to Sofia - the strong wind blew the smog away and the air over the city is finally clear after a season of thick smog and clouds.

Hike info:

Date: 15 March 2025

Destination: peak Bachun

Mountain: Lozen

Total length: 18 km

Elevation gain: 550 m

Total duration (plus rest): 5 h

Average difficulty: 4.5 / 10

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

Husband: men's boxers, Burda cargo pants, Red Burda blouse

I: lingerie, Burda blouse, Sabrina Slims II

On the peak - the winds on the ridge were so strong, that I had to clutch at my hat to prevent it from being blown away. Luckily our route was through the forest, so we could hear the wind in the tops of the trees, but were completely protected from its powers.

We had our picnic on a meadow on the lee side of the peak, with the first beer for the hiking season :)

Vitosha's snowy peaks in the distance

Pancharevo lake

The first tree in bloom we've seen this year, adorned with plenty of martenitzi.

The forecast for the coming week - summer today, rain on Monday, snow on Tuesday with -6 during the night on Wednesday, gradually back to spring towards Friday :)

Birds on Pancharevo

One of the presents we received for Christmas was a pair of binoculars. So, for our first hiking in the new 2025 we decided to go to the nearest lake to our home - Pancharevo, to have a walk in the forest and do some bird watching.

Unlike our latest hike here in November, this time the trails were much more difficult to walk, because of the icy surface. We are actually planning a visit to the nearest Decathlon sports shop for a pair of crampons - easy trails can quickly become dangerous when the sun during the day and the icy cold temperatures during the night turn them into ice rings.

There were hundreds of ducks on the ice, which we observed first from above and then up close from the lake.

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

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

I:  lingerie, Burda blouse, Red cardigan, CC copycat hat

Hike info:

Destination: lake Pancharevo

Mountain: Lozen

Total length: 7 km

Elevation gain: 130 m

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

Average difficulty: 2 / 10

Apart from the many ducks, there were also cormorants and herons.

We found a nice spot near the lake, with tree trunks to sit on, were we had our warm tee and sandwiches and watched the birds on the ice. A good start of our hiking year :)

Pancharevo

Our first winter hike. The weather this week got quite cold and the rain turned into snow, that hasn't melted yet. We've been pretty busy lately, but on such a pleasant sunny Sunday we decided to take a short hike in the Lozen mountain, near the lake Pancharevo, which is only 20 min car drive from home.

I had expected snow and frozen trails, but the paths were actually solid, frozen, but almost without snow and quite easy to hike. The promised sun shone brightly and made everything look beautiful and cheerful.

Hike info:

Destination: lake Pancharevo

Mountain: Lozen

Total length: 7 km

Elevation gain: 130 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 2 hours

Average difficulty: 1 / 10

The lake of Pancharevo and the village

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

Husband: men's boxers, Burda cargo pants, Burda Hoodie, Skull Hat

I:  lingerie, Sinclair long sleeve, Central Park hoodie, CC copycat hat, Borika gloves

We crossed along the mountain trail from one side of the lake to the other and then took the lower path back to our starting point and the car.

The lake hadn't completely frozen and there were rowers, fishermen, as well as plenty of birds.

We had our picnic on the seating area with a piece of homemade cheese pie, that I baked in the morning and a cup of hot herbal tee, while watching the peaceful waters of the lake and the snowy peaks of Vitosha on the horizon. A couple of refreshing and recharging hours and now - back to work :)

Summer in March. Bachun

We are enjoying absolutely amazing summer temperatures at the end of March. Even up in the mountain it was so hot, that in the afternoon I took off my blouse and put on a tank top! Two years ago this same mountain at this exact time of the year was covered in snow! March is such an unpredictable month :)

Yesterday we hiked from Kokalyane to peak Bachun and back along a round trail. The trail starts at the far end of the Pancharevo dam, next to the hydroelectric power station.

The Pancharevo lake, the village of Pancharevo and the snow covered cap of Vitosha

Despite the summer temperatures yesterday, spring in the Lozen mountain is still in the beginning. The plum trees and blackthorn bushes are just coming to bloom at the foot of the mountain, up near the top they were probably a week or two away from blooming.

Hike info:

Destination: peak Bachun

Mountain: Lozen

Total length: 13 km

Elevation gain: 550 m

Total duration (plus long rest): 4 h 15 min

Average difficulty: 4 / 10

The trail is very pleasant, but the elevation gain is constant and at places significant, it's not exactly a walk in the park :)

There was an abundance of all kinds of spring flowers

My favourites - hepatica

On the peak

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

Husband: men's boxers, Knip Mode cargo pants, Green Burda blouse

I: lingerie, Plantain blouse, Sabrina Slims III, Houndstooth hoodie in the backpack

We had our delicious picnic on a meadow, facing Vitosha and the entire skirts of the mountain with the various villages and Sofia residential quarters.

It was Friday, a work day, and so it was very peaceful and quiet, just us and a couple of small birds in the nearing trees, singing their little hearts out. We lay on the ground and basked in the sun until we risked sunburn :)

On the way back we chose a shorter and steeper alternative route, which took us back to Pancharevo dam and the car.