Strashnoto Ezero 2024

It's been another cold and rainy weekend in Sofia, which husband and I spent at home, studying for our upcoming exams, but I'm using the pause to post about our last hike in Rila at the end of September. It was probably one of the last really hot days of the year and I am so happy that we managed to enjoy it fully along some of our most beloved mountain tracks - to Strashnoto Ezero. 

The round trail starts from Malyovitza center and gradually climbs to Yonchevo ezero.

The sun was strong, the sky was intense blue, the tracks were almost empty - there were just a couple of people here and there, that we met on our way - pure bliss!

Hike info:

Destination: Strashnoto ezero round route (2451 m)

Mountain: Rila

Total length: 17 km

Elevation gain: 750 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 7 hours

Average difficulty: 7 / 10

The first of the many lakes along the way - Yonchevo ezero. Here we had a short break and some snacks before the big climb.

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxers, Burda cargo pants, Burda longsleeve

I: lingerie, Sabrina Slims III

One of my favourite parts of the trail - the valley above Yonchevo ezero:

The trail goes up the rocky slope

And here they are - the small and the true Scary lakes (Strashnoto ezero)

The waters of the lake were deep turquoise. We found a picnic place a bit above the lake and couldn't take our eye off the reflections of the sun and the play of the waters.

If we didn't have many kilometers of hiking to get back to the car and then back to Sofia, we would have stayed hours, enjoying the beauty of the place and the small group of mountain goats, that grazed on the rocks not far from us.

There were several more lakes on our way back to Malyovitza hut

The Needles

Peak Malyovitza and the hut

Malyovitza river. May be due to the excellent weather, but this is probably the best hike we've had this year!

Strashnoto ezero 2023

One of our beast hikes this year. We do a few of those, usually in the summer, when the weather is sunny and the high mountains are safe for amateur hikers like us.

Last Friday was probably one of the hottest days this summer, in a line of hot days, and it was noticeable even above the 2000 m altitude. I was so profusely sweating while climbing towards the Yonchevo lake, that it felt more like melting.

Finally, after an hour and a half, we are approaching our first rest stop.

The lake is huge for a high altitude lake and truly beautiful. 

 

We had some power snacks here and I think it did make a difference for the steep climb to the next lake that followed. I'm starting to dig these small power snacks, even if they are just lots of carbohydrates.

Hike info:

Destination: Strashnoto ezero round route (2451 m)

Mountain: Rila

Total length: 16 km

Elevation gain: 750 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 7 hours

Average difficulty: 7.5 / 10

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxers, Knipmode cargo pants, grey hoodie

I: lingerie, Love Notion's Tunic, Hound's tooth hoodie

The final climb. It is actually easier than it looks and once you are there, among the rocks, the path to follow is clear and well trodden, with just a few rather big rocks to climb, where I had to use all four.

Finally, we are over the ridge and near the lake.

The distinct peaks above the Strashnoto ezero (Scary lake)

The small lake, feeding from the same river

And here it is, our final goal - the Scary lake

There were still patches of snow near the lake and early spring flowers. Seasons are different at this altitude and as always, even on the hottest of days, I had to put my hoodie on near the lake.

We had our lunch break here, on a terrace, overlooking the next of the Prekorechki lakes.

And down we went, by the several Prekorechki lakes, towards Malyovitza hut.

Iglite

 

Malyovitza hut and peak Malyovitza

Husband insisted on us taking a shortcut along these stones instead of walking the full circle to Malyovitza hut. For me, this was probably the most difficult of the hike, I am always terrified of breaking a leg while hopping down such rugged stones, but we managed it.

Down by the Malyovitza river, with peak Malyovitza in the distance

Strashnoto Ezero 2021

Several times a year we make "grand hikes" - climbing difficult high peaks or traversing long routes that take 7-8 hours. The round route from the Central Mountain School to Yonchevo lake, then the Scary lake, hut Malyovitza and back to the Central Mountain School is only 15 km, but along a very technical terrain, with steep climbing, steep descending and glorious views, which usually takes us about 7 hours - quite a strenuous excersise.

We've been to Strashnoto ezero (Scary lake) in Rila twice in October, yesterday was our first time in August and it was definitely the most cold we've felt lately - mostly because we underestimated the weather forecast. It's been so so hot this summer, that a sunny day with some clouds and potential light rain didn't seem that bad. But when we arrived at the Central Mountain School, the clouds had gathered densely in the sky above the area and we barely saw the sun that day. 

:The first part to Yonchevo lake is fairly easy, with a few steep climbs, lots of blueberries and some raspberries

:Yonchevo lake. Here we had a short rest, taking in the views

:And up we went along the climbing trail to Strashnoto ezero. Here, above Yonchevo lake, we came upon a few raspberry bushes, heavy with the most delicious and ripe raspberries we've ever eaten. We gorged :)

Hike info:

Destination: Strashnoto ezero round route

Mountain: Rila

Total length: 15 km

Elevation gain: 750 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 7 hours

Average difficulty: 7.5 / 10

:The plateau after the steep climb is one of my most favourite places along the trail. We could already see the crown of peaks of the Popovokapski ridge

:The most technical part of the trail, requiring climbing up tilted stone plates. In wet weather it can get very tricky, luckily it hadn't started drizzling yet and we climbed it up in no time

:And here we are - the shelter of Strashnoto ezero in already in sight

:An interesting bird hopped on the stones of the smaller lake

:Strashnoto ezero (the Scary lake)

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxers

I: lingerie, Sabrina Slims I, Burda Raglan T-shirt 6202

:Here we had a longer rest and a snack. The temperatures dropped and my thin windshield jacket proved very insufficient to keep me warm. I wished I had packed my fleece jacket as well.

:Down the path to Malyovitza hut by the many Prekorechki lakes

:The Needles. We detoured a bit from the path climbing up this hill to check out the area under the Needles. I was sure there must be something - a lake, a river there, but no - it's a vast stony desert, kind of amazing in its austerity and bareness

:Soon after we past the Needles it began to drizzle and I put the camera away in the backpack. The steep path became slippery and the adventure went up a notch, especially when we decided to take a shortcut right downhill and across the Malyovitza river along slippery stones and fallen branches

:Peak Malyovitza in the distance