Feb 2016

Through my (contact)lenses – part 1: Rila Mountain, Bulgaria

The beauty of Rila Mountain, Bulgaria in a few sentences and photographs as I’ve seen it through my (contanct) lenses.

I find it proper to start the series “Through my (contact)lenses” with the highest mountain on the Balkans and the first picture to be its major peak – Mt. Musala (2925 m.) – an incredibly energizing place.

I highly recommend Ivan Vazov hut during the winter to the seeking solitude trekkers. It’s possible that you’ll be the first people the hut-keeper sees in more than 2 weeks.

The Malyovitsa ridge is one the most Alpine-looking in Rila Mountain, and it’s main peak – one of the most frequently climbed even in winter.

The Seven Rila Lakes hardly need introduction. The place is beautiful, but, because of the lift, overexploited and the summer crowds are more suitable for malls than mountains. However, most people do not reach the point, from where you can fit in one frame all seven sapphire lakes.

According to me the trek between Granchar hut and Belmeken Dam is unique for Bulgaria. It passes through a high mountain plateau and in winter some even liken it to Antarctica.

One of the worst storms in my life caught us trying to get to Ivan Vazov hut. Because of the brutal blizzard, the deep snow and the almost zero visibility, the 3 km. gentle descent took us more than 3 hours and if it was not for the only girl in our group – my girlfriend Tatyana, – who took the lead and made a trail in the last section, both Krum and I would never make it to the hut.

Again together with Krum, as one of the very few people fool enough to follow me, benighted at this strange place – the Roosters – just in the right time to make this shot. The subsequent night ascent of The Eagle Peak and the descent to the BAC shelter on icy terrain is not for the faint-hearted.