#rila — Public Fediverse posts

I climbed Musala for a second time this year

One of my annual goals was to do three real hikes in 2026. A week ago, I did a semi-unplanned hike to the highest peak in Bulgaria, Musala, which is 2925 meters high. Kids couldn’t come with me because one got motion sickness, and the other didn’t want to come out of solidarity. However, they got inspired and wanted to go to the peak as well.

So this week, we attempted a retry. This time, phones were banned in the car, I drove extra carefully, nobody vomited in the car, and all four of us managed to get to about 2500 meters. Then the big kid got signs of altitude problems and had to give up.

The little one (aged 7) kept going, flying ahead of me for the most part, and we reached the top. Took us 3h, only 20-30 minutes slower compared to doing it on my own. He didn’t want to do any breaks. I’m not sure what to do now because I have one of the kids achieving this relatively difficult goal, and the other – not. Maybe we need to come for a third time this summer. We can still improve the organization because we lost 1h waiting for the gondola. The optimal hike would start with buying the tickets the day before and then going to the line at 8:15. Does it matter all that much if you start at 8:30 or 9:30 – probably not. You need to be super slow to miss the lift, which works until 18:30.

The final step count for the day was almost 30K, which is my personal best since I started tracking. I couldn’t imagine I would ever be able to do that 3-4 years ago, when I had trouble walking up to the 4th floor without a break.

I climbed Musala for a second time this year

One of my annual goals was to do three real hikes in 2026. A week ago, I did a semi-unplanned hike to the highest peak in Bulgaria, Musala, which is 2925 meters high. Kids couldn’t come with me because one got motion sickness, and the other didn’t want to come out of solidarity. However, they got inspired and wanted to go to the peak as well.

So this week, we attempted a retry. This time, phones were banned in the car, I drove extra carefully, nobody vomited in the car, and all four of us managed to get to about 2500 meters. Then the big kid got signs of altitude problems and had to give up.

The little one (aged 7) kept going, flying ahead of me for the most part, and we reached the top. Took us 3h, only 20-30 minutes slower compared to doing it on my own. He didn’t want to do any breaks. I’m not sure what to do now because I have one of the kids achieving this relatively difficult goal, and the other – not. Maybe we need to come for a third time this summer. We can still improve the organization because we lost 1h waiting for the gondola. The optimal hike would start with buying the tickets the day before and then going to the line at 8:15. Does it matter all that much if you start at 8:30 or 9:30 – probably not. You need to be super slow to miss the lift, which works until 18:30.

The final step count for the day was almost 30K, which is my personal best since I started tracking. I couldn’t imagine I would ever be able to do that 3-4 years ago, when I had trouble walking up to the 4th floor without a break.

I climbed Musala for the first time since 2001

Musala is the highest peak in Bulgaria, standing at 2925 meters, and also currently a major tourist hot spot. We attempted to climb it last year with the little one, who was 6 at the time. Gave up at around 2600-2650 meters. He got motion sickness this year and didn’t want to hike, the big kid didn’t want to try without the little one, and after much waiting to figure out what to do, my wife encouraged me to try on my own. Hard to repeat circumstances.

So, I started at 11:10 from Yastrebets. My recommendation would be to start much, much earlier to avoid the sunburns. See the blue sky? The UV was insane. The little triangle, close to the center, is Musala, 13000 steps away and about 500 meters above the starting point. Not much for seasoned hikers, close to my limit for me.

I got strong headache in the area of the Musala hut and was ready to give up but didn’t and at some point it went away.

It was pretty crowded at the top.

Met a cat on the way back, at around 2500 meters altitude. I grew up meeting mountain dogs, who would just walk with you for a few kilometers and then depart. First time I see a cat living by the path.

Going back was hard. I can’t imagine doing this hike with kids without sleeping in one of the huts.

There’s a 3-4km path between Yastrebets and Musala that’s nearly flat but is in reality a series of small hills and you go up and down, up and down. Takes away all of your energy. The peak isn’t really that far but it felt exhausting.

Just like I mentioned in the post last year, any attempts to reach the top must start way earlier, when it’s colder and the sun is down. And only in good weather.

The hike was around 26000 steps and took 5h. I hurried a bit too much because I started late and didn’t want to miss the gondola, which closes either at 18 or 18:20, depending on which sign you trust. Given the very high number of people walking everywhere, I suspect it won’t close until the last person is off the mountain. I could’ve spent another 2h just chilling, making long breaks but I also didn’t have sun screen and that was not wise. By the time I was walking down, it already hurt.

So, a note to me. Next time, if there’s a next time at all, apply sun screen and start early.

I climbed Musala for the first time since 2001

Musala is the highest peak in Bulgaria, standing at 2925 meters, and also currently a major tourist hot spot. We attempted to climb it last year with the little one, who was 6 at the time. Gave up at around 2600-2650 meters. He got motion sickness this year and didn’t want to hike, the big kid didn’t want to try without the little one, and after much waiting to figure out what to do, my wife encouraged me to try on my own. Hard to repeat circumstances.

So, I started at 11:10 from Yastrebets. My recommendation would be to start much, much earlier to avoid the sunburns. See the blue sky? The UV was insane. The little triangle, close to the center, is Musala, 13000 steps away and about 500 meters above the starting point. Not much for seasoned hikers, close to my limit for me.

I got strong headache in the area of the Musala hut and was ready to give up but didn’t and at some point it went away.

It was pretty crowded at the top.

Met a cat on the way back, at around 2500 meters altitude. I grew up meeting mountain dogs, who would just walk with you for a few kilometers and then depart. First time I see a cat living by the path.

Going back was hard. I can’t imagine doing this hike with kids without sleeping in one of the huts.

There’s a 3-4km path between Yastrebets and Musala that’s nearly flat but is in reality a series of small hills and you go up and down, up and down. Takes away all of your energy. The peak isn’t really that far but it felt exhausting.

Just like I mentioned in the post last year, any attempts to reach the top must start way earlier, when it’s colder and the sun is down. And only in good weather.

The hike was around 26000 steps and took 5h. I hurried a bit too much because I started late and didn’t want to miss the gondola, which closes either at 18 or 18:20, depending on which sign you trust. Given the very high number of people walking everywhere, I suspect it won’t close until the last person is off the mountain. I could’ve spent another 2h just chilling, making long breaks but I also didn’t have sun screen and that was not wise. By the time I was walking down, it already hurt.

So, a note to me. Next time, if there’s a next time at all, apply sun screen and start early.

Bulgaria beyond Sofia is absolutely breathtaking 🏔️ Which day trip would you try first? 🇧🇬✨

Read more: https://flip.it/4sPCUK

#travel #europe #eurotrip #bulgaria #sofia #plovdiv #rila #wanderlust

In #Oktyabrskyi, #Rila District, #Kursk Oblast #Russia, an attack on a column of equipment and personnel led to significant losses.

https://t.me/UaOnlii/82371

#Ukraine

In #Oktyabrskyi, #Rila District, #Kursk Oblast #Russia, an attack on a column of equipment and personnel led to significant losses.

https://t.me/UaOnlii/82371

#Ukraine

Finally found the focus to edit some stuff from this summer. Here you can see four of the seven #Rila mountain lakes.

#photography #places #landscape

Finally found the focus to edit some stuff from this summer. Here you can see four of the seven #Rila mountain lakes.

#photography #places #landscape

[NEW POST] Sofia da qualche anno è diventata una destinazione turistica di un certo richiamo.
Ecco quindi la mia mini-guida di viaggio nella capitale bulgara (con escursione al monastero di Rila annessa).

https://www.ramingodentro.com/2023/10/sofia-bulgaria-guida-di-viaggio.html

#sofia #rila
#bulgaria
#viaggi
#viaggioinsolitaria
#viaggiare
#turismofaidate
#turismo
#travelblog
#travel
#travelblogger

The Berlin wall has fallen, the eastern European countries got their freedom, and in 1994 I got to visit #Bulgaria. It was my first visit to Europe. Few people could speak English in this part of the world at that time. By day 4 I was home sick, but then I got myself together and had a wonderful tour.

My best memories? Crossing the #Rila mountains from Borovets to the famous Rila monastery, including a summit of the highest point Mt Musala.

Beautiful country.

The Berlin wall has fallen, the eastern European countries got their freedom, and in 1994 I got to visit #Bulgaria. It was my first visit to Europe. Few people could speak English in this part of the world at that time. By day 4 I was home sick, but then I got myself together and had a wonderful tour.

My best memories? Crossing the #Rila mountains from Borovets to the famous Rila monastery, including a summit of the highest point Mt Musala.

Beautiful country.