VITOSHA

Vitosha is situated just above the town of Sofia - the capital of Bulgaria. If you live in the city and in one moment decide to go in the mountain, you just have to take your car, bike or the bus and in less than an hour you will be up there. This makes it quite popular and very visited, although the conditions for practicing some X-sports (skiing, climbing) are "far from the best in Bulgaria"

"The Avalanche" (1)
This is a quite popular slope. It is situated just beside "Gorno Lale" ski run. Thanks to this it is easily accessible.
The steepness and difficulty of the routes depend on snow conditions. At the beginning of the year there are a lot of rocks and several very steep couloirs. Later in the seazon the slope is filled up with snow and at places is very steep.

The couloirs of Goliam Rezen peak

The peak is situated "behind" "The Avalanche" (it can be seen on the picture above). Its eastern wall is separated by several big couloirs.The "First" (3) is wide in the beginning, narrow at the middle and again wide at its end. It is not very steep and difficult. A rather pleasant couloir. Sometimes at the beginning of the seazon the middle part is very icy.

The "Second" is large steep couloir.

The upper part has a lot of not very big rocks. The lower part is wide and not so steep. (at the picture below you can see G. Lilianov skiing in it). Later in the seazon at the beginning of the couloir big cornicles are formed.
The easiest (and safest) way to enter the couloir is at its left side.

"the Third Couloir"

It is very alike "the Second". The upper part is very steep and has a lot of rocks. Easiest way to enter it is from the ridge, separating "Second" and "Third" couloirs. The lower part is easy and wide.

"the Fourth Couloir"

Wide and very nice couloir. Be careful 4 avalanches, since it is very exposed to sun!

Kominite region


Kominite is a rock group, situated near "Bai Krastio" lift station. Just beside them there is a big couloir and several smaller steep slopes.
The couloir is notorious for big and frequent avalanches.(1, 2)
Much safer (and often more pleasant) routes pass through the forest beside the couloirs. (4)

If you want to ski the couloir, the best time is at the beginning of spring. The safest way to enter it is from the left (as seen from above) side. In wintertime the couloir is vary dangerous since at the top of it there is often a vary thick slab. Unfortunately several people have already died there...

"Eagle's Nest"
This couloir is seen from Sofia as a very narrow line, separating the mountain almost in two parts. It is situated near by "Kominite".
Its upper part is quite steep. The middle part is not so steep but is narrow. At the lower part there is a waterfall.
The best description for the Couloir is the following: "Granite on your left, granite on your right..."
The time for skiing this place is at the beginning of spring, early in the morning.

If you need any further information, please write to Momchil Panayotov- travel@befsa.com or to BEFSA's e-mail: info@befsa.com

More information about Bulgarian mountains, transport and resorts you can get at go.to/bgmountains