Weekend getaway: a taste of Pirin Mts.
A cloudy mid-January, lockdowns… I think we deserve a few virtual getaways. I searched the archive and it seems there are no postings from the Pirin Mts. Even if it was only a short trip taken a few years ago, it supplied more than enough pictures to entertain us in such days.
The Pirin Mts. in SW Bulgaria offer a multitude of short/long hiking routes, crossing superb flower meadows, rocky outcrops and glacial lakes. The flora is very rich, sharing elements with other south central European mountain ranges, but also including many endemic species.
You can easily have a ‘taste’ of the region in 4-5 days from a ‘base camp’ in the lovely Bansko. Mainly known as a winter resort, Bansko is a little, quiet town that looks almost deserted in late summer. So, you have the luxury to enjoy some fantastic mountain scenery and botanize, all at a much lower price than in any Alps and Dolomites resorts.
Enough talk, here we go. You don’t even need a car! Wake up in the morning and jump in the reliable shuttle which drives up and down to the Vihren hut every day (avoid the weekends because of the crowds). From there, a few day trips are available.
First, we’ll head for the Banderishki Lakes trail – click to open the gallery.
Tomorrow will hike to Muratovo Lake – Get ready :)
Thanks for sharing. Here in SW Ontario, Canada it’s presently 2 C with a smidgen of sun. In about 3,5 months we can start to think about Spring. Lately of course the timing for such events has been largely out. Thanks again, stay healthy. Hans
I love armchair travelling
It all looks like a garden. How do you identify what you see? Do you bring a key or do you just know?
Thanks for participating Hans. I am also in SW Ontario :) this was a trip to Europe a couple of years ago. Yes, there is
quite a bit until spring arrives here; meanwhile, there are the past travels and the seeds!
There is no one who can ‘just know’ Inger. The method used is taking many pictures (with details of flowers, leaves and so on) and then
upon return home they can be looked upon using a flora of the specific country and various other resources, many available on-line nowadays.
In this particular case it wasn’t too hard because the flora shared many species with the Carpathian Mts. Even so, not all species have been identified.
If a field guide is available, of course that can be also carried in the backpack.
That was a wonderful journey, thank you so much for sharing, looks absolutely beautiful.
Thanks; but wait, there is more to come!