Amazing hike to Black Peak in gloomy weather

Hi there Hive Family,

Today I welcome an old Friend who now lives in Germany but comes back to Bulgaria twice a year. We decided to warm up his arrival with a hike to our beloved Black Peak. We did not have a setup plan, we just wanted to spend time in the mountain and breathe fresh air for half a day.

We left the car at a parking lot near one of the lower bus stations and headed towards the peak. It was going to be a long hike because we could not reach Lodge Aleko. The road was closed due to the big amount of snow that has accumulated.

We passed through a flowing river and reached the first hut called Bai Krustio. Here is one of the lift stations that does not work at the moment. There is also a small park on the side for working out. Lever, bench press, parallel bars, cool stuff.

We continued our ascend but the snow was getting deeper and deeper. Also the steps began to blur and wear out so we started falling into traps and snow lumps. Perfect weather conditions for free rides though.

Giving up is not in our nature. No matter the harsh conditions. We move on!

We entered a beautiful forest. The trees were depicting a maze of snow. Stunning views with a lot of snow. We are back on a trail.

As we walked out of the forest and headed to Bare Peak and it became all open space, we felt the power of the mountain and its harsh weather. Mist and wind accompanied us. Thankfully, Black Peak was not far and we had this posts guiding us, so we were not in trouble.

Even in such conditions, we were not alone there. People were having fun with their dogs and boards. We took a small snack brake.

It got really dark, really fast. I guess we were just having fun not looking at the clock. It had long darked. We did not notice that until late because of the fog and the clouds. We reached the summit but it was already -20 degrees and dark. I did my best to take some shots before my phone froze completely. I guess after -10, it is impossible to take photos or manage the electronics. As you can see, the quality has degraded a lot.

We entered the Lodge and had a cup of beans, hot tea, and some peppers to rejuvenate our strengths. We stayed for an hour to warm up and relax. As it was clear that we will be descending in pure darkness. A nightly return.