Vihren Peak – Pirin’s marble forehead

published on 9/27/12 12:18 PM

Photo: Albena Bezovska

Climbing the highest peak of the Pirin Mountain – Vihren is one of the most exciting experiences one could have. There are two main routes used by tourists to reach the peak. Of course, some effort is required but the view from 2914 meters is truly amazing. Some say that when the skies are clear one could even see the Mediterranean Sea from the peak. In the summer there are even enthusiasts who spent a whole night on the peak watching falling starts and other cosmic events. The Vihren peak is the second highest peak in Bulgaria after Musala in Rila and the fourth highest on the Balkans.

Experienced mountaineers climb the peak during all seasons but common tourists usually prefer the summer months. The peak is notorious for the storms and winds that often rage there. Old legends tell the story of Perun – the major Slavic god, who has a throne on the peak and after whom the mountain was named.

A starting point of the hike to the peak can be the town of Bansko. There are a number of lifts in the resort but none of them goes closer to the peak. That is why tourists must take time to reach the Bunderitsa hut or the Vihren hut, from where they could start climbing the peak. The Vihren hut is situated some 18 kilometers from Bansko. Once you reached the hut, climbing the peak will take 3 and half hours more. The ascent from Bunderitsa is a bit longer but the hut is closer to the resort of Bansko. The route goes through forests, meadows, and narrow paths. On the way to the peak one also sees two sublime cirques, whose names are translated in English as the Big Cauldron and the Small Cauldron. Above the cirques one often sees mist and clouds, as if they were indeed boiling cauldrons. Tourists often take a short rest in the smaller

cirque. There is a small shelter built in the Big Cauldron. When one reaches it the hardest part of the climb starts. The route is known as The Wall or the Golgotha of Vihren. The path to the marble peak can be slippery and one should watch their step. When Vihren is finally reached one could sit and enjoy the incredible panorama that is revealed. On the way back to the Vihren hut, tourists can see the edelweiss – a rare and protected flower. The path to the Vihren hut goes along crystal clear mountain springs and rivers. If one has enough time a worthy visit is the Baikusheva Mura – a 26 meter tall Bosnian Pine, which is the oldest tree in Bulgaria. Scientists have proven that the tree is more than 1,300 years old. It situated at an altitude of 1930 meters between the huts of Vihren and Bunderitsa.

English version: Alexander Markov

По публикацията работи: Albena Bezovska

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Vihren Peak – Pirin’s marble forehead

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