1st day
1st Wichren hostel (1950 meters AMSL) - Wichren peak (2914 meters AMSL) duration : approx. 4 hours (to and fro), (having good weather and good physical form :) ). / difficulty: middle, the distance is short, but with high variation in height Remark: I describe routes from the point which can be reached by car (passenger car, asphalt road). As I know, on the routes to the shelters: Goce Delchev and Wichren, run buses (but there are a few only, so being there You just have to ask). The route starts vis-a-vis the main entrance to the Wichren hostel.
You have to follow the red marked route. Your trip is relatively simple, because You can see 2914 meter high target all the time in front of You, but You have to sweat a bit. You have to remember to take water and cap on Your head and neck with yourself, especially in summer. From the beginning, for about half of hour, the trail leads among the dwarf pines, and then by Pirin alp. After about 1.45 hour we reach the Kabata pass, which separates the massif of Wichren from the massif of Chwojnaty Wrych.
Here we finish the walking across the meadow and strat about 45 minutes climbing on the stony slope to the top (when it is dry, there are no technical difficulties, You can walk upright on two legs). The Wichren peak is quite extensive. I have heard that there is an extensive and beautiful view from the top, on Kuteło, Bansko, Todorin Wrych, but I didn't see that because when we were there it was fog and nothing was visible.
From the peak You have to descend along the red marked route, but not go back, just simply go forward. The descent is steep (generally, covered by little stones) Descent is steep (generally, after a little stones) and zigzags to the pass between Wichren and Kutelo. Fortunately this is not a long distance - about half an hour. From the pass we follow the green marked trail to the shelter Kazan. This part of our route runs along the sharp,
sinister looking slopes of Wichren. Near the Kazan shelter we have to follow the red signed route again. After about 1 hour we reach Wichren hostel. In the Wichren hostel You can order a delicious salad - Shopska - a very popular dish in Bulgaria. Its composition is very simple: tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, topped with grated sheep cheese, seasoned with salt, pepper, vinegar and olive oil - Bon appétit!
2nd day
2. Goce Delczew hostel - Bezbog hostel - Bezbog peak (2645 meters AMSL) - Poleżan (2851 meters AMSL) - Bezbog hostel - Goce Delczew hostel
duration: approx. 4 hours (to and fro), (assuming use of chair-lift from Goce Delczew to Bezbog hostel, whereas, if You would like to hike all route by walk, it would take approximately 7:30 hour). difficulty: middle The proposed route is not marked, but it leads a comfortable path, which is marked by small stone mounds,
so there is no risk that You get lost. I put a sketch on the map. Unfortunately, we don't do so called loop (I mean we have to hike there and back), but because of the magnificent views and quite low degree of difficulty I would recommend this option.
The entrance to the chair-lift station from Gotse Delchev to Bezbog hostel costs 6 lewa (means about 2 EUR) in one direction. It is worth using chair-lift, because You will have more time at the top, and what's more, the climb is arduous and leads thorough forest (so we don't have views). In front of Bezbog hostel there is a lake with the same name as hostel. You have to walk round the lake on the right side and go in the direction of the pass. You must search a path leading into right,which should appear after about 20-30 minutes of hiking. This path will bring You near Bezbog peak in about 0.30 hour.
Climbing to the top is steep and rocky, but stones are stable and there is no exposure. You can rest a bit and after have to go back down to the meadow. Being on the meadow (alp), You have to choose path marked by small stone mounds. This path will take You to the Poleżan peak (2851 meters AMSL). If we walk with the whole packed rucksack, there is no necessity of coming back, You can hike straight, the path will bring You to the Demjanica hostel (I haven't been there). But our route leads back. From Poleżan to the Bezbog hostel is about 2 hours hiking. A chair-lift planned working hour is untill 16.00 but sometimes longer, depending on demand. We were in time and went down almost like "casual tourists".
But because of that we had enough time to had a swim in thermal waters in the town Dobrinishte (By the way, a ticket to the pool after 17:30 p.m. to the end (20:00 p.m.) costs only 3,50 lew what means almost 2 EUR). You have to take into consideration, that above option is possible only for tourists with car or hitch-hikers. Public bus transport between Gotse Delchev and Dobrinishte is very poor, and You have to make sure about timetible.
