Rila mountian is the highest mountain range on the Balkan Peninsula (highest peak - Moussala, 2925m).
The mountain is favourite place for extreme-sports-lovers in Bulgaria. Here there are big granite walls, steep couloirs and slopes, good paths for mountain biking...


Most famous region for extreme skiing is Maliovica region. This is may be due to the fact, that here are the best and biggest granite rock walls in Bulgaria. So, Maliovica is "the birth place" of Bulgarian climbing. And the easiest way to reach a rock at wintertime is on ski. In the same time the best way to get back from the base of the rock to the hut is by ski... And here, there are a lot of ways to ski to the hut - not only easy slopes, but also some very nice and steep couloirs...
Another reason, because of which the region is so popular is that it is quite easily accessible. There is a good road, connecting it with Samokov and thus with Sofia - the capital of Bulgaria (100km)

One of the greatest ski routes is "The Chimney" (on the pic at your left). It is on the northern slope of Malka Maliovica peak. The beginning is moderately steep and wide slope. The middle part is the interesting! It is a very narrow (2m) couloir (chimney) passing between high granite walls.


The couloirs on the eastern face of Maliovica peak

These are several steep and rather interesting couloirs. To ski some of them, you have to climb right through them (3). Best time to ski the steepest ones is at the beginning of spring (mid April-May).
Couloirs 4 and 5 are not very steep and are quite easy.


(the page looks so "strange" because it was "prepared" for the Bulgarian site, where these runs are described much more precisely:)



 


The couloirs of "Petlite"

These couloirs are situated just above "Vtora Terasa" - a large flat field 50 min above Maliovica hut. To ski couloirs 1 and 2 you have to climb up to their top. This can be very exhausting (and even impossible) if there is a lot of new and unsettled snow.
The longer c. (2) is steeper at the upper part.
This is one of the best runs in the region







"Zaeshkia ulei"


It is situated just above Maliovica hut. It is one of the best runs in the region. To reach it, the most convenient way is to climb through "Ovcharskia ulei" It is a wide couloir, situated above "Parva terasa"
The middle part of "Zaeshkia" may be very narrow at the beginning and the end of the seazon. The upper part is moderately steep.

 

Please note, that here there are a few words only for the most popular ski routes in the region.
Quite near are situated the biggest couloirs in Bulgaria - the White, Blue, Devil's and etc. They have more than 1000m vertical drop and are really "rough" (you may see a picture at the bottom of the page...)


 

THE 7 RILA LAKES REGION


This region is famous for its very beautiful lakes. But it is also a very nice back country ski destination. Just opposite to the slope you see on the picture there is a very nice hut with cosy rooms and baths... (s.th. not typical for huts in BG).
Beside skiing these couloirs you may also access bigger and more chalenging slopes by not very long skinning or hiking. That's why it is one of the favourite places for skiing of BEFSA's members.

 

 

 

THE REGION OF DVUGLAV PEAK


The monks from the settled near by Rila monastery (the biggest monastery in Bulgaria) have long ago called the couloirs running down from Dvuglav peak, Orlovec and Petlite ridge the "Evil streams". They have given this name because of the evil force of the enormous avalanches and destructive floods coming from the couloirs...
Today this place has not become less dangerous but it attracts a lot of people - mainly climbers and some "crazy" skier from time to time. Because here are not only the biggest and most difficult granite walls in BUlgaria (The Devil's needles, The Evil Fang, The Needle...), but also the biggest skied couloirs.
With number 1 on the pic is The White Couloir. It is not extremely steep or narrow but has a vertical drop of more than 1000m.
N2 is The Devil's couloir, which is even longer...
Behind the rocks is the Blue Couloir and a number of other unskied and unnamed ones...

Sorry for not providing more info, but there is never enough free time:)
Anyway, If you need any further information, please write me (Momchil Panayotov) at travel@befsa.com or at BEFSA's e-mail: info@befsa.com. I will be glad to reply.