Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Hey everyone,
I've been snowboarding in Bansko quite a few times now, and I've started trying to find good off piste routes and fresh powder.
However - I'm not all that experienced and have so far not adventured beyond the tree filled areas between the marked pistes. I've heard that there is some great back country boarding to be had and that you can even head off down into the steep valley that's on your right as you head up the highest chair to Todorka peak.
I don't think it's a good idea to try doing this on my own - so does anybody know any guides that do that sort of thing?
Any advice would be great thanks. Also if anyone wants to share the routes they've taken and good/bad points I'd be really interested.
Thanks guys,
Matt

The valley down into Bunderitsa to the base of the Vihren is accessable either by the gulleys you can see from the chair (at your own risk, a guy was killed there last season) or by climbing from the top station and either traversing around Todorka or going over the ridge at the top, and then drop down the back coming around into the valley...
You will get a guide with little difficulty, as most local skiers considering themselves capable, but beware, few have good training in predicting snow conditions (note, guy killed was ex instructor) so i would suggest `Method' or similar, more costly but could save your life...
I would share the route down to Damenitsa, but you wouldn't want to, i definately did not want to

http://www.freemountains.com/en/index.htm

These are the ONLY people sufficiently experienced to take you into the backcountry (although there are plenty of others who reckon they are). Look up James Hughes at the Avalon hotel in Bansko and he'll point you in the right direction. Or see what you can find on the talkbansko.com forum which will also have some discussion on the issue.

Remember we lose people every year to avalanches and there are a lot of dead ends/cliffs and 5 hour walk outs - but the off piste is the true secret of Bansko

What Mat is saying is absolutely right, that is why i was advising to contact an established school, Method have suitably qualified guides... The terrain at the back of Todorka actually is not that bad dependant on conditions, but i would suggest avoiding the gulleys until you have by your own admission a little more experience.
Can also agree with Mat on the dead end/5 hour walk out situations...from experience unfortunately...
It is still though fantastic, when the conditions are good, it is very good, if you get my meaning