Bulgaria Ski discussion board

i've been skiing in Borovets for the last 3 days and it has been thoughly enjoyable. good conditions (packed/firm pistes) and beautiful sunshine. I have skied all the runs. Markujik 3 is closed but you can ski it by traversing across from the top of Markujik2. I am not sure why it is closed as there is a lot of snow over there. Sitnyakovo2 was also closed but again I am not sure why. we skied it anyway. It was really mogully and good fun. Mussala pathway is a little icy in patches but if you have good edges and stick to the sides you shouldn't have any problem. You can still get some fresh tracks up on the Markujik bowl but it is a bit tracked out if you are really looking for powder.

Thanks for the update Mac. That is really encouraging. 3 Years ago it was hot but Yastrebets was great and we had snow mid week although it was warm.
Didn't try Rila as the instructor kept us on Yastrebets so fancy trying it this year. Not so fussed by the pathway as I am boarding and probably a bit narrow/icy to be a great run for me although thought my wife who is skiing may enjoy it.
I think that Markujik 3 may be closed due to an avalanche risk earlier this season or at least that was what I gathered from earlier posts.

Yesterday best runs where marky 2b and the top blue run plus the blue bit that goes down to the yastrebetz expess. The yastrebetz ones are ok but all very icy. The black one at the top needs more snow as it has a lot of patches with missing snow. We have been off piste off marky three all week but got told off bad fir it on the last day as it is all melting so they dont want ppl goin there. Didnt really ski the rila side a lot but there is alright snow just icy. Also all the instructors have been taking their students to top to get better conditions meaning u need to either go up early or wait till midday as 9.45-11am has had very long queues by normal standards

Top still pretty good overall. Marky black is chewed up but still skiable. Not sure about Marky 3 as not skied it but Marky 1 (blue) & 2 (red) fine.

Yastrebets runs all fine overall. Packed areas and some icy patches but should be no problem for a competent skier.

Musala pathway fine higher up but wearing lower down. Still very skiable - especially if you are able to avoid turning ;-) I skied it today with the kiddies and was surprised at how good it was as I was expecting it to be a rock fest but it was not too bad overall - I've seen it ALOT worse.

Rila side is being battered as the day goes on. Lots of worn patches, ice, packed snow etc. especially on red runs in the PM. Blue at top of 4 man chair is fine and Georges Run not too bad considering. The Martinovi Baraki blue is fine except at the very top bit when you come off the chair - pretty icy. if you are doing that chair and a beginner then I would recommend dropping down the green at the back of the chair to where you can join the blue just a little lower down.

There is still plenty of skiing to be had here but the reds are getting more technical due to the lack of new snow. There is snow due tomorrow (Thurs) so it will be interesting to see how much it brings and what difference it makes. It does not look like the temps are dropping however so this will have a bigger impact over the next week I suspect.

Having skied most of the week at the top, I was pleasantly surprised at how much the pathways have held up after having skied both of the them today for the first time. The top will be skiable for weeks and there are enough areas on the Rila side to keep most people occupied, especially if you ski the reds early in the day.

If you are coming out next week then don't worry - there is plenty to ski, especially if you are a decent intermediate or above. If temps hold up and you have little snow then I would recommend doing the pathways early in the week (if that floats yer boat) just in case it gets difficult later in the week.

Thanks J&J and Jez for the reviews. Looks like we will mostly be staying high up and also checking out the Rila (in the morning) to see what it is about. Really enjoyed Yastrebetz 3 and Popangelov last time as a 3rd week boarder and have fancied trying again with another 4 weeks under my belt. Hopefully not too icy and will have to try once warmed up a little to soften a bit.

Concerned about the temps rising but can't do anything about it and hope it will cool off during the week and bring a nice fresh dump so fingers crossed! It is in the mountains so things do change.

By the blue at the top of the 4 man chair do you mean Sitnyakovo 1? and which one is Georges run? In respect of the Martinovi Baraki blue I haven't noticed a green running down the back on the map but guess you can find it when up there?

Hope you are not following the test match as dire.

Thanks
Rich

Georges run i believe is the green run that runs all the way down from thw top of sitnyakovo when u get off the chair life at the top just turn right. I have never done it but it crosses the other runs further down so can be used as a skiway also u have to go on it for a little bit if u are coming down the blue run from the top of sitnyakovo. However although it has snow then as u are a boarder u shud probably try to avoid it as it is very flat and u are likely to end up with a lot of walking. At the moment i would stick to the blue runs that goes from the top of the gondola and down to yastrebetz expeess and then do the yastrebetz and pongalov runs if possible as although they get very icy in the afternoon they are the best ones and they are good in the morning. Also the snowpark the other day was open saw a few snowboarders jumping around and the snow is good in there but.i dont.know if it has been open since though...