The trail to Alinsky Monastery is one of our spring staples. It is more of an open-field trail than a mountain or forest hike, which makes it perfect for those long-awaited warm days. Since Sunday was forecast to finally break the sequence of cold, rainy weather, we planned a hike to the monastery, hoping for sunny paths and blossoming trees.
What we found instead were felled pine trees and piles of debris left on the ground. For about a quarter of the route, the trails were totally ruined—such a disappointment! A notice board displayed a permit for "technical wood-felling" stating that the area should have been cleared by the end of last year. Obviously, someone hadn’t finished the job.
Between the logging and the damage from motorbikes, ATVs, and Jeeps, the trails were a disaster. Thankfully, this section was only a couple of kilometers long and not so bad the whole time, but it was definitely not pleasant and
the piles of cut tree trunks and branches were a very sad picture.
Once we turned toward the monastery, conditions improved significantly. Even the promised sun peeked through the clouds, if only for a short while. The trees were still far from blooming, early hellebores and crocuses were still out, and we even spotted small patches of snow.
I brought my hydration system for the first time this year, and I was impressed (again) by how much more I drink when it’s accessible. My husband, who still insists on using a thermos, drank only a third of what I did, despite being twice my size! It really is about the habit of sipping constantly rather than waiting until you feel thirsty. By the time you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated, which isn't great for your muscles when you're asking them to work hard.
Hike info:
Date: 06 April 2026
Destination: Alinsky Monastery
Mountain: Plana
Total length: 16.5 km
Elevation gain: 200 m
Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 5 hours
Average difficulty: 4.5 / 10
Me-made items, worn on this hike:
I: lingerie, Lotte Sinclair blouse, "Page" hoodie, ankle warmers, knitted hat
Husband: men's boxers, socks, Burda cargo pants, Burda hoodie, green longsleeve
We enjoyed delicious tortillas and small beers on the hill above the church, looking out at the Rila peaks in the distance.
On the way back, while stopping to photograph these hellebores, I noticed young nettles peeking through the old leaves. I collected a few handfuls and added them to a shakshuka later this week. I highly recommend it— you'll be surprised how well the nettles pair with the tomatoes and peppers!
The hike was going more or less as usual until we reached the muddy section on the return leg. To escape the mess, we decided to bypass it through the forest. Little did we know there was another trail starting from the same point, but heading in a perpendicular direction.
Engaged in a lively conversation and happy to be out of the mud, we followed the new trail without realizing it was the wrong one. Almost 2 km later, I became suspicious. I noticed markers that shouldn't have been there, like a line of power lines. We consulted the map and realized we were way off track; the trail had gradually curved away from our destination in the opposite direction. We had no choice but to hike back up to the bifurcation point.
This is peak Groba, which we climbed on the way back:
Ironically, the "wrong" trail was in much better condition than the one leading to the village of Plana. Pity, that it led to a completely different place and was of no use to us.
Back on the right track - the detour added an hour to our hike and an extra 200 m of elevation gain.
Plana remains one of our favorite mountains near Sofia,
but it’s a pity it isn't better protected. The trails aren't
well-marked, and getting lost - even for experienced hikers - is quite easy.
I can’t imagine navigating it without modern GPS apps!
