The Davies, Route 11.

#62 Bez Bog 2649m, Peak #63 2602m, #64 Polezan 2850m, #65 Malak Polezan 2822m, #66 Peak 2550m, #67 Peak 2637m.

The Davies, Route 11. A huge number of Davies peaks are accessible from the Dobrinishtay ski area. The road from the village to the start of the ski area is in good condition and the lift itself though ancient, is in good repair. The staff are generally helpful and friendly. The atmosphere is more true to the Bulgarian traditions of hospitality than the corporate surliness of the Bansko ski area. The little restaurant at the bottom of the ski lift is a real treat after a long day in the hills and the bar by the lake at the top is joyous!

Please note the opening and closing times of the lift. Make sure you are back in time as the descent via the ski pistes is very very buggy after 5pm. Walking for 2 hours through clouds of mosquitoes at the end of a day can really ruin things!

The Davies, Route 11. The version I will describe below is possible in a day if you get the first lift up and the last lift down only if you are moving at a rapid pace and are a skilled navigator.We have three versions of this trip so feel free to split it into three separate adventures. #62 Bez Bog 2649 can be done alone as a mini day, #88 Peak 2500 and #89 Blaguncho 2550m can also be done as a separate trip.

The first lift up on The Dobrinishtay chair lift is at 08:30 at the moment, be sure to get there early peak season as lots of people use the lift. The trip up is about 30 mintes and is great fun, You go from 1400m to 2200m with no effort! The lift finishes just below the Bez Bog hut which in turn is just below the Bez Bog lake. Follow the path round the lake on the mountain side. There is another path that circles the lake on the klek side but it wanders off a long way into the wilds before rejoining the main trail later!

Follow the path around the lake to the west Head towards the deeply eroded pass directly south of the lake where the main trail green trail heads south. Just before you start climbing the pass turn right (west) into a grassy meadow, there is a faint trail here to follow. This path climbs steeply up the north face of Bez Bog. There is one spot where you might need to use your hands but generally this is an easy yet steep trail. You will on the summit of #62 Bex Bog 2649m an hour and a half after leaving the hut.

From the summit descent to the wide open pass between Bez Bog and Polezan. There is a slight rise here that is marked as a spot height on all maps so we have included it as a Davies #63 Peak 2602m. The easiest 2 Davies have now been done. Descend from this spot height to unnamed peak #88 2500m and reascend to the ridge. the trail is not clear and the route finding is a little difficult through the klek but a bit of winging it is called for here!

If you are doing Bez Bog as a mini trip, turn left (east) here dropping down from the ridge through the wide valley to the main green trail. Return along this trail to Bez Bog hut. If you are planning to do peaks #88 and #89 separately from the main circuit now traverse around to the west above the lower of the two Polojanski lakes. Ascend Blaguncho #89 2550m. Descend from Blaguncho by retracing your steps back to the lower lake. Follow the outlet of the lake down through heavily vegetated steep ground until you join the yellow trail. Turn left onto this trail and continue to the green trail, turn left again and return to Bez Bog.

From #63 The Davies, Route 11. follows the steep rocky ridge up to the summit of #64 Polojan 2850m, the trail is really clear and easy to follow. In places it is rocky but this is such a popular route that most of the rocks have been stabilised by thousands of steps. The summit of Polojan is one of the great view points in Pirin. Rising above nearly all the mountains around Polojan offers great views in every direction, Particularly impressive is the north wall of Djangal and the cluster of peaks around Popovo lake.

The going gets hard from here so don’t rush. Descend from the summit of Polojan almost directly west, the ridge line splits with one section heading right (NNW) to the Strazhite ridge and the other heading left (SSW) to Malak Polojan. The ridge line is rocky and difficult in places, it drops to a pass between the two Polojans and then climbs again to Malak Polojan, this is a great place to rest and admire the scenery. The view north looks over the beautiful Gazeiska meadow and its beautiful lake. The Two Peaks Gazei I and II stand guard over the pass like two huge rocky fortresses.

From Malak the easiest trail for navigating is to follow the main ridge line straight south. The temptation is to follow the faint trail through the rocks to the left (east) of the ridge. If you do this will lead you to #89 Blaguncho 2550m . After bagging Blaguncho (Sweety) retrace your steps back to the main ridge line and follow it to peak #66 which is directly south of Malak Polojan. If you are lacking in time leave Blaguncho (Sweety) for another day.

Descend from #66 south west, following the ridge as it curves west. It is about 500m to this little unnamed peak #67 2637m. From here you do not need to retrace your steps. Look SW you will clearly see the huge west fortress wall of Djangal descending almost directly north to the pass between Djangal and Malak Polojan. aim for this lowest point and hack across mixed ground directly for it. At the pass you will join the main yellow trail from Damianitsa to Bex Bog.

The yellow trail descends through boulders for a few hundred meters and then through grass and klek towards the green trail from Popovo lake. As you are descending note the stream that comes on from your left. This is the outlet stream from Polojanski lakes. If you have missed out peaks #88 and #89 this is the route you will use to exit those lakes.

Continue along the main trail, join the green trail and return to Bez Bog.