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After successfully conquering Musala in Bulgaria (see description Bulgaria, Musala) we still had the ascent to Midžor, the highest peak of Serbia (if we don't count Kosovo!). We chose the mountain hut under Babin Zub as starting point. We reached it from the Pirot side past the ancient village Topli Dol, where almost all houses are still like 100 years ago. That we are somewhat in the present is shown by individual satellite antennas, some old car in front of the house and ragged asphalt, of course only to the end of the village at 900m above sea level. From here onwards hair-raising drive on bad dirt road and ascent with off-roader to cca 1600m, from there short descent to the mountain hut.
Rest and same day ascent to 8km and less than 600m elevation distant Midžor. It would be possible to drive with jeep some 50m below the summit itself, but since we are real mountaineers, we didn't do that and did the very undemanding ascent on foot. From this perspective Stara Planina is also a real paradise for mountain bikers. Despite approaching winter we found among dry, brown grass also some specimens of blooming flowers. Weather ideal for such tour, only on top it was blowing hard, so we decided for longer stop rather 10 minutes below summit, next to ruins of former guard post. Along Midžor ridge runs namely the Serbian-Bulgarian border, which was once strictly guarded. After this all-afternoon tour we returned to mountain hut Babin Zub, dined there, slept in room with own bathroom and TV, had breakfast in the morning and drank some more; all that for ridiculously small sum, despite the mountain hut being in middle of extensive ski areas, that next to it is hotel and some km away another one. No wonder they have every winter (and also summer!) season lots of Slovenian visitors.
From in front of the mountain hut we drove on asphalted road to Knjaževac and then onwards towards home.
Serbia, Midžor1

Path to Snežnik from Sviščaki totally fine no snow to Sviščaki then only in few spots to turnaround from there to top path partly bare under summit still some snow patches but no crampons needed. Recommend waterproof boots and gaiters useful too. Hut open this weekend (1st and 2nd April)!

Path to Snežnik from Sviščaki direction already completely snow-free, over Gašperjev hrib still a bit of snow in places. Hut from 1 May onwards open every Saturday and Sunday and all holidays until end of October, in August whole month every day.
Nice mountaineering greeting!

The hut on Snežnik will be closed this weekend 23rd and 24th April by decision of the hut keepers due to forecast of very bad weather!

Koča na Snežniku this weekend (13. and 14. February 2016) closed due to bad weather forecast!

Going on vacation in mid-November almost 1400km away is, at least weather-wise, a big lottery. And I must say, this time we hit the jackpot: out of eight days of travel, only the last day had "bad weather". There's quite a lot of material and it would fit better in some travel blog, so I'll limit myself to the mountaineering.
On Monday 16.11.2015 we arrive with our off-roader via curves (Vojvodina, Džerdap gorge) at the renowned Bulgarian ski resort Borovec in Rila Mountains. We planned to take the gondola the next day to the upper cable car station at about 2300m and then on foot to the highest peak of the Balkan Peninsula, 2925m Musala. But the month-long cable car maintenance prevented that, so we had to do the whole way from Borovec (about 1400m asl) on foot, even though there's a road (for off-roaders of course) up to well over 2000m. Because of the nature reserve they don't let vehicles up, even though the whole area is riddled with ski slopes. Instead of less than three hours we used a full seven, which in November means practically the whole day. To the last cable car station we went straight across the ski slope, then on a bad road through pines to the first mountain hut and past beautiful lakes (see previous route descriptions to the top!) to the next one, which is closed at this time. Path beautiful, no snow, views wonderful, only temperature wintry: at 2700m minus 6°C, at the top in the morning a full minus 10°C! Luckily we could sleep at the meteorological station on the top. In the morning we experienced a beautiful sunrise and later returned to the valley in nice weather.
Next was the ascent to the highest peak of Serbia Midžor, but that's another story! A short description can be found at Other countries, Serbia – Midžor..

Koča na Snežniku, by the keepers' decision, this weekend 9. and 10. January 2016, closed due to bad weather forecast. Road to Sviščaki regularly plowed but not salted everywhere, so caution due to ice on sections. Path to Snežnik mostly snowy; if wind didn't blow tracks, there's gaz but big ice chance, so great caution especially on descent.

Happy New Year, lots of ascents and no falls!

I checked your pictures on the link, great photos, nice tour, good company. As seen from the pics, ice axe and crampons no longer needed, right?
Good luck on all future tours too!

If anyone is heading to Cjajnik in these days, I would kindly ask for information about the conditions!
Thanks and good luck!

No snow for a good three weeks now (except some patches in bigger holes!), even what fell during the 24., 25. and 26. May weekend (cca 25cm at the top) was cleared last week, so approach possible from all sides. Path from Mašun is fine, just a bit careful with markings as they are somewhat less visible in places. Hut open every Sat and Sun, and all holidays from 1 May until end of October. August open every day whole month.
Lpp

If you're going from Loška dolina towards Mašun (that is, past Leskova dolina), there's a turn-off for Sviščaki 2km before Mašun, then the road (currently!) is drivable for another 5km or so (up to about 2-3km before Grda Draga). The Mašun-Sviščaki road is officially closed in winter time and they don't plow it until May 1st (of course snow usually melts earlier!). For all who want to go to Snežnik from Sviščaki I recommend access to Sviščaki from Ilirska Bistrica, the road there is regularly plowed!

Caretakers at Koča Draga Karolina on Snežnik inform all fans and potential visitors of Snežnik that the hut is closed whole November, regardless of weather. Thanks for understanding and nice mountaineering greetings! Janja and Slavko

Sorry, I meant Bavški Grintavec!

What about onwards to Bovški Grintovec if starting from the shelter below Špička?

In the near future I plan to cross from Mangart to Jalovec, but who knows what this path is like?