Sunny and warm conditions today in Bansko, kinda reminded us of spring skiing. The only difference is that the snow isn’t soft and slushy, like in April. During the last week, we got over 50cm of snow, there was a high risk of avalanches and some incidents throughout the week. We’re at the peak of the season and the resort is very crowded, on and off the slopes.
The top of the ski zone.
Lift queues in the resort today were normal, with some lifts having smaller lines than others. The situation at the gondola hasn’t improved much, but if you’re there by 7:30 you should be on the mountain without waiting too long. By 9 AM the lift line is over an hour long and can get even longer throughout the day. Other than that, queues on the mountain are bearable and we didn’t have to wait more than 5-10 minutes for any lift today. The surface lifts on Bunderishka Poliana and Chalin Valog are also crowded, as there are many beginners in the resort this time of year.
Conditions on the pistes were good earlier in the morning, with nice hard slopes. In the afternoon, due to rising temperatures, the slopes softened up and became choppy. The most affected from this are the Plato ski runs, as they are under direct sunlight from early in the morning. In the afternoon the red Balkaniada ski run is one of the best, as fewer people ski it and it’s in the shade longer. The N.5 and N.10 Shiligarnik ski runs are some of the most crowded, along with the Plato. If you want to get away from the crowds, the Chaling Valog ski area is a good choice.
Conditions off-piste are very risky at the moment and have been all week. On Wednesday there was a very close call with one of the local snowboard instructors. He was caught in an avalanche in “The Cup”, off-piste terrain between the Plato and Balkaniada runs and is very lucky to be alive. He was almost fully buried, head down, but thanks to the quick reactions of the mountain rescue team he was dug out and brought back to consciousness. As he didn’t have an avalanche beacon, he was extremely lucky that his snowboard was sticking out of the snow.
The latest news on the tv that we saw while writing this report is that there was another avalanche further away from the ski zone, which took the life of a young tourist. Our thoughts go out to all those affected. We advise all visitors of the resort to stay within the ski zone and to keep it safe.
A group of freerides in the area behind mt.Todorka
Ski & Board Traventuria is a leading provider of lift passes, equipment rental, airport transfers and ski school for the Bansko area. To book your next ski vacation in Bansko with us, please check our website – www.skibansko.bg
