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AN EXAMPLE DIVISION OF THE HIKING ROUTE IN STAGES

The route from peak Kom to cape Emine consists of different itineraries; there is a wide choice of trails and forks, possibilities for visiting interesting sites, ascents, traverses and descents. For this reason the length of the route may vary between 599 and over 700 km. 
The time required to go the distance depends on the choice of the type of transport; the meteorological conditions, the size of the group and its training, and other predictable and unpredictable factors as well.

The average tourist crosses the route in about 20 days. Well prepared mountaineers could make it in 15-16 days, and the sportsmen take 10 days or less.Below are presented some example schedules for crossings on foot or by bike, which have been realized by groups of different size and demographic structure.

All of the example schedules are optimized according to the rule of an overnight accommodation with the best possible conditions necessary for a recovery of the strengths. There is of course the option of camping between the shown sections so that the time for the crossing becomes shortened or prolonged.

STAGES DIVISION 1
21 DAYS HIKING (20-30KM/DAY) BY AVERAGE PREPARED TOURISTS
DAYSTAGEDISTANCETIMEDENIVELATION
1Berkovitsa – Petrohan hut28 km9 hours2750 m
2Petrohan hut – Proboinitsa hut16 km5 hours1400 m
3Proboinitsa hut – Trastena hut28 km7 hours1900 m
4Trastena hut – Leskova hut22 km7 hours1300 m
5Leskova hut – Vitinya pass39 km10 hours3200 m
6Vitinya pass – Chavdar hut18 km6 hours1750 m
7Chavdar hut – Momina polyana hut33 km8 hours2750 m
8Momina polyana hut – Echo hut32 km9 hours3900 m
9Echo hut – Dobrila hut32 km11 hours2800 m
10Dobrila hut – Botev shelter (thrue the ridge)14 km10 hours2300 m
11Botev shelter – Mazalat hut24 km10 hours2700 m
12Mazalat hut – Buzludzha hut33 km9 hours2650 m
13Buzludzha hut – Gramadliva ski base30 km10 hours2300 m
14Gramadliva ski base – Chumerna hut32 km11 hours2000 m
15Chumerna hut – Vratnik shelter27 km9 hours2000 m
16Vratnik shelter – Kotel27 km8 hours1700 m
17Kotel – Varbishki prohod hut28 km9 hours2200 m
18Varbishki prohod hut – Hazim the foresters' shelter28 km12 hours2750 m
19Hazim the foresters' shelter – Topchiisko hut44 km12 hours2050 m
20Topchiisko hut – Kozichino village24 km6 hours800 m
21Kozichino village – Cape Emine39 km11 hours1800 m

STAGES DIVISION 2
16 DAYS HIKING BY WELL PREPARED TOURISTS
DAYSTAGEDISTANCETIMEDENIVELATION
1Kom hut – Proboinitsa hut34 km8 hours1330 m
2Proboinitsa hut – Leskova hut45 km10 hours3150 m
3Leskova hut – Chavdar hut59 km12 hours5200 m
4Chavdar hut – Momina polyana hut37 km10 hours3500 m
5Momina polyana hut – Echo hut32 km9 hours3900 m
6Echo hut – Dobrila hut32 km10 hours3100 m
7Dobrila hut – Botev shelter20 km10 hours2300 m
8Botev shelter – Mazalat hut24 km10 hours2700 m
9Mazalat hut – Buzludzha hut33 km9 hours2650 m
10Buzludzha hut – Gramadliva ski base30 km10 hours2300 m
11Gramadliva ski base – Chumerna hut32 km11 hours2000 m
12Chumerna hut – Kotel54 km14 hours3700 m
13Kotel – Varbishki pass hut28 km9 hours2200 m
14Varbishki pass hut – Hazim the forester shelter28 km12 hours2750 m
15Hazim the forester shelter – Topchiisko hut44 km12 hours2050 m
16Topchiisko hut – Cape Emine55 km15 hours2600 m

STAGES DIVISION 3
SPORT WALKING FOR ЗА 11 DAYS
DAYSTAGEDISTANCEDENIVELATION
1Kom hut – Trastena hut55 km3100 m
2Trastena hut – Vitinya pass61 km4200 m
3Vitinya pass – Momina polyana hut51 km4500 m
4Momina polyana hut – Dobrila hut64 km6500 m
5Dobrila hut – Tazha hut27 km3900 m
6Tazha hut – Buzludzha hut46 km4600 m
7Buzludzha hut – Chumerna hut58 km4100 m
8Chumerna hut – Kotel58 km3900 m
9Kotel – Hazim the foresters' shelter56 km4900 m
10Hazim the foresters' shelter – Topchiisko hut44 km2050 m
11Topchiisko hut – Cape Emine55 km2600 m

AN EXAMPLE DIVISION OF THE BIKING ROUTE IN STAGES

The crossing of the route by bike is distinguished by a few characteristics such as the technique of moving forward, the impossibility of pedaling during some sections of the foot track and last but not least: the higher speed of moving forward and running longer distances in the daytime. It’s good to have in mind that the route Kom-Emine doesn’t belong to the classical cross-country routes nor to all-mountain routes, but most of it is classified as an enduro route. It is inevitable even for the most experienced bikers to carry in hands the bike across the brushy areas of the track or the rocky climbs or the crags.

Therefore, the mountain bike crossing of Kom-Emine is not an easy task, especially if one takes into account the primitive conditions of an important part of the accommodation places. The bikers should familiarize themselves beforehand with the by-pass itineraries which avoid the difficult sections of the foot track. This way they would cope with the challenge more easily. It is common that some trails and pathways are not marked; and branches which take less time and efforts to complete and which lead to interesting locations are not indicated. Below are presented some example schedules, with each of them being appropriate for various sizes and quality of the groups and for various weight of the equipment which is carried.

STAGES DIVISION 4
CROSSING WITH A BIKE FOR 11 DAYS
DAYSTAGEDISTANCEDENIVELATION
1Kom hut – Trastena hut55 km3100 m
2Trastena hut – Gorno Kamartsi village61 km5100 m
3Gorno Kamartsi village – Momina polyana hut52 km5750 m
4Momina polyana hut – Dobrila hut64 km6500 m
5Dobrila hut – Tazha hut27 km3900 m
6Tazha hut – Buzludzha hut46 km4600 m
7Buzludzha hut – Bukovets hut58 km4100 m
8Bukovets hut – Kotel58 km3900 m
9Kotel – Hazim the foresters' shelter56 km4900 m
10Hazim the foresters' shelter – Topchiisko village44 km2050 m
11Topchiisko village – Cape Emine55 km2600 m