Picture taken 4th February 2012. Banderishka Poliana (ski school meeting place)

Bansko town snow melting for a few days. Warmer temperatures in town of around 4 C have were feeling positively tropical. Here’s a video of the conditions:

But this should be only a temporary moment. It’s dumping snow hard in Sofia.

Whilst up on the Pirin the slopes are delivering. High winds closed the Plato area yesterday.  My views on the The FIS Women’s and Men’s Ski World Cup events are mixed. It is very annoying that some slopes are shut until the end of the month. Short term sacrifice for the elevation of the long term image of Bansko.

Snow forecast is…

picture taken 4th February 2012. Off piste

January was excellent and now February is already turning out to be very good too. We are set for three days of SNOW. Monday sees temperatures fall again.

And a series of snow storms, I am not sure I have seen such weather charts ever before for the region.

As I type this it is already hard in Sofia and snowing up on the mountain. It is a series of storm depressions centring themselves near and over Greece should work their snowy magic on Bansko’s slopes.

My forecast: another 20cm of fresh snow falling between today and Wednesday.

There may be more.

Too much of a good thing

The downside is…

Closed plateau (Plato) lifts due to high winds again today. The isobars are close together indicating storm winds for the coming days. We’ll see.

The other concern are travel plans. Some flights may get diverted due to snow. Although I rarely hear for Bulgaria Air being diverted, but this week we saw 1 cm of snow in Heathrow cause disruption in BA’s schedule. Far more problems than 20 cm in Sofia.

The Bulgarian snow ploughs, tractors and gritters have been very visible in town. They are also doing a fabulous job keeping open the main E79 and the Predela pass road from Simitli to Bansko.

That said, I only just made it over the pass last week during a snow storm, some didn’t. Whilst high quality winter tyres make all the difference, snow chains may be required for packed ice and snow. Coming by car? Then chains in the boot that you know how to fit…

… Sapiens qui prospicit (Wise is the person who looks ahead).

Special equipment rental

Skimania’s WhiteDot skis continue to rent well this season — as well as the whole advanced range. Same goes for the VIP range; with a good choice of twin tips and all mountain skis and premium snow boards. Skiers should go wide for this fresh powder snow.

Still the same great 20% off for prepay.

Ski package bookings now being taken for March, but lesson dates filling up fast, so do please book soon. Sorry, no more prepay lessons for February. Hire, lift passes and transfers still fine.

Subscribe for food and drink updates and general Bansko news. My big find are two excellent acts iGroove and Taboo at Sing Sing piano bar. Bansko’s piano bars are well worth a try and Sing Sing is my favourite. 10% off a bottle of spirits when mentioning Bansko Blog when reserving your table.

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