Halloween Hike Tradition

Halloween is a time for get-togethers, costumes, zombies, pumpkin carving, and other traditions. My new tradition is the Halloween Hike. I initiated it last year when I was in Washington D.C. On Halloween, instead of partying in D.C. I high-tailed it out to the Applachian trail at 6 in the morning. I had done my trail research and hiked 13 miles up through Shenandoah National Park and to Blue Ridge Highway. I only lost the trail, which was covered in leaves, once. I saw an Appalachian black bear, plenty of deer, and other wildlife. I excruciatingly hiked the 13 miles back to my car with a bruised foot (I stubbed it on a rock hidden under the fallen leaves), aching joints and a fatigue that had made me so tired that I teared up when I got back to my car. Haha

~26 miles and 9 hours later I had completed the first annual Halloween Hike. The Appalachian trail is one of the most beautiful areas to hike and I would recommend it to anyone. However, this year I didn't want to make it a solo trip, but needed to expand the great experience to my fellow volunteers and Bulgarian friends. No Bulgarians were too keen on joining in on planned 20+ mile hike but me and my fellow adventurous volunteers were more than up to the challenge. However mother nature didn't cooperate and made the mountains impassable with 2 feet of snow.

But you can't stop a tradition once you start it and so PLAN B was inacted. A less grueling and more "passable" hike from the town of Gotse Delchev to the village of Delchevo and then to the monastery on top of the mountain. The pictures that follow are enough to explain the experience:










In total there were 7 adventurers who tackled the winding and steep road/trail to Delchevo and then on to the top of the mountain.
The views = amazing
The people = troopers
The feet = sore from walking on a road in hiking boots.

Next year we are going to keep the tradition going. I am hoping to have more people involved. I want suggestions on an awesome place to hike, in or outside of Bulgaria. This doesn't mean we can only hike on Halloween, but it does mean that this tradition will live on wherever I am.