The Koncheto is a popular and relatively difficult-to-reach saddle in the northern Pirin Mountains, located on the main mountain ridge between the peaks Banski Suhodol and Kutelo, at approximately 2810 meters above sea level. It is a rocky edge with almost vertical northeastern and very steep northwestern slopes, with a width of up to half a meter at its narrowest point. The ridge is about 400 meters long.
The first winter crossing of the saddle was made by Lyuben Telcharov and Nikola Mironski in March 1934. Lyuben Telcharov's account of this experience can be found in the March issue of Bulgarian Tourist Magazine from the same year, 1934. In 1963, to facilitate the crossing of the saddle, a metal handrail was installed along the ridge. In 1969, a bypass path was built along the southwestern slopes of Koncheto, also equipped with a metal wire, which was extended a few years ago toward Premkata (the saddle between Vihren and Kutelo).
Convenient starting points for climbing Koncheto and crossing the saddle are the Betolovo area and the town of Bansko. Many tourists prefer to drive as high as possible into the mountain and start their hike from the huts "Banderitsa," "Vihren," or "Yavorov."
The climb to Koncheto from "Banderitsa" hut starts in front of the hut entrance. You follow the green trail markers up a small meadow to the right of the fountain, between the hut building and a smaller adjacent structure. The gradual ascent soon becomes steeper, and the terrain becomes unstable, requiring caution (especially when descending along this trail). As you exit the forest zone, notice the beautiful solitary trees along the trail. Soon, the incline becomes even steeper before the path veers left and shortly enters the bottom of the cirque "Malak Kazan." Another short but steep climb follows, reaching the point where the trail from "Banderitsa" hut joins the trail from "Vihren" hut (marked in red). To the right, you can see the Kazana Shelter. This is a suitable spot for a longer break. At this point, the elevation gained is approximately 600 meters. About 400 meters remain to Koncheto. From the shelter, continue following the red markers up toward Premkata (the saddle between the peaks Vihren and Kutelo), then turn right and follow the markers for about 30 minutes to reach Koncheto. On summer days, when the mountains are crowded, at Kazana Shelter, you may see tourists bypassing the marked trail and climbing directly up toward Kutelo. Since it is part of Pirin National Park, leaving the officially marked trails is not allowed. In Bulgaria, legality, rules, and order are often disregarded, but if you wish to help preserve the mountain, please stick to the marked trails. The total duration of the hike at a good pace is about 3 hours. The only place to refill water is the fountain in front of the hut. Plan carefully how much water you will need for the hike.
The climb to Koncheto from "Vihren" hut can be done in two ways. The more demanding route goes over the peak Vihren (via Kabata), while the easier option bypasses the peak. The point where you need to decide which route to take is about 15 minutes above "Vihren" hut (after crossing the stream). The markers for both paths are the same, as they are two variations of the same route - the European Trail E4. The right path is the bypass, while the left path ascends directly toward the peak. Before starting from the hut, fill up with enough water (in the summer of 2019, the external fountain in front of the hut was dry). Follow the red trail markers starting from the stairs to the left of the fountain. Except at the mentioned junction, there is no place to get lost. Just follow the red markers, which are easily visible throughout. The total duration of the hike via the peak is about 4 hours, while via the Kazan trail is about 3.5 hours.
The climb to Koncheto from "Yavorov" hut takes about 5 hours. Follow the red trail markers. The first two hours or so of the hike involve climbing about 800 meters of elevation to the saddle between the peaks Razlozhki Suhodol and Albutin. The trail starts from the hut heading south, exiting the forest zone after about 50 minutes and continuing through dwarf pine and open areas to Suhodol Lake - the only lake in the Razlozhki Suhodol cirque. After the lake, the trail ascends the Okadenski Ridge and reaches the saddle. The second part of the hike is less steep but technically more challenging due to the terrain. The path traverses the southern side of the Marble Ridge, with almost no long ascents, but the slope it crosses is quite steep. There are a few sections where walking requires extra caution to avoid stepping on loose rocks or slipping. About 4.5 hours after starting from the hut, you reach Koncheto Shelter, and from there, it takes another 20 minutes to climb Banski Suhodol Peak and reach Koncheto. Overall, the hike is demanding. Any hiker with at least some experience in the mountains should be able to handle it, but it should not be taken lightly. The ridge is high and exposed, and in case of bad weather, there are no easy options to leave the route. Starting this hike without extra warm clothing is unwise, even in warm summer days. Carrying extra water is also a good idea. Besides the hut, you can refill your bottles from the stream that flows into Suhodol Lake (in the summer of 2019, it was dry). At signs of a thunderstorm, it’s best to turn back in time, as once you’re on the ridge, there’s no sensible way to descend.