Alilitsa Cave Traditional Cache

Drainage of the Massif Bistra in this section is carried out through the surface water flows of Tresonechka River and underground through the underground flow of Lower Alilitsa. The underground water flow in Alilitsa dive at a certain point. Since there appear to be more streams at the level of Tresonechka River, speleologists repeatedly have undertaken dyeing of the underground water. The aim was to establish where moves the water from the underground flow, i.e. to establish underground connections. Dyeing of the water is performed with fluorescein in the cave. Speleologists assumed that fluorescein would appear in a karstic water spring located about 500 meters downstream from the entrance of the cave. However, the color in this source does not appear, but after three days colored waters appeared in Tresonechka river from some other unknown sources. It was concluded that this a matter of alternately placed permeable and impermeable rocks, indicating large layers of gravel in the upper cave channel, which means that there exist independent underground streams and crevices in the kras and in the massif.

How to get there

You can reach Tresonche village from the city of Struga or from Mavrovi Anovi village (at Mavrovo Lake). At the R1 (Boshkov most, Boshko’s bridge) you go south-east and at R2 turn toward east and continue some 8 km. The asphalt road leads you to Tresonche (and to other Miyak villages, Rosoki and Selce). To this village also lead well preserved and maintained mount bike and walking trails, connecting it to other villages, like Lazaropole etc.

If you travel by car, you have to park your car somewhere in the village. It will take about 1-1.5 hour to get there. Your hunt on this cache will start at the point "1 Alilitsa Start" where is the info table. The trial is poorly marked, therefore you can use several points (1-15; see the waypoints and the map), to be sure not to get lost. In the beginning the dirt road is wide, however as you get closer to the caves the path becomes quite narrow.

The map

About the path: READ VERY CAREFULLY!!!!!

To enter in the caves you should pass Tresonechka river that is flowing right in front of the entrance of Lower Alilitsa. The speleologists and the common visitors have already made a small improvised bridge of lean woods, however sometimes the river destroys it. Be very careful when you cross the river (about 3-5 m wide), the stones are very slippery.

The entrance into the Lower Alilitsa cave is tight and you get in it on your knees. But only after ten steps, in front of you will open a huge cave gallery, filled up with beautiful decorations. One of the slippery paths will lead you to the beautiful cave lake, and the another one to the waterfalls.

If you enter in the cave for the first time and without a speleologist or someone who has been there before, you should be very careful and remember the way back to the entrance. Of course you would need a flashlight. The cave is huge and you can freely move upstanding. At some places it is straitening but you can still pass those several meters on your knees.

The Upper Alilitsa lies almost straight above the Lower Alilitsa. The Lower and the Upper Alilitsa are around 100 m distant one from another. The slope at which you have to climb is VERY steep, the climbing could be dangerous because the slope is covered with stones that are wobbly unstable under your feet. It is necessary to use good sticks or rods to climb the hill.

The entrance to Upper Alilitsa (and Galejnik guards it)

About the cache

The cache is a small plastic container, no pen in it, so bring one with you.

The cache is hidden at the beginning of the Upper Alilica. The cache is a white plastic tube, containing a log book.

NOTE; PLEASE!!!!! Since the cache is really difficult to find (steep and rocky terrain, poor GPS signal) the owner suggests to the geocachers to enter only the Lower Alilitsa cave! Take a photo of you at the entrance of the Lower Alilitsa to prove your visit and you can log as FOUND!

Sources: Wikipedia, other internet sources. Photos: Internet and original (by Galejnik)