While Bulgarian ski resort Borovets opens the ski season, and with worsening weather conditions, the Bulgarian Mountain Rescue Service (abbreviated as PSS in Bulgarian) have warned skiers and snowboarders that they cannot be responsible for the lives and safety of those "on the territory and facilities of Borovets Ltd".

Reportedly, all concessionaire operators of winter resorts in Bulgaria have signed a contract with the Mountain Rescue Service, except Borovets Ltd. Accordingly, the media statement goes on to say that since the concessionaire declined the services of the PSS, "it (Borovets Ltd) assumes full responsibility for the safety of skiers, tourists and hikers – including in cases of severe trauma and injury", the media statement says.

Because of weather conditions, the PSS warned hikers to remain below the sub-alpine zones and not venture higher up the mountains where the slopes are devoid of vegetation and thus prone to avalanches. They also warned skiers and snowboarders to remain only on slopes designated for skiing.
 
Conditions for mountaineering, skiing and tourism were very poor, the PSS was quoted by Focus news agency as saying on December 20 2009.
 
There was a heightened danger of avalanches on most mountains because temperatures are constantly fluctuating. Botev Summit on Stara Planina was reportedly battered by hurricane intensity winds at -3C, whereas the temperatures at Aleko on Vitosha Mountain had risen to 0C. Borovets currently stands at 1C. Temperatures in the mountains are expected to slump later in the day to about -12C.

On all mountains, except Borovets, the Mountain Rescue Service is contactable on the 112 emergency hotline and 1470 for Mtel and Vivatel.