Caro UEC Mountain Refuge

The Caro UEC Mountain Refuge (Catalan: Refugi Caro UEC "Pepito Anguera") is a staffed mid-mountain refuge owned by the Unió Excursionista de Catalunya (UEC), Catalonia's historic hiking federation. It sits at 1,090 metres above sea level on the north slope of Mont Caro, in the Pla del Mascar area within the municipality of Alfara de Carles, in the Baix Ebre comarca, inside the Els Ports Natural Park in southern Catalonia, Spain. The refuge is a two-storey building with an attic, guarded year-round, with capacity for up to 34 overnight guests. It also operates an annex free refuge (refugi lliure) and a controlled camping area for use when the warden is absent. The ground floor contains a large multi-purpose dining room with a fireplace and wood stove, a bar and kitchen serving meals and drinks, communal toilets and hot showers, free Wi-Fi, and a mountain library with route guides. The first floor has five communal bunk-bed dormitories with mattresses, blankets and pillows, plus communal toilets and hot showers. The refuge is set back from the road and has a controlled camping zone, a play area on the terraces of former crops, and private parking next to the building. It is a waypoint on the long-distance GR 7 and GR 171 trails, and serves as a base for ascents of Mont Caro (1,441 m), La Barcina (1,354 m) and Mola de Catí (1,328 m), as well as for hiking, traverses, canyoning, climbing, caving and mountain-bike routes in the Els Ports Natural Park. The refuge's history begins in the summer of 1955, when the UEC's Tortosa branch bought a 107-are plot of pine forest and meadows with a small farmhouse (maset). Renovation and extension works began in autumn 1955 and finished in early 1956; the first refuge was inaugurated on 1 April 1956, accommodating up to 15 hikers inside and 10 more in the free area. It soon became too small, and in September 1964 a new refuge for 80 people was projected. Construction began in summer 1965 after the old refuge was demolished, with Josep Anguera Navarro ("Pepito"), then president of UEC Tortosa, playing a leading role. The new refuge was inaugurated on 25 September 1965. Since December 2005, in honour of Pepito Anguera's contribution, the refuge has borne his name. The official website notes the refuge was built in 1968 on the basis of an old maset, a date that differs from the Wikipedia account of the 1965 inauguration; the refuge has been recently renovated. The refuge is managed by warden Jordi Cirera. Its management is integrated into the intended uses of the Els Ports Natural Park and promotes ecological management measures, recycling and waste management. A separate, independently owned refuge called Refugi Caro@ Estels, belonging to no federation or entity, stands about 200 metres away. The refuge is reachable by car on an asphalted road from Roquetes, and on foot via the GR 7 (5 hours from Refugi Font Ferrera; 4 hours from Roquetes or Alfara de Carles; 2.5 hours from the free refuge Les Clotes; 5.5 hours from Beseit; 8 hours from Horta de Sant Joan) and the GR 171, which links the Els Ports massif with the Sanctuary of Pinós in the Solsonès comarca.

The Caro UEC Mountain Refuge traces its origins to the mid-1950s, when the Tortosa branch of the Unió Excursionista de Catalunya (UEC) recognised the need for a proper shelter in the Els Ports area. In the summer of 1955 the branch bought a 107-are plot of pine forest and meadows that included a small farmhouse, or maset. Renovation and extension of the maset began in the autumn of 1955 and were completed in early 1956. The first refuge was inaugurated on 1 April 1956 and could accommodate up to 15 hikers inside, with space for 10 more in the free area. The refuge quickly proved too small. In September 1964 a new refuge designed for 80 people was projected. Construction did not begin until the summer of 1965, after the old refuge had been demolished. Josep Anguera Navarro, known as "Pepito", then president of UEC Tortosa, played a leading role in the new construction. The new refuge was inaugurated on 25 September 1965. Since December 2005, in honour of Pepito Anguera's contribution, the refuge has carried his name, becoming formally known as Refugi Caro UEC "Pepito Anguera". The official website of the refuge states that the building was constructed in 1968 on the basis of an old maset, a date that differs from the Wikipedia account of the 1965 inauguration; the refuge has been recently renovated. The refuge is owned by the Unió Excursionista de Catalunya and is managed by warden Jordi Cirera. Its management is integrated into the intended uses of the Els Ports Natural Park and promotes ecological management measures, recycling and waste management. About 200 metres away stands another refuge, Refugi Caro@ Estels, which is independently owned and belongs to no federation or entity. The refuge sits at 1,090 metres above sea level on the north slope of Mont Caro, in the Pla del Mascar area within the municipality of Alfara de Carles, in the Baix Ebre comarca, inside the Els Ports Natural Park. It is a two-storey building with an attic, guarded year-round, with capacity for up to 34 overnight guests, plus an annex building that serves as a free refuge when the warden is absent. The ground floor has a large multi-purpose dining room with a fireplace and wood stove, a bar and kitchen serving meals and drinks, communal toilets and hot showers, free Wi-Fi, and a mountain library with route guides. The first floor has five communal bunk-bed dormitories with mattresses, blankets and pillows, plus communal toilets and hot showers. The refuge is set back from the road and has a controlled camping area, a play area on the terraces of former crops, and private parking next to the building. The refuge is a waypoint on the long-distance GR 7 and GR 171 trails. It is the end of stage 23 and the start of stage 24 of the GR 7 (Paüls to Refugi de Caro, and Refugi de Caro to Fredes), and the end of stage 15 of the GR 171 (Paüls to Refugi Mont Caro). It is also the start and end point of stages of the Estels del Sud traverse (Paüls, Ca les Barberes – Refugi Caro, and Refugi Caro – Refugi Font Ferrera). From the refuge, users can undertake ascents of Mont Caro (1,441 m), La Barcina (1,354 m) and Mola de Catí (1,328 m), as well as all kinds of excursions, walks, traverses, canyoning, climbing, caving and mountain-bike routes in the Els Ports Natural Park. Access by car is via an asphalted road from Roquetes. On foot, the refuge is 5 hours from Refugi Font Ferrera via the GR 7, 4 hours from Roquetes or Alfara de Carles, 2.5 hours from the free refuge Les Clotes, 5.5 hours from Beseit, and 8 hours from Horta de Sant Joan.

• 2005

  From December the refuge bears the name of Pepito Anguera in honour of his contribution.

• 1965

  Construction of the new refuge begins in summer after demolition of the old one; the new refuge is inaugurated on 25 September.

• 1964

  In September a new refuge for 80 people is projected.

• 1956

  The first refuge is inaugurated on 1 April, accommodating up to 15 hikers inside and 10 more in the free area.

• 1955

  UEC Tortosa buys a 107-are plot of pine forest and meadows with a small maset; renovation and extension works begin in autumn.

A non-profit, federation-owned staffed mountain refuge integrated into the Els Ports Natural Park, offering affordable communal accommodation and services to hikers, climbers and outdoor users.

• Staffed refuge accommodation

  Up to 34 places in five communal bunk-bed dormitories with mattresses, blankets and pillows.

• Dining room, bar and kitchen

  Ground-floor multi-purpose dining room with fireplace and wood stove, bar and kitchen with meal and drink service.

• Free refuge and camping area

  An annex building serving as a free refuge when the warden is absent, plus a controlled camping zone.

• Mountain library and Wi-Fi

  Free Wi-Fi with internet access and a mountain library with route guides.

1. 1REFUGI CARO "UEC" - Refugi Caro UECrefugiueccaro.cat
2. 2Mountain refuge Caro UEC - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Refugi Mont Caro - Viquipèdiaca.wikipedia.org