Refugi Costabona

Refugi Costabona is a mountain refuge owned by the Federació d'Entitats Excursionistes de Catalunya (FEEC), the Catalan hiking federation. It sits at an altitude of 2,171.2 metres within the municipality of Setcases, in the Ripollès comarca of Catalonia, Spain, on the south slope of the Costabona peak near the Clot de la font de Fra Joan. The refuge is an unguarded, free shelter (refugi lliure) with capacity for 18 people, distributed across three levels of bunk beds with mattresses and blankets, and a cooking area. It is equipped with electricity generated by a solar panel and a radio connection to emergency services, although this equipment is often not functional; the building is nonetheless kept clean and in good condition. A fountain fed by the Font de Fra Joan stands beside the refuge. Because it is perched on a kind of balcony, on clear days it offers an extraordinary view stretching from the Gulf of Roses to the mountains of the Ulldeter cirque, taking in the ranges and plains of the northern Girona districts. The refuge originated in October 1958, when an old mine that had extracted magnetite, calcite and serpentinite was definitively converted into a free refuge. Ten years later, on 27 October 1968, the current purpose-built building was inaugurated because the mine caused water seepage. In December 2000 a severe blizzard storm, which caused several deaths in the area, did notable damage inside and outside the refuge; as a result, in October 2001 both the roof and much of the interior furniture were repaired again. The refuge is a key waypoint on the variant of the GR® 11.6 long-distance trail, which connects the Ulldeter cirque with the village of Espinavell along the border ridge; the trail passes right next to the refuge and is recommended only as a shelter in bad weather. Access on foot takes about 3 hours from either Setcases or Espinavell, 4 hours from Refugi d'Ulldeter, 4 hours from Refugi de Pla Guillem, and 5.5 hours from Refugi de Marialles; the Refugi de la Portella de Rojà is a little over an hour away. By vehicle, a forest track suitable for all kinds of vehicles links Setcases and Espinavell to the Collada Fonda, and from there it is a little over 45 minutes to the refuge. The refuge serves as a base for ascents and traverses including the Costabona summit (2,465 m), Pic de la Llosa (2,484 m), Roca Colom (2,506.5 m), Bastiments (2,881 m), and mountain traverses toward the Canigó massif.

The site of Refugi Costabona was originally an old mine where magnetite, calcite and serpentinite were extracted. In October 1958 the mine was definitively converted into a free refuge (refugi lliure). According to the Catalan Wikipedia, on 12 October 1958 the old mine was definitively arranged as a bivouac refuge. Ten years later, because the mine caused water seepage, a new purpose-built building was constructed and inaugurated on 27 October 1968. In December 2000 a severe blizzard storm, which caused several deaths in the area, did notable damage inside and outside the refuge. This led to repairs in October 2001, when both the roof and much of the interior furniture were restored. The refuge is owned by the Federació d'Entitats Excursionistes de Catalunya (FEEC) and is not guarded. It has a capacity for 18 people, distributed across three levels of bunk beds with mattresses and blankets, and a place for cooking. In principle it has electricity generated by a solar panel and a radio connection with emergency services, but this instrumentation often does not work, although the building is clean and in perfect condition. Beside the refuge there is a fountain channelled from the Font de Fra Joan. The shelter stands on a kind of balcony, which on clear days gives an extraordinary view stretching from the Gulf of Roses to the mountains of the Ulldeter cirque, passing through all the ranges and plains of the northern Girona districts. The refuge is a recommended shelter in bad weather on the variant of the GR® 11.6 long-distance trail, which connects the Ulldeter cirque with the village of Espinavell along the border ridge. Access on foot takes 3 hours from Setcases or Espinavell, 4 hours from Refugi d'Ulldeter, 4 hours from Refugi de Pla Guillem, and 5.5 hours from Refugi de Marialles; Refugi de la Portella de Rojà is a little over an hour away. By vehicle, a forest track suitable for all kinds of vehicles links Setcases and Espinavell to the Collada Fonda, and from there it is a little over 45 minutes to the refuge. The refuge serves as a base for ascents and traverses including the Costabona summit (2,465 m), Pic de la Llosa (2,484 m), Roca Colom (2,506.5 m), Bastiments (2,881 m), and mountain traverses toward the Canigó massif.

• 2001

  In October 2001, the roof and much of the interior furniture were repaired again.

• 2000

  In December 2000, a severe blizzard storm caused notable damage inside and outside the refuge.

• 1968

  On 27 October 1968, the current purpose-built building was inaugurated because the mine caused water seepage.

• 1958

  In October 1958, an old mine was definitively converted into a free refuge (refugi lliure).

A free, unguarded high-mountain refuge owned by the Catalan hiking federation, serving hikers on the GR® 11.6 and climbers in the eastern Pyrenees.

• Free mountain refuge accommodation

  Unguarded refuge with capacity for 18 people across three levels of bunk beds with mattresses and blankets, and a cooking area.

• Emergency shelter

  Designated for unexpected mountain situations where hikers need shelter due to weather or physical problems; leisure use is prohibited.

1. 1Refugi Costabona - FEEC - Federació d'Entitats Excursionistes de Catalunyafeec.cat
2. 2Refugi Costabonawikidata.org
3. 3Refugi Costabonaca.wikipedia.org