Refugi de Colomers

Refugi de Colomers (Spanish: Refugio de Colomers) is a mountain refuge in the Pyrenees, located at an altitude of 2,135 metres in Salardú, in the province of Lleida, in the Alt Aran comarca, beside the Estany Major de Colomers in the Colomers cirque, within the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park. It is a commercial hospitality and accommodation brand serving hikers, mountaineers and ski tourers in one of the most lake-rich glacial landscapes of the Catalan Pyrenees. The refuge sits at the northern end of the Carros de Foc route, a 55 km traverse that links all the refuges inside the national park. Colomers lies between the Refugi de la Restanca to the west, reached via the 2,572 m Port de Colomers, and the Refugi de Saboredo to the east, reached via the 2,189 m Coll de Clòto and the 2,451 m Coll de la Sendrosa, which skirt the 2,702 m Pic de Sendrosa. To the south of the refuge lies the broad Colomers cirque, dotted with glacial lakes and crowned by the 2,934 m Gran Tuc de Colomers. Access is on foot or by taxi. A track passable in summer runs from Salardú to Artiés through the Aiguamòg and Valarties valleys and passes at 1,970 m a short distance from the hut; by car, visitors must leave vehicles at the Banhs de Tredòs (1,769 m), 8 km from Salardú and about two hours on foot from the refuge. A taxi service can shorten the approach to about 40 minutes on foot. The GR-11 long-distance path, the Senda Pirenaica, passes the refuge: to the southeast it crosses the 2,594 m Port de Ratera beside the 2,862 m Pic de Ratera on the way to the Estany de Sant Maurici, and to the northwest it leads to Artiés. The GR-11-18 variant follows the Carros de Foc path west toward the Port de Colomers and the Refugi de la Restanca. The current hut offers 60 dormitory places distributed across five rooms with bunk beds, along with meal service and cold-water showers. The present building has been in service since 2008, but it has a longer history: an earlier refuge was inaugurated in 1972 with a capacity of ten people and fell into disrepair through little use and bad weather. In 1983 a new refuge was inaugurated by restoring the earlier one, with a dining room and kitchen. In 1990 materials began to be flown in by helicopter and electric light was installed. A final restoration was carried out in 1994, and it was eventually decided to build an entirely new refuge 300 m from the old one. The refuge belongs to the FEEC (Federació d'Entitats Excursionistes de Catalunya) and the Conselh Generau d'Aran.

The history of Refugi de Colomers is one of repeated rebuilding at high altitude. An earlier refuge was inaugurated in 1972 with a capacity of ten people; it deteriorated because of little use and bad weather. In 1983 a new refuge was inaugurated by restoring the earlier structure, adding a dining room and kitchen. In 1990 the operation began flying in materials by helicopter and installed electric light. A final restoration was carried out in 1994, after which it was decided to build an entirely new refuge 300 m from the previous one. The current refuge has been in service since 2008. It belongs to the FEEC (Federació d'Entitats Excursionistes de Catalunya) and the Conselh Generau d'Aran, and it forms part of the network of staffed huts inside the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park. Its location at the northern end of the Carros de Foc traverse, between the Refugi de la Restanca and the Refugi de Saboredo, makes it a key node in the park's high-route circuit.

• 2008

  The current refuge entered service.

• 1994

  A final restoration was carried out; it was decided to build an entirely new refuge 300 m away.

• 1990

  Materials began to be flown in by helicopter and electric light was installed.

• 1983

  A new refuge was inaugurated by restoring the earlier one, with a dining room and kitchen.

• 1972

  An earlier refuge with capacity for ten people was inaugurated.

A high-altitude, staffed mountain refuge and hospitality brand in the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, serving through-hikers on the Carros de Foc and GR-11 routes.

• Mountain hut accommodation

  60 dormitory places distributed in 5 rooms with bunk beds.

• Meal service

  Food service for guests.

• Cold-water showers

  Shower facilities with cold water.

1. 1Refugio de Colomers - Wikipedia (Spanish)es.wikipedia.org
2. 2refugi de Colomers - Wikidatawikidata.org