Rifugio delle Marmotte

Rifugio delle Marmotte is an alpine refuge (rifugio alpino) located in the Entrelor valley (Vallone dell'Entrelor) in the Val di Rhêmes, within the Gran Paradiso National Park in the Aosta Valley, Italy, at an altitude of 2,142 metres. It sits along the Alta Via no. 2 and is reachable in less than an hour from Rhêmes-Notre-Dame, or alternatively from the village of Chaudanne (Rhêmes-Notre-Dame) or, from the other side, from the village of Eaux-Rousses in Valsavarenche. The refuge is managed entirely by volunteers of Operazione Mato Grosso, a Catholic lay movement, and its purpose is to raise funds to finance solidarity projects in South America. It is the third refuge built by Operazione Mato Grosso in the Aosta Valley, after the Rifugio Pier Giorgio Frassati and the Rifugio degli Angeli. Construction began in the summer of 2013 on the site of the former Alpage de l'Entrelor, which was demolished and partly reused (wood and stone) for the new building. Young volunteers from across Italy took part, and the refuge was completed in 2015 when it opened to its first guests. The refuge presents itself as family-friendly, with a trail from Rhêmes suitable for adults and children, and it promotes an ecological style: electricity from a hydroelectric turbine, LED bulbs, a solar panel integrated with an electric boiler for hot water, only eco-friendly detergents, provisions and materials carried on foot to minimise helicopter use, and all waste separated and carried back down to the valley. It is closed during the winter season. From the refuge, hikers can reach peaks such as the Col de l'Entrelor (3,007 m), the Cime de Pertcha (3,212 m) and the Col de Gollien (2,560 m).

Rifugio delle Marmotte is an alpine refuge in the Entrelor valley (Vallone dell'Entrelor) in the Val di Rhêmes, inside the Gran Paradiso National Park, at 2,142 metres. It is the third refuge built in the Aosta Valley by volunteers of Operazione Mato Grosso, after the Rifugio Pier Giorgio Frassati and the Rifugio degli Angeli. Construction began in the summer of 2013 on the site of the Alpage de l'Entrelor, which was demolished and partly reused, with wood and stone recovered for the new refuge. Young people from all over Italy took part as volunteers. The construction was completed in 2015, when the refuge opened to its first guests. The refuge is managed entirely by Operazione Mato Grosso volunteers, and its purpose is to raise funds to finance solidarity projects in South America. It is located along the Alta Via no. 2 and can be reached in less than an hour from Rhêmes-Notre-Dame, or alternatively from the village of Chaudanne (Rhêmes-Notre-Dame) or, from the other side, from the village of Eaux-Rousses in Valsavarenche. From the refuge it is possible to reach peaks including the Col de l'Entrelor (3,007 m), the Cime de Pertcha (3,212 m) and the Col de Gollien (2,560 m). The refuge presents itself as family-friendly, inviting families to bring children for a first experience of a night in a refuge, and it follows an ecological approach: electricity produced by a hydroelectric turbine, LED bulbs, a solar panel integrated with an electric boiler for hot water, only eco-friendly detergents, provisions and materials carried on foot to almost entirely reduce helicopter use, and all waste separated and carried back down to the valley. The refuge is closed for the winter season.

• 2015

  Construction completed and the refuge opened to its first guests.

• 2013

  Construction began in the summer on the site of the Alpage de l'Entrelor, demolished with wood and stone partly recovered.

A volunteer-run, family-friendly and eco-conscious alpine refuge whose proceeds support solidarity projects in South America.

• Alpine refuge accommodation

• Overnight stays for hikers and families

• Hiking itinerary information (difficulty, times, elevation gain)

1. 1Rifugio delle Marmotte – vallone di Entrelorrifugiodellemarmotte.it
2. 2Rifugio delle Marmottewikidata.org
3. 3Rifugio delle Marmotteit.wikipedia.org