Rifugio Soria Ellena

Rifugio Soria Ellena is a mountain hut (rifugio) located at 1,840 metres above sea level in the Maritime Alps, within the municipality of Entracque in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy. It sits in the Gesso Valley at the foot of the Gelas massif and is reached on foot in about two hours from San Giacomo di Entracque. The hut is named after two mountaineers, Edoardo "Dado" Soria and Gianni Ellena, who were very active on the mountains of the Gesso Valley from the late 1920s to the 1940s and who opened new routes on the Corno Stella. The building was designed by Gian Mario Bertarione and inaugurated on 10 December 1961, dedicated to the memory of the Cuneo mountaineer Edoardo Soria. In 1979, during the first renovation, the name of his climbing companion Gianni Ellena was added. Further renovation work took place in 2000, and in 2020 insulation was installed, changing the exterior colour from white-light brown to grey-dark brown. The structure has three floors and a total capacity of 65 beds in rooms of 5 or 6 places; the official website also mentions a 20-place dormitory and 7 smaller, more private rooms. The main hut has no winter room; that function is served by the masonry structure of the Gias del Prajet below at 1,810 m, with a capacity of 6 places. The hut offers traditional Piedmontese cuisine, hot showers, and a panoramic terrace. It lies on the red route of the Via Alpina, as a stage point between sections R143 (Rifugio Morelli-Buzzi – Rifugio Soria Ellena) and R144 (Rifugio Soria Ellena – Rifugio della Madonna delle Finestre, France). It is a base for ascents of Monte Gelàs (3,143 m), Cima di San Robert (2,919 m), Cima del Ciafron, Cima Borello, Roc di Fenestrelle, and Cima Roccati, and for traverses to Rifugio Pagarì (2,650 m), Rifugio Cougourde in France (2,100 m), Rifugio Genova-Figari (2,040 m), and Trinità di Entracque. Excursions reach the Colle di Finestra on the French border, the Colle di Fenestrelle, the Chiotas basin, Lago Brocan, and Lago della Maura in about two hours. The hut's philosophy, as stated on its website, is to avoid leaving a mark and to continue living in harmony with the surrounding natural beauty. The site also recounts the history of Jewish refugees who, after 8 September 1943, crossed the Maritime Alps toward Entracque and Valdieri seeking safety, some of whom were interned in the Borgo San Dalmazzo concentration camp.

Rifugio Soria Ellena was designed by Gian Mario Bertarione and inaugurated on 10 December 1961. It was dedicated to the memory of the Cuneo mountaineer Edoardo "Dado" Soria, who, together with Gianni Ellena, was very active on the mountains of the Gesso Valley from the late 1920s to the 1940s and opened new routes on the Corno Stella. During the first renovation in 1979, the hut was also named after Gianni Ellena, Soria's climbing companion. A further renovation took place in 2000. In 2020, the installation of insulation visually changed the exterior of the structure, which went from white-light brown to grey-dark brown. The hut continues to operate as a stage point on the Via Alpina and as a base for mountaineering and hiking in the Maritime Alps.

• 2020

  Insulation installed, changing the exterior colour from white-light brown to grey-dark brown.

• 2000

  Further renovation work carried out.

• 1979

  First renovation; the hut was also named after Gianni Ellena.

• 1961

  Inaugurated on 10 December, designed by Gian Mario Bertarione, dedicated to Edoardo Soria.

A simple, wild mountain hut in the heart of the Maritime Alps, offering an authentic alpine experience in harmony with uncontaminated nature.

• Mountain hut lodging (65 beds in 5- or 6-bed rooms; 20-place dormitory and 7 smaller rooms per website)

• Traditional Piedmontese cuisine

• Panoramic terrace and hot showers

• Winter room function at Gias del Prajet (1,810 m, 6 places)

1. 1Rifugio Soria - Semplice Selvaggio Soriarifugiosoria.com
2. 2Rifugio Soria Ellena - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Rifugio Soria Ellena - Wikipedia (Italian)it.wikipedia.org