Showing posts with label Refuge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Refuge. Show all posts

Thursday, December 19, 2024

Capçaleres del Ter and Freser Natural Park - Ulldeter Refuge

The Refugi d'Ulldeter is located 20 minutes from the road that leads to the Vallter 2000 station, at the foot of the Gra de Fajol, very close to the source of the river Ter, in the glacial cirque of Ulldeter.

How to get there

From Setcases, we follow the road in the direction of the Vallter 2000 station, on a 12 km uphill route with numerous curves. After the first chairlift car park, you will find a sign indicating the way to the Ulldeter Refuge. You can park here; it is not necessary to reach the Vallter 2000 station. The path begins at a well-signposted curve, and from this point it is approximately a 20-minute climb to the refuge, following the GR11 markings.

Capçaleres del Ter and Freser Natural Park

The Capçaleres del Ter i del Freser Natural Park, declared as such in 2015, is located in the eastern Pyrenees, in Ripollès, with an area of ​​more than 14,000 hectares distributed among 7 municipalities.

The current relief is the result of the erosion produced by the water network after the various glaciations. Above 2,000 m, the entire surface was covered by ice platforms and glacial cirques, from which tongues of ice flowed through the valleys and could be 10 km long and up to 500 m thick.

Cirques and glaciers shaped the relief of the mountain range forming troughs, U-shaped valleys and periglacial sedimentary zones in the upper Ter valley and the Núria valley.

Within the Park there are many examples of glacial morphology: the Coma de l'Orri, the Coma de l'Embut, the Coma d'Eina, the Coma de Vaca, the Coma del Freser, all formed by glacial cirques like the Concros circus, the Ulldeter circus, or the Funnel circus. Currently, there are no glaciers.

Bastiments and Coll de la Geganta protect the waters of the Ter River. About 100 m from the old refuge is the source of the Ter river, which rises at 2,400 m at the foot of the ancient glacial cirque and is also protected by the Gra de Fajol and the Pic de la Dona.

The river takes a route of 208 km through several Catalan counties until it reaches its mouth at the beaches of Estartit and Pals.

Gra de Fajol
Bastiments
Old Ulldeter Refuge

Ulldeter Refuge

The New Ulldeter Refuge, inaugurated in 1959 and located at 2,221 meters above sea level, replaces the previous refuge, built in 1909 at 2,393 meters. This first refuge has the historical milestone of being the first mountain equipment in Spain, promoted by the Center Excursionista de Catalunya.

The Camprodon Valley

The Alta Vall del Ter is a paradise with very little human footprint, chosen by many wealthy people as a place of rest.

Camprodon
Catalan Pyrenean Horse Fair

The Mouth of the Ter

The Ter, after traveling 208 km, flows into L’Estartit, in front of the Medes Islands. Now that we have seen the beginning, we cannot miss the end; it’s fantastic.

Sunday, October 22, 2023

Uelhs deth Joeu - Plan dera Artiga - Refuge dera Artiga de Lin

Uelhs deth Joeu

Eyes of the Devil or Jupiter, a quite beautiful waterfall that gives rise to the Joeu River. The grace is that these waters come from the Aneto glacier which is in a southern valley of the Pyrenees and pass 4 km below the mountains to reappear near the Artiga de Lin.

Plan dera Artiga

La Artiga de Lin is the starting point of great ascents towards the Aneto and Maladeta area, as well as the mythical hills such as Aranesi, Picada and Hòro, places deeply related to the history of the Pyrenees.

Gentiana lutea

Gentian is a medicinal plant that is used as an appetite stimulant. One of the most bitter substances known is extracted from its root.

Aconitum napellus - wolfsbane

The aconite family are very poisonous plants. There are many flowers that give color to the meadows of Artiga de Lin. Artigas are forests that have been cut down to obtain pasture for flocks.

Artiga de Lin Refuge

The refuge is 9 km from the town of Es Bordes along a paved track. Access by private car is restricted in the summer months with greater influx of tourists. The track is also closed in winter due to avalanches.

Guardader dera aigua - Hònt deth Gresilhon

Both the water guard and the Gresilhon sling are very good. And the route to go between fir and beech trees is fantastic.

Small excursions around Uelhs deth Joeu

The arrow marks the second parking lot, which is where we must leave the car, it is a few meters from Uelhs deth Joeu. Then we must go up to Pla dera Artiga and then towards the Refuge where we can have a Coca Cola. From here we can go to the Pish de Pomèro and then return to the starting point. The entire tour lasts a little more than an hour.

We can make a second excursion to the Guardian of the water and the Gresilhon sling, and continue descending to the hermitage of the Mader de Dios de la Artiga de Lin. About an hour, and then you have to go back up.

Excursions

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Colomèrs Refuge - Banhs de Tredòs - Salardú

We wanted to go to one of the shelters in the Aigüestortes i Estany Sant Maurici National Park. Since we were traveling with our young daughters, we opted for the Colomers refuge. It's easily accessible, requiring only a 40-minute walk after reaching the nearest point by car along a paved track that runs from Salardú to Arties, passing through Banhs de Tredòs.
There are 60 sleeping spots, distributed across 5 rooms. Each room has a bunk bed with two levels. That means there are six people side by side on each level, without any separation.
The food is simple and plentiful, and it's quite good. Be careful when ordering lunch as the portions are generous but quite expensive since everything is delivered by helicopter.
Like in all the shelters, there's a great atmosphere, and people come from all over. We shared an excursion with a family from the Netherlands.
From the refuge, you can embark on the circular hike of the Colomers circus and lakes. The short version takes about two hours, while the long one takes approximately six hours. For more details, you can check out these resources: link to Senditur's route and link to Wikiloc's trail.

Lara i Kali

At the Colomers shelter, Lara and Kali were working, who have a show on SX3, the Catalan channel for children. We ran into some kids from Olost who were fans of their show and had gone to see them.

Salardú, a Picture-Perfect Village

From Salardú to Banhs de Tredòs, you can go by your own car, then you need to take a taxi that drops us off about 40 minutes from the shelter on foot.

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