Miscellaneous Tips, Parc National des Pyrénées Occidentales, France - Reviews and Hotel Information

If you do not want (or like) to camp, but want to stay overnight in the high mountains, you may use the huts. The huts are not hotels!, they are sometimes just shelters, sometimes a bit more luxurious, where the keeper may even cook you a dinner!
Most of them are run by alpine clubs, and have staff in summer (May to September, depending on altitude and climatic conditions).The prices are varying, rather cheap (but it is Spartan!), and if you are member of the CAF (Club Alpin Français) you pay half price; being member is cheap, and it may be financially worth if you intend to stay more than 4-5 nights in different huts; being member of the CAF also covers high mountain insurance (just in case, if you need a helicopter rescue. . . .. haha, you will be rescued in any case (not like in US where they ask for a credit card number before they send a helicopter, if I believe what I read and have seen in M. Moore’s “Sicko” movie), but if you are not insured you will have to pay for helicopter and hospital).
In summer, groups are advised to make reservations long in advance (2-3 month) and individuals should make reservations 2-4 weeks before. (Again, if you are member of the CAF, you have priority if you arrive short notice, say, for the evening just when you arrive)
A list of huts with phone numbers (for reservation, etc. . . ) is on the weblink.
Off season (Sept-May), when there is no staff in the huts, they are closed, but a part of the hut is ALWAYS accessible, sometimes, climbing in through a open window, sometimes just going through the main door, but only the sleeping area (with mattresses and blankets) and an eating room are accessible, and you have to find yourself water, and cook on a table. . . . Restrooms outside, in the snow. . . . .
I do not have a big hut experience, as I prefer to sleep in my tent, and the huts are sometimes far from the HRP, and I find them always “cosy”, thinking of the harsh conditions outside, sometimes. . . .
On Picture 1 is the Baysselance hut (2651m), near the Oulettes d’Ossoue Valley head; still a bit snow in August; good starting point for a climb on the Vignemale or a walk on the Ossoue Glacier. Is it not wonderfully located? Picture from Lesser Vignemale looking NE to Pic de la Sede and Pic d’Ardiden on the horizon.
On picture 2, the Refuge d’Ayous (1982m), located near Pic du Midi d’Ossau, near the shore of Lac Gentau, with the Ayous ridge at the back. Easy to reach with a 3 hours nice walk from the Bious Artigues parking (trail head).
Refuge des Sarradets (picture 3), also named “refuge de la Brèche de Roland” (2687m), photographed from “El Casco” (3006m) already in Spain; picture taken in July; in May, there is still a lot of snow. . . This refuge is located above Gavarnie, and within easy reach from Col de Tentes parking trail head. You see the parking on the meadows, the Especières Lake, behind and the Pic de Sècres is still covered by some snow.
The small Refuge de l’Abérouat (picture4) is located at 1442m in a small valley above the very picturesque Cirque de Lescun, in the high Vallée d’Aspe, bordered by high limestone cliffs (here the Orgues de Camplong).
This last refuge on picture 5 is at la Pierre St Martin, not a real mountain hut, as it is located near a ski resort; but it is a very good starting point to excursions to the Pic d’Anie, or (as in my case, one time) a good shelter and stopover on the HRP, between Vallée d’Aspe and Vallée du Barétous; this is a privately run hut, and the keepers are mountain lovers, very kind and make excellent food for the exhausted hiker arriving from Basque Land just before night, in the fog and mist of April; it is far outside the National Park, but the Pyrénées are not only in the park; Refuge Jeandel.

Miscellaneous Tips, Parc National des Pyrénées Occidentales

Parc National des Pyrénées Occidentales Hotels