Project

Refugios Pirineo

On 4 June the Refugios Pirineo project was officially presented, with the institutional backing of the Aragonese Mountaineering Federation and Fundación Ibercaja.

Refugios Pirineo began in 2020 as an Instagram account aimed at raising the profile of the unstaffed mountain huts of the Pyrenees and other mountain areas. The initiative grew out of a wish to share these spaces, often little known or poorly documented, with the mountaineering community, highlighting their usefulness, beauty and vulnerability. From the start, the goal was to build a community around these shelters, promoting knowledge of them, respect and good use. Over time, the account became a reference platform that has sparked debate, gathered information collaboratively and raised awareness of the need to preserve these places, which are essential for people who hike and climb in remote areas.

After 5 years of sharing content through the Refugios Pirineo Instagram account, we launched the website refugiosnoguardados.org, which has different sections devoted to various topics, some of which I highlight in this article:

On 4 June the Refugios Pirineo project was officially presented, with the institutional backing of the Aragonese Mountaineering Federation and Fundación Ibercaja.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

Share and raise the profile of unstaffed huts in the Pyrenees, including cabins and bivouac areas, so that they are known and accessible to the public

Create and maintain a directory and interactive map with location, state of repair, capacity and resources (such as water or access), updated by the community

Promote the good use and care of these huts through codes of conduct, good practices and specific signs placed on site

Provide information on overnight-stay regulations, gathering the rules in force in Aragon, Catalonia, Navarre, Andorra and various protected areas, for responsible use

Encourage community collaboration and future research, supported by organisations such as the Aragonese Mountaineering Federation, Fundación Ibercaja and the EU, with a view to expanding educational resources, researching the use of these spaces and building a network of unstaffed huts

Generar recursos y conocimiento que contribuyan a la conservación y sostenibilidad de estos espacios.

RESULTS

A public, functional database of more than 1,500 unstaffed huts in the Pyrenees has been consolidated, accessible from the web and mobile devices, making route planning easier and mountaineers safer.

Hundreds of users have contributed up-to-date information (hut conditions, photos, comments), creating an active community that shares responsibility for looking after these spaces.

Installing physical information signs in some huts has led to greater respect for the basic rules of coexistence and for protecting the environment.

The project has attracted interest from the media and social organisations, leading to new partnerships with mountain federations, public bodies and local stakeholders interested in the sustainability of the high mountains.

Mayor visibilidad y sensibilización sobre la importancia de conservar los refugios no guardados y los entornos de montaña.

RECURSOS

Materiales elaborados en el proyecto, de acceso libre: consúltalos o descárgalos.

SOCIOS DEL PROYECTO

Viaje a la Sostenibilidad (VALS) | España
Federación Aragonesa de Montañismo | España
Fundación Ibercaja | España
Unión Europea

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