Sleeping in a high altitude mountain refuge is a fantastic experience: the silence of the mountains, the spectacle of sunrise and sunset, total immersion in nature and the relaxed climate of the refuges are the quintessence of the pleasure of staying in these spartan and essential structures. And yes, precisely because they are at high altitude, they are Spartan and they are essential, you cannot expect 5-star hotel treatment, on the contrary: staying in a high altitude mountain refuge means deal with what is really useful and what is superfluous and you can leave it at home.
What to bring to a mountain refuge
So, whether it’s a summer trek or ski mountaineering from refuge to refuge, there are at least 10 indispensable things, in summer as in winter and excluding the specific equipment for the activity you practice and the season in which you do it , to absolutely put in your backpack.
Sheet bag (or sleeping bag)
In the refuges there are no sheets: hopefully there are bunk beds, otherwise bunk beds with side-by-side beds, with a mattress and a blanket, often made of wool. So if you want to save on weight, bring a sheet bag with you, one of those with a hood for your head, otherwise a sleeping bag. To be safe, you spread them out on your bed upon arrival, and when you leave you fold the blankets and leave everything in order.
> Read also: 8 tips for sleeping outdoors
Headlamp
Often in refuges electricity is limited for a few hours. Which means that if you have to get up at night to go to the bathroom there is no light to turn on and, apart from a few emergency lamps, you are immersed in darkness. The most practical thing is a headlamp, preferably one with adjustable intensity (so that you don’t need to illuminate the entire valley to sneak out of bed in the middle of the night.
Water bottle
Another precious and limited asset. Either because supplies at high altitude are always complicated and problematic, or because sometimes the refuges are located upstream from the water sources. Which means that it is better to think about drinking water independently, carrying your own water bottle with you and always keeping it full.
Battery charger
Now many refuges have equipped themselves with solar panels, others continue to use power generators, in any case even electricity could be a commodity with limited availability. If you bring some electronic gadget with you (not necessarily the smartphone, which often has no signal at altitude, but perhaps the watch with the GPS navigator, or the camera, or the GoPro) you have to make do with recharging the batteries: they are there portable battery chargers or those with solar panels, it depends on how much charge you need.
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Spare underwear
Ok, in the mountains you don’t wash (or you wash very little) but this doesn’t mean that at least in the evening you can’t take off your technical clothing and put on something (relatively) clean and comfortable. The following may be enough: a second pair of socks and underwear, a t-shirt, even a cotton one, for sleeping and a pair of trousers (depending on the season: even shorts in summer, tights in winter). NB: you cannot enter a mountain refuge with boots, which must be left in the shoe rack where there are also spare slippers; If you don’t like wearing the ones supplied, it’s best to bring them from home.
> Read also: How to dress to go to the mountains in summer
Multipurpose Swiss army knife
We don’t really know why, but you never know; even if it’s just to fix a nail or a blister, the multipurpose Swiss army knife must always find a place in your backpack. The time it was needed will justify all the others when it wasn’t needed.
Waste bag
In every mountain refuge there is a sign that speaks very clearly: take your waste to the valley. Which means there is no dustbin and your rubbish comes back with us, in a true zero impact trek. Therefore, a plastic shopping bag, to be tied with its own handles, should always be placed in the backpack.
> Read also: 6 good habits for zero impact trekking
Towel
Yes, of course, you don’t wash. But at least yes, you wash yourself, even if it’s just your teeth and face at the outdoor fountain. And it’s not like there are towels on the bed. So a small quick-drying towel is essential.
> Read also: 4 remedies against the smell of sweat
3M adhesive tape
Like the Swiss army knife: you can’t imagine the times when it can really be useful. A garment that tears, the water bottle to isolate, something to fix. A small roll of 3M tape is always a must-have in your backpack.
> Read also: The 10 rules for living better while camping
Cash
Often in the refuges there is no telephone signal, imagine if the ATM arrives. So you always have cash in your pocket because for everything else there is Mastercard, but only downstream.
> Read also: Why walking in the mountains makes us happy
By 4000er – Own work, Public Domain
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2024-04-30 07:55:33
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