Mountain refuge Bédélat du Cassaïre

Crossing the Cantal

The approach to Bédélat du Cassaïre It fits better in hiking days with continuity than in an improvised short exit. In the surroundings of Mandailles-Saint- Julien, within the Cantal Mountains , the terrain responds to the broad and eroded relief of this volcanic massif, with lomas, orientation changes and routes that force to decide well where to link. That is why its role makes more sense as a step-by-step shelter: it allows to break stages, reorganize a journey or have a point of support between identified itineraries of the area, such as the VA 10 and VA 11 sectors, in addition to the Sentier of Bois Mary. At about 1500 meters of altitude, the environment can already be fresh, windy and changing, especially when the weather revolves in the nearby crest and hills.

Its practical interest is in this intermediate position within a fairly open mountain sector, with close peaks as Chavaroche , Elancèze or the Roc du Chauve functioning more as a reference of the relief than as a forced target from the shelter. For those who travel the area on foot, it is appropriate to plan the day with autonomy: the nearest registered source is about 2.7 km away, so it is not wise to have immediate water in the environment of the coat. No specific equipment or services should be taken for granted if they have not been established before. In this context, Bédélat du Cassaïre is particularly useful for mountain and mountain trails that already arrive with a linked route, basic reading of the ground and margin to adapt the stage according to the time, visibility or state of the route.