Mountain refuge Four à chaux

Between long and half mountain transit

Four à chaux appears in a passing area rather than a stay. It is in the surroundings of Montbolo, in the French Eastern Pyrenees, only 385 meters of altitude, within a relief of slopes and small cords that link the Vallespir with sectors of transition to the Rosellon and the Conflent. References such as Roc de Calamiche, Puig Roig or Puig del Correc, modest but useful summits to understand the character of the land include low mountain, broken and with rapid changes between umbria, slopes, forest and secondary crest.

Their interest as a free shelter is mainly understood by the network of itineraries passing through the area. The presence of several stages of HRP and GR 10 places it in a mountain corridor where it can serve to divide the day, cover a stage end with accumulated tiredness or solve a change of plan if the weather is complicated. It does not work as a high mountain base, but as a support for long and link routes, especially when the schedule is extended or should not continue to move towards more exposed levels.

In the logistics part, there are sources located at a reasonable distance, with the closest ones around 1.7 km, but that does not amount to immediate water available next to the shelter. It is necessary to reach sufficient autonomy and to have room for water if it is hot or the day comes dry. It is also wise to predict that, despite the moderate altitude, rain, fog or wind may make the links between lomas and roads uncomfortable, so Four à chaux fits well as tactical guard when they weigh the meteor, fatigue or a late exit.