Mountain refuge Orri de la Font de Jordana

Between Rabos and the Albera

On the eastern side of the Sierra de la Albera within the term of Rabos, the Orri de la Font de Jordana It appears in a half-mountain strip that already has clear features of pirenaic transition to the Mediterranean. Its 600 meters of altitude do not place it in alpine environment, but it does place it in a land exposed to the wind, dry in many periods and very conditioned by the changing weather of this border saw. The nearby relief is immediately raised around the coat, with a height like Puig d'en Jordà , Puig de les Guilles , The Petita Tower or Puig de Taravaus , which help to understand their lace in a succession of lomas, hills and divisives over the Alt Empordà.

Crossing and autonomy

Their interest does not depend so much on a high altitude as on the position on continuity routes. In this sector, long-range strands such as the GR 11 and HRP , in addition to other historical and cross-border roads that cross the Albera between hills, masias, monasteries and steps towards Portbou or La Jonquera. This is why it works mainly as a support point in linear crossings, liaison days or routes that seek to divide stages in an area where the gap is not always extreme, but exposure to the sun and the accumulated length can be noticed.

The environment also has a clear geographical context. The Albera is the most eastern part of the Pyrenees before falling to the sea, and this condition is felt in the type of mountain: less high, more open and with a mixture of Mediterranean landscape and logic of border cord. The area of Sant Quirze de Colera, a useful territorial reference to place this sector of Rabos within the natural area of national interest, is also nearby.

In practical terms, the day should be planned with autonomy. Although there are several invented sources in the area, the nearest registered source is more than 3 kilometres away, so it is not reasonable to have immediate water next to the shelter. In dry or hot times, that distance can be an important factor. Before leaving, it is interesting to review the concrete route of the stage, to ensure the supply and to note that in this part of the Albera the shelter performs more a function of guard and road support than of stop with nearby resources assured.