Mountain refuge Refugio militar Lopez Huici

Pico de Aspe and slopes of Somport

About 2000 meters, the Military Refuge Lopez Huici is in an open and exposed mountain strip, between the surroundings of Gabardito, the slopes that look towards Somport and the relief that raise the Pico de Aspe and Pico Tortiellas . This position places it in a clearly pirenees, transition ground between high valley, pastures and more alpine slopes, where wind, fog or a rapid change of time can make the day very much conditioned. More than a shelter linked to a valley bottom, it fits into a mountain of passage and medium-high, useful for those who need to fail a journey or gain a base close to higher levels.

From this point of view its mountain role is well understood: it supports tours that connect with the sector of Aguas Tuertas, the area of Lake Estaens and the itineraries that move around the Somport and the valley of the Aspe. It is not appropriate to read it as a simple, isolated coat, but as an intermediate piece within longer movements by the divisive and by the steps that link aragonese and French slopes. The relative proximity of summits such as Aspe or Tortiellas reinforces this use as a basis for approach, although the nature of the terrain and meteorology require mountain experience and good guidance capacity.

In the logistics part, water data require margin planning. The sources are more than 3 kilometres away, with the Donkey's source as a closer reference, so it is not wise to have immediate supply next to the shelter. In such an area it is necessary to leave with sufficient autonomy, to review weather forecasting and to confirm on the ground the state of access and of the water points before they are dependent on them. This combination of altitude, exposure and distance to the uprisings makes it better to function as a free shelter for mountaineers used to managing a full day in the pyrenees.