Mountain refuge Cabane du col de l Arrech (de Bethmale)

In the field of Bethlehem , within the Ariège and in the surroundings of Moulis, the Cabane du col de l Arrech (de Bethmale) It is located 1410 meters in a half-mountain pirenaic strip that works as a transition between valley, herbous cords and more open reliefs. This position makes it particularly useful for those who plan long days on foot and need a point of support in an area where the ground already forces to think about orientation, meteorology and basic autonomy.

His interest is more in the logic of passage than in the proximity to a single objective. In this sector they combine itineraries like the GR 10 , Chemin du Piémont Pyrénéen and wide routes linked to the Réserve Naturelle du Mont Valier , in addition to local circles such as the Pic de la Pène or the Grand tour SourRoque. This is why it fits well with well-used trails to link strands and with mountaineers who want to divide the day before they gain height or go through the hills and hills of the Couserans. It can also serve as a reference for exits to nearby summits such as the Cap de Bouirech at 1874 m, or Pic de Midi de Bordes which help to understand the character of the land: mountains of moderate altitude, exposed to the change of time and with routes that can be extended according to the chosen route.

Water planning should be done with margin. The registered sources do not appear next to the shelter, but several kilometres away, so it is not wise to have immediate supply on the roof. In a height like this, and in an area open to the wind and to the Atlantic humidity, time can change quickly and tighten both the approach and the continuation of the route. More than a shelter for improvised stays, this site makes sense for those who arrive with the thought-out day, knows the map of the sector of Bethmale and previews water, material and alternative descent.