Mountain refuge Gîte d'étape les Marmottes

Between Saint- Drums and the itineraries of the Mercantour

Gîte d'étape les Marmottes it is left in Saint-Dsos, within the municipality of Valdeblore, in the French Maritime Alps, at about 1300 meters altitude. It is located in a half-mountain strip from which one begins to gain relief towards the summits and cords surrounding the area, with the Pic de la Colmiane very close and a land that already works as before the Mercantour.

More than an isolated destination, it fits well as a point of passage to move between valleys and link hiking days in this part of Provence-Alpes@-@ Costa Azul. The closeness of the GR 52A , known as Sentier panoramique du Mercantour, it gives you interest for those who travel long routes or want to divide stages without far too far from the main axis. Local tours to places like Lac Nègre which reinforces its role in supporting one or more days of movement, rather than that of simple road accommodation.

The immediate environment combines relatively low access for alpine standards with a rapid transition to more open and exposed mountains. In this area it is appropriate to read the map well and not to be trusted by the moderate altitude of the starting point: time changes in the South Alps can affect both hills and high slopes, and the orientation of the chosen itinerary makes the day very difficult. If used as free shelter or as a cross-border support, autonomy remains important.

In logistics, water is one of the most favorable aspects here, as there are several sources very close to the building, some a few minutes on foot. Even so, it is always appropriate to check the actual availability of the mountain according to time and conditions. As no associated equipment or services are detailed, the wise thing is to propose the exit with margin, especially if the idea is to link routes, continue to higher levels or use the place as an intermediate stop within a journey.