Piero Garelli Refuge

Access

Main routes

From Carnino Superiore (Upper Tanaro Valley)
- Time: 2h30
- Difference: +850 m
- Difficulty: E
- Classic route across the Passo delle Saline, well signposted.
From Pian delle Gorre (Val Pesio)
- Time: 4h
- Difference: +1,100 m
- Difficulty: E
- Long and suggestive, it crosses the woods of the park and reaches Pian del Lupo by a direct route.

Introduction

The Piero Garelli Refuge (1,970 m) is located at Pian del Lupo, in the Marguareis Natural Park, along the southern slope of the Ligurian Alps. Immersed in a karstic context of great charm, it is a modern point of support for hikers, mountaineers and naturalists exploring this secluded but historically rich corner. The structure, cosy and functional, recalls in its profile the lines of the massif to which it looks, blending harmoniously with the surrounding environment. Today it represents a symbol of Alpine hospitality and memory, dedicated to a key figure of the Resistance.

Description

The idea of building a refuge in this area was born thanks to the initiative of Sandro Comino, a mountaineer and profound connoisseur of the Marguareis group. In 1949, with the support of the CAI section of Mondovì and thanks to the commitment of friends and volunteers, a first structure was built in just a few days with war materials recovered and transported by mule. The refuge was inaugurated on 18 June 1950.
After a first extension in 1962 and a complete reconstruction in 1968 - which brought the capacity to 80 beds - the structure was destroyed by fire in 1987. Despite the discouragement, the necessary resources were managed to gather for the construction of a new, modern and welcoming building, which was inaugurated on 13 October 1991.
The hut is named after Pier Mario "Piero" Garelli, a lawyer, mountaineer and President of the CAI of Mondovì between 1938 and 1943. After 8 September 1943, he joined the Resistance, until his deportation and subsequent death in the Gusen II concentration camp.
The hut is located in the heart of the Marguareis Natural Park, in an environment dominated by karst phenomena, with dolines, sinkholes and a rich biodiversity. The local fauna includes chamois, marmots and, with a little luck, birds of prey such as golden eagles and lammergeyers can be observed.
The climate is typically alpine, with short, cool summers and snow cover that persists until late spring. The ideal months for visiting are from June to September.
In addition to being a reference point for hikers, the refuge also has a cultural value: it hosts exhibitions, meetings and stories related to the mountains and partisan memory. There is no shortage of themed evenings and traditional Piedmontese dishes prepared with care.

Trails from the Refuge

Excursions

The Marguareis loop
- Time: 6h
- Difference: +/-1.000 m
- Difficulty: EE
- A wide panoramic tour around the massif, with a return to the refuge.

Colle del Pas

Time: 1h30
Difference: +400 m
Difficulty: E
It is a short but evocative route, ideal for geological observations.

Climbing

Monte Marguareis (2,651 m) - Normal route
- Time: 3h
- Difficulty: E/EE
- Hiking route with sections on rock and scree.

Traverses

Rifugio Mondovì Havis De Giorgio → Rifugio Garelli
- Time: 6h
- Difficulty: EE
- Suggest traverse for experienced hikers, through lunar landscapes and alpine meadows.

Information

Location: Commune of Chiusa di Pesio (CN), Valle Pesio
Height: 1.970m
Ownership: CAI Mondovì
Manager: CAI Mondovì - Management by rotation between volunteers

Capacity

Place-beds: 46
Place Winter Local: 8

services

Lighting: solar
Wifi: not available
Device charging: available
Water:drinkable in the hut
Hut book:present (with dedications by hikers and mountaineers)
Opening period:

Opening period

from mid-June to mid-September; winter room always open

contacts

Telephone:
Cell phone (in season only): +39 348 806 1851
Web: www.rifugiogarelli.com
email: info@rifugiogarelli.com