Refuge du Pigeonnier

The Refuge du Pigeonnier is a high mountain Club Alpin Français (CAF) refuge situated at an altitude of 2427 meters in the heart of the stunning Ecrins National Park.

The refuge is perched on the edge of the ridge with its own little lake and spectacular views of the Sirac summit, Gioberney and Valgaudemar valley. You can see the edge of the glacier Les Rouies from the refuge and it is a good wildlife spotting location. There is even a friendly ibex, nick named 'Alex', who often comes to survey the refuge's residents of an evening!

It is the classic access refuge for mountaineers wanting to climb Les Rouies (altitude: 3589 meters) and is also a popular refuge for families and walkers as it is just 2 hours walk in from the Gioberney car park.

It was originally built in 1967 and was entirely refurbished in 2002. It is a well equipped refuge with toilets and showers (payable as extras). There are different dormitories sleeping between 4 and 9 and the bedding is duvets and sheets. A sleeping bad liner is recommended for personal hygiene purposes as the sheets, as in all high mountain refuges, cannot be washed regularly.

The guardian Olivier and his team are there from mid June to mid September and will look after you with good refuge food and local specialities. In the winter there is a winter section left open sleeping 20 people.

This is a great refuge to experience if you have never stayed in one before and if you are an old hand, then you will appreciate its little "luxuries"...

90 people

7 Dormitories

Facilities and equipment included:
Bar, On-Site Restaurant, Open Fire or Wood Burner, Sheets, Sleeping Bags, Sun Terrace

Facilities and equipment at extra charge:

55 × Bed in Dormitories of varying sizes (sleeps 1)

There are a range of communal dormitories sleeping from 4 to 10 people equipped with bunk beds and alpine bunks, sheets and duvets or blankets. Sheets are not washed after every use so a sleeping bag liner is recommended for personal hygiene. The dormitories are communal so you may be sharing with people you don't know.

1 × Dormitory accommodation (sleeps 35)

Board Options

It is possible to stay here just for the night and there is a self catering kitchen. However, the guardians and their teams rely on food and drink sales to make their living and wouldn't be there making the refuge as nice as it is if we didn't support them.

It is possible to buy drinks and snacks as well as full meals.

Food

Picnic	13.00€
Breakfast	9.20€
Evening Meal	23.00€
Hot Lunch in Refuge	24.00€

Policies

Resources such as water, electricity (solar) and food are hard to come by in a mountain refuge so please respect this and don't waste energy, water or food. Showers are a luxury so please don't empty the water reservoir!

It is possible to charge your electronic devices in the refuge, but don't expect signal or Wi-Fi at this altitude (that is one of the many beauties of being in such places anyway!). As for the landline of the refuge, it is reserved for private use (except in the case of emergencies).

All items brought up to the refuge including any rubbish must be taken back out.

The staff (gardiens) running the refuge run a tight ship to be able to cater for everyone and clean the refuge to a good standard and their timetables and rules must be respected, that's why we kindly ask you to arrive at the Refuge before 18H00, as this is when the gardiens start cooking dinner and it would be inappropriate to ask them to show you your room and the refuge's facilities while they're busy in the kitchen.

At the entrance of the refuge, you will find baskets for you to put your belongings in to keep the refuge tidy. Please do not leave your belongings lying around in the refuge. Outdoor shoes are not permitted inside and slippers, flip flops or Crocs type shoes are provided. Mountaineering hardware such as ice axes, crampons and walking poles, must be left in the locker room or outside and should not be taken into the dormitories.

Any help offered to do the dishes, clear or wipe tables is greatly appreciated in any mountain refuge!

If you are heading up to do a mountaineering summit, you will be woken up in the early morning between 4H00 and 5H00 and served breakfast. Walkers and other guests' breakfast is usually served between 7H00 and 9H00. All dormitories need to be vacated before 9H00 and must be left in a tidy condition with duvets and sheets folded as you found them.