Combe Madame Refuge

Ski Areas > Northern Alps > Belledonne > le Fond de France > Combe Madame Refuge

The Combe Madame Refuge

From the outside the Combe Madame Refuge looks like a luxury chalet in the middle of nowhere. Who and how could it have come to be here? The exterior belies a much more spartan interior. Certainly there is a bathroom, but no running water in winter. There are 19 bunk beds in two rooms but no duvets or matresses, something that is rare for mountain refuge, even by Belledonne standards. This was a surprise to a couple in the spring of 2003 when I was there. They had to go back to the valley to fetch sleeping bags - a 90 minute round trip even with running shoes. There is also a stove, but it is inefficient and hard to get going. You will need to fetch wood from the forest below. Despite warnings to the contrary at the parking the refuge is open all winter.

It is well placed at the start of the Combe Madame valley. The snow stays on the ground until mid-May and even in early June there is just a small amount of portage to reach the nice slopes below the Rocher Badon and Rocher Blanc. The refuge itself is guarded from mid-June through to the first snows of autumn. The guardians keep sheep on the summer pastures and there are now wolves in the area. It is possible to sleep here and also to buy refreshments or even lunch or dinner.

The Stove

GPS: N 45.2647°, E 06.1141° 1784 meters.

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