The Food Prize Goes to a Pyrenees Mountain Hut
A client's verdict on the Three Refuges trek in the Pyrenees: the prize went to Coma de Vaca refuge — the people in it, and their dinner. Why that's the point.
A route almost nobody outside the area knows
There is a route in the Pyrenees that almost nobody outside the area knows.
Three refuges. A circular line along the border between Spain and France. About two hours from Barcelona.
At dinner you hear Catalan. Some French. Almost no English.
It has it all. And it impresses everyone we send there.
What one of our clients wrote
One of our last clients wrote this. I’m copying it exactly as it arrived:
“The walks were perfect, beautiful and at the correct level of effort. A fantastic experience. The refuges were welcoming and we were well looked after. The prize would have to go to Coma de Vaca for being so personable and friendly. They were exceptional. They scoop the food prize as well.”
Read that again.
Days of walking through high mountains. And the prize goes to a hut.
To the people in it. And to their dinner.
Right.
That is what a good route does
That is what a good route does. The walking is at the correct level of effort, so you stop thinking about the walking. What stays with you is who looked after you at the end of each day.
You can’t photograph that. You can’t really advertise it either.
You can only go.
Go and meet Coma de Vaca
If you want to know Coma de Vaca firsthand, the route is here:
Un abrazo, Alberto
P.S. The best-kept secrets in the mountains are rarely the summits. They are usually whoever is cooking.