Climbing to Capanna Margherita, at 4554 meters on Monte Rosa, is a dream for many hikers and mountaineers.
But to get there without shortness of breath or the feared altitude sickness (which we talked about in an article that you can find here: Mountain Sickness) there is a secret, which the most experts know well: acclimatise.
Spending a night at high altitude before the final climb makes the difference, and near Alagna there are three refuges that not only prepare you in the best possible way, but transform the wait into an unforgettable experience.
The Barba Ferrero Refuge, the Ospizio Sottile and the Ferioli Refuge: three unique stages, each with its own character, its views, its history.
All 3 are perfect for becoming familiar with the altitude and experiencing the mountains without filters, in an authentic and conscious way.
Let’s discover them together!
1. The Barba Ferrero Refuge: authentically experience the mountains
The Barba Ferrero refuge is one of the most emblematic refuges in the whole of Valsesia.
Located at 2247m, it is an eagle’s nest right under the majesty of the Monte Rosa glacier and perfectly represents mountain life in its purity.
This makes it not only a place to acclimatise for the most challenging ascent phase for your body, perhaps towards Capanna Margherita, but also to live a more than unique experience, representative of the roots of the valleys under the Alps, of their inhabitants, i Walser, and a rich and evocative rhythm of life memories and traditions.
1.1 How to reach the Barba Ferrero Refuge:
Reaching Barba Ferrero requires a bit of effort, that’s undeniable, but trust me it will pay off.
To get to the refuge we recommend passing through path 207, from the Pastore refuge, which is one of the most beautiful paths in Valsesia: a perfect mix of woods, meadows and wooden bridges, until the arrival with a panoramic view of Monte Rosa.
It must be said: in summer, the shuttle to Acqua Bianca square it saves you a piece of the road, leaving you the most beautiful point of the route, but it is preferable to enjoy it all and experience all the necessary steps, the effort, the joy that accompanies it once you arrive.
1.2 The heart of Barba Ferrero:
This refuge is not the classic refuge abandoned to itself, far from it.
The heart of Barba Ferrero is Andrea, a brilliant manager who conquers with his natural irony, elegant and pleasantly eccentric. Attentive and intuitive in welcoming, he knows how to sensitively understand the needs of guests, always maintaining the right distance that protects his own space and that of others. With him every stay becomes an authentic, pleasant and never predictable encounter, destined to leave a special memory.
Furthermore, once you arrive you will find hot showers, which at high altitude are more than a luxury, rooms with a view, touch chargers for your mobile phone.
And the food? Polenta with tapulone, steaming soups and homemade desserts, accompanied by a 30 liter can of genepì always available, nothing but minimalist portions! At Barba Ferrero you eat and live like you eat and live in the mountains.
Sleeping here is not just strategy: it is a way to get in tune with Monte Rosa before the big climb.
2. The Ospizio Sottile refuge: experiencing the history of the mountains
Known as “The highest hospice in Europe” is one of the oldest refuges in Italy, an important piece of history of mountaineering, Valsesia and Monte Rosa.
At 2480 metres, on the hill between Alagna and Gressoney, the Ospizio Sottile is not only a refuge but also a place that you cannot fail to visit at least once in your life.
Born from the vision of Canon Nicolao Sottile in 1825, this place had a noble task: save lives.
In winter, the pass was a death trap for emigrants who crossed it, and the canon built it, leaving an income for a caretaker to keep it open all year.
Imagine a man alone, in the snow, with the task of lighting a fire and offering shelter, protection, life to those who braved the frost.
Today, that past lives on in the extremely human and fascinating atmosphere of the refuge, a place that if you know how to listen will tell you stories of mountaineering far back in time that still saturates the walls of places like this.
2.1 How to reach the Ospizio Sottile:
Reaching it from the Vogna Valley, on the Alagna side, is a gentle path that prepares you for the altitude, while descending towards Gressoney offers a surprising view, with Castel Savoia appearing in the distance.
At this altitude, the body gets used to the air which becomes thinner, making it ideal for acclimatising before a more important ascent.
The Ospizio Sottile is intimate: simple rooms, a small church, a quiet room and even a ballroom that saw solitude and parties.
In conclusion: this is a place that you cannot miss, a place full of stories to pass on, a place that will give you an unforgettable experience.
3. The Ferioli Refuge: experiencing the roots of the mountains
Of this list the Ferioli Refuge is certainly the one it sinks its roots deeper into the true essence of the mountain.
Here you will experience a place that still tastes of the same flavors of the past, a place where time seems frozen by the glaciers of Monte Rosa, a place where simplicity reigns, as an emblem of a life truly lived in symbiosis with the mountain.
Located above Alagna, at 2264 meters, the Ferioli Refuge and managed by the CAI volunteers of Olgiate Olona, is the classic refuge that welcomes you as a friend, not as a customer
3.1 How to reach the Ferioli Refuge:
The Ferioli Refuge can be reached with a perfect climb for those who want to train and become familiar with the difference in altitude.
It’s also one stage of the Great Crossing of the Alps (GTA), one of the most evocative hiking routes in the Alps, which crosses Piedmont from north to south.
A thousand meters of well-distributed walking, which makes your legs and breath work without ever being excessive.
The prize? A panorama that erases fatigue in an instant. You can go up from Alagna-Pedemonte, with a more direct and challenging climb, or from Rima San Giuseppe, with a more panoramic route that passes through Colle Mud. In any case, whatever path you choose to take, once up there, you will realize that it was worth it.
3.2 The heart of Ferioli:
Ferioli is a truly special refuge.
In fact, it is self-managed by CAI volunteers, and this makes the atmosphere of the place a warm, hospitable embrace, an embrace that will make you feel at home.
The volunteers are among those who love the mountains more than anyone and you will feel this love on your skin, you will feel it in the taste of the good food they know how to prepare, you will see it in the light that their enthusiasm transmits.
The terrace is the perfect meeting point: chat, laughter, an aperitif with a view of Monte Rosa and that relaxed atmosphere that makes you forget everything else.
Under Mount Tagliaferro, which dominates the scene, is a refuge that seems to have come from another era, and this is precisely what makes it unique.
The cuisine is a hymn to tradition: soups that warm the hands and soul, bread cake made with leftovers, because here nothing is wasted, and dishes also designed for those with intolerances, such as lactose-free options.
20 minutes from the refuge, a viewpoint offers you a panorama that seems painted, with the peaks that stand out against the sky like silent giants but at the same time know how to tell the most wonderful stories.
Sleeping here, at this altitude, is more than acclimatization: it is a suspended moment, a taste of the mountains with the calm of those who know that beauty is always around them if you know how to observe carefully.
4. Why choose these shelters?
Each of these lodges has something unique to offer, but they all share one goal: to help you get to higher altitudes at your best. Sleeping between 2200 and 2500 meters gives your body time to adapt to the altitude, reducing the risk of altitude sickness and leaving you with more energy for the final climb.
And then there’s the rest.
The Barba Ferrero conquers you with its lively hospitality and authentic Walser air, the Ospizio Sottile with its powerful history, the Ferioli with its authenticity that flows in timeless roots.
They are not just technical stages, but experiences that make the journey to +4000 meters even more special.
Tackling an excursion or climb at high altitude, such as on Monte Rosa, requires adequate preparation to avoid the risks associated with altitude sickness.
Respecting the acclimatization rules is a fundamental element for living the experience safely.
This element is fundamental if you want to minimize risks.
High altitude does not forgive improvisation and underestimation of the body’s signals.
If you want to know more and prepare yourself in the best possible way for an informed climb, we have created a specific course with a UIAGM mountain guide, in which you can learn everything you need to face altitudes without risks.
Do you want to climb Monte Rosa or tackle a high-altitude excursion taking all the necessary measures to minimize risks?
Get ready the right way with ours mountaineering course, led by a UIAGM expert.
What will you get from the course?
- You will learn to experience the mountains with awareness
- You will learn how to navigate environments far from your comfort zone
- You will learn what equipment to use and how to use it
- You will know the freedom of feeling good and connected to nature in non-anthropized environments
Don’t let altitude sickness ruin your adventure. Get ready with the support of professionals to face the mountains with awareness and tranquility.
Book your place on the course now by clicking here
👇And from here you can download our free guide to mountaineering!
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