Camping in the mountains can be an adventure. So can a mountain hut night with a little one. After a first hut night with a lively 4-year-old, here is our experience for parents and grandparents still unsure.
Having abandoned the idea a year earlier because nappies were still needed, this year we tried our luck with a toilet-trained child. Off to the Hautes-Pyrénées!
Tent or mountain hut?
There was little debate. For a substantial hike, we needed the child carrier because our small hiker's stamina remained limited. Fully “loaded”, Dad was carrying 23 kg and could take little more. Mum could not carry all the tent and camping equipment alone. Picnic, clothing and sleeping kit already weighed enough. A hut it was.
Off to Refuge de Bastan:
After some research, this hut offered an easy, fairly short approach walk (2 h 30), with options to continue towards lakes or a pass depending on our son's energy, and return fairly quickly the next day.
However, the hut was not specifically family-friendly: no bedrooms, just 2 dormitories and one outside toilet.
Arrive early to choose your sleeping spot:
The approach took longer than expected thanks to beetles, elf hunting, flowers and alternating running with “I don't want to walk”… Allowing extra time helps.
Our first question on arrival was not “What's for dinner?” but “Where are we sleeping, and how do we get up for an urgent midnight wee?”
Bastan has just one toilet, several dozen metres from the hut. Getting dressed and putting shoes on would be necessary in an emergency. Useful for mental preparation…
The main upstairs dormitory is accessible only by a vertical ladder. Not an option for night-time toilet trips with a child.
That left the large Marabout tent with bunk beds, 30 m from the building: ground-level access made it safer.
Almost first to settle in, we could choose a quiet corner: at the back, with no passing traffic or draughts. Our son had no neighbour, with his bed against a partition. I took the next bed and Mum the upper bunk. Reassuring for everyone, and quieter for the other sleepers too.
Preparing our little adventurer for the night:
We immediately set up the beds, showing where Mum and Dad would sleep. Out came his cuddly toy and small head torch to use as a night light without disturbing others.
Before a nap, we sat in bed reading to help him settle into the surroundings.
Our boy was delighted.
Dinner:
After exploring and paddling in the lake all afternoon, dinner time arrived. So far, so good. Probably no noisier than school dinners… And there was pasta!
During the night:
We soon returned to bed, allowing time for bedtime routines and reading before everyone settled down.
Our corner was secluded enough to avoid disturbance from dormitory traffic. Our son fell asleep quickly. I took longer, wondering what to do if an accident soaked his sleeping bag overnight.
Alert 1: lost cuddly toy.
A sudden awakening at an unknown hour: “Teddy! Teddy!” I felt around for the toy, which had wandered to the bottom of his sleeping bag. He immediately went back to sleep.
Alert 2: cuddly toy lost again.
Same again. This time it was on the floor.
Alert 3: emergency poo.
More like a siren: “Emergency poo! Emergency poo!” I checked my watch: 4 in the morning. The toilets were 150 m away. I quietened the siren while struggling into clothes. Out into the invigorating cool, child in arms, heading for the toilet and watching my footing.
After a small wee, both wide awake, we took the opportunity to admire the stars.
I asked my son, “Can you count the stars?” “No, but I can count the moon: 1!” he replied, pointing. At least we had a laugh…
Unsurprisingly, neither of us felt particularly fresh in the morning.
Conclusion:
We were delighted to take our son for a mountain hut night. But after little restful sleep, we did not want to repeat it immediately…
Choosing a fairly easy, short approach walk proved wise, especially on the return. Next time, however, we will seek a more comfortable hut with toilets beside the bedroom.
Dormitory sleeping caused our son no problems. In our quiet corner, we were not disturbed and, I think, did not disturb others.
A hut night is lovely, but next summer we are camping!