If there's one route that combines history, art, and nature in a captivating journey, it's the GR 175, known as the Cistercian Route. Stretching 108 km, this trail traverses the regions of Conca de Barberà, Alt Camp, and Urgell, offering the only route that connects the three Cistercian monasteries: Santes Creus, Poblet, and Vallbona de les Monges.

When we think of a mountain refuge, our brains go on autopilot and, almost instinctively, conjure up a high-mountain landscape, probably in the Pyrenees. Add a loaded backpack and boots, and you're likely in the summer, perhaps in the middle of a Carros de Foc or Cavalls del Vent trek. Our collective imagination is captivated by long-distance routes and peak season. And that's understandable, but there's more to mountain refuges than that. This is the premise that motivated geographer and travel journalist Laura Masó to lace up her boots. "I saw it as a necessity. There was a certain lack of information," says Masó, who maintains that a guide was needed, a physical resource to bring order to the situation. "The information was fragmented; each entity offered its own, but there wasn't a single place to consult it all." Above all, she detected a black hole regarding unstaffed refuges. "These are the most basic refuges, and often the adventure begins before you even arrive, simply by calling the town hall or the relevant organization to get the key."

On Saturday at noon, he was able to say "Good morning" to them from the summit of Catalunya, Pica d'Estats. Allow me to explain, still reeling from the euphoria of having achieved it, because on Pica, Neil Armstrong's words speak volumes when he said he didn't just want to be the first human to go to the moon, but the first to go there and back. On Pica, the descent is as hard, if not harder, than the climb, full of scree and banks you have to climb when you're already exhausted from the day's effort, which turns the final stretch into both a physical and mental test.

The passion for hiking is on the rise, and the natural beauty of the Camp de Tarragona mountains contributes significantly. However, this increase has also led to an increase in rescues by emergency services. The mountains are a place of peace and contemplation, but they demand respect and responsibility, as they can become dangerous. Being well-equipped, knowing the route, and keeping up with the weather are essential steps to enjoying nature safely.