Bivouac Col Mandro

Bivacco Col Mandro sits at 1,844m on the Col Mandro pass in the Maritime Alps, on the border between Italy and France. Reach it from the Valle Gesso side in Italy via the Pian della Casa trailhead near Cuneo. The approach takes 4–5 hours on a steep, exposed trail that gains 1,100m elevation. The final approach crosses scree and requires scrambling experience. This is not a casual day walk.

The bivouac is a basic mountain shelter with 8 beds across two small rooms. Expect no heating, no showers, and no meals—bring a stove and your own food. Drinking water is available from a spring near the shelter. The hut sits on the main ridge linking Cuneo's peaks to the Ligurian Apennines, making it ideal for multi-day mountaineering traverses. Summer is the only viable season; winter access is dangerous and requires serious winter mountaineering skills.

This is an unmanned shelter. There are no booking requirements and no fees, though you should report any damage or maintenance issues to the local CAI (Club Alpino Italiano) section. Bring a headtorch, a good sleeping bag rated for cold mountain nights, and be entirely self-sufficient. Cell reception is unreliable. Come prepared to be alone on the ridge.