Whenever I encounter a person walking backwards I think to myself, "that is weird"... and usually they are too. Not necessarily a bad thing.Almost all pilgrims walk westwards - towards Santiago. Very few walk east away from Santiago though a small number do make the journey in both directions. As @trecile has just pointed out
Very few. I walked the Camino Frances in January this year. At times there were up to 15 pilgrims in albergues but there were other days when I saw only one or two and spent the night alone in albergues. The Norte is a far less popular route - especially in winter. I think you can expect to have days when you meet no other pilgrims. If social contact with other pilgrims is important to you then perhaps another route and time would be better.How many hikers might I see in a day, and how many persons in the albergues at night?
No. Most go east to west, which is the whole traditional idea of the Camino as a pilgrimage TO Santiago. That doesn't mean that you are not welcome to walk anywhere you want. It is just a reminder of the culture and tradition behind this wonderful walk and/or pilgrimage. Understanding the history makes it more interesting, and it also helps us respect the many people who work to keep the traditions alive so that we can enjoy them.Do most hikers go west to east? That seems to be the case.
thanks. what other route would you suggest? frances.... what part is the warmest? I suppose there's snow in the mountains? in jan. thanks agian.Very few. I walked the Camino Frances in January this year. At times there were up to 15 pilgrims in albergues but there were other days when I saw only one or two and spent the night alone in albergues. The Norte is a far less popular route - especially in winter. I think you can expect to have days when you meet no other pilgrims. If social contact with other pilgrims is important to you then perhaps another route and time would be better.
If you want company along the way then either the Frances or the Portugues. There may be snow on the higher areas such as O Cebreiro. The Portugues has no mountain sections - only modest hills - and being closer to the coast it is less likely to be snow-covered.thanks. what other route would you suggest? frances.... what part is the warmest? I suppose there's snow in the mountains? in jan. thanks agian.
Yah. That's weird.Something I've posted before. From the book "Clear Waters Rising" by the English writer and TV presenter Nicholas Crane
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There isn't a lot of business for commercial lodgings in January. What type of accommodation are you looking for? Pilgrim albergues may be open, but they might require that you show a credential to demonstrate that you are on a pilgrimage to Santiago. There are many ideas about what makes a pilgrim or pilgrimage, and we will avoid debating them on the forum, but the various albergues make their own policies.What % of the albergues are open for biz / travelers in January?
In general, there aren't that many people in the winter (Jan) and most of them are on the routes with more pilgrim infrastructure (Frances and Portugues). I'm not sure how much infrastructure will be open in January. I've heard that in the summer the Camino can be crowded with beachgoers and these can compete for places in the accommodations. That competition may not be a thing in January, but by the same token a lot of places may be closed in the "off season".How many hikers might I see in a day, and how many persons in the albergues at night? I prefer to be on areas where there are more poeple, not less. I"m an experienced backpacker, and done lonely treks, prefer more social/people this time. This is not due to safety concerns... I'm fine on that.
On one podcast, the Aussie surfer said she could hike a whole day on the el norte (the mount areas?) and not see 1 person.
Cheers.
I always thought of Muxia as notably west of Santiago and walking to Santiago as walking east, inland from there (unless you go via Finisterre, in which case it is south (and smidge west) to Finisterre and then east to Cee before turning inland and continuing east to Santiago).Check out some maps that show Camino routes - the Gronze website is a good source. If you want coast, start in Porto or Muxia. Neither is east or west of Santiago.
thanks all for your feedback including the smart elics. I'm going with the flow, east to west. in part a spiritual pilgrimage. calling up various alb's to find out if they're open. laredo to RebadeoIn general, there aren't that many people in the winter (Jan) and most of them are on the routes with more pilgrim infrastructure (Frances and Portugues). I'm not sure how much infrastructure will be open in January. I've heard that in the summer the Camino can be crowded with beachgoers and these can compete for places in the accommodations. That competition may not be a thing in January, but by the same token a lot of places may be closed in the "off season".
Compounding the fewer people due to low season will be the fact that you seem to be planning on walking away from Santiago de Compostela instead of towards it, and all other pilgrims you meet are likely to be walking in the opposite direction. That means that instead of meeting the same people day after day and forming personal connections, you are likely to meet them for a few minutes only (on the road) or one night only (in accommodations).
On the other hand, swimming against the current, as it were, you will meet more people in total although very briefly for each, as you interact each day with new people rather than walking more or less with the same group.