You think the Camino Frances is busy? Try this...

[Kiwi-family]

Tongariro Crossing in New Zealand.
2,000 of us walked this 20km stretch on Saturday!!!!
(please excuse the fuzzy pic, but it sure does show the steady stream of people!!)

 

[KiwiNomad06]

Oh My Lord! Is it always this busy in summer? Or was there a particular reason for it being like this last Saturday?
Margaret

 

[Kiwi-family]

It rained Monday through Friday and so some tourists had waited for the weather to clear, but apparently it was not an unusual number! Easter weekend usually sees 4,000 a day!!!!!
Here's a pic I've stolen from my hubby....it was still totally worth doing.

 

[pilgrim b]

View attachment 15266 Tongariro Crossing in New Zealand.
2,000 of us walked this 20km stretch on Saturday!!!!
(please excuse the fuzzy pic, but it sure does show the steady stream of people!!)

Is it a fuzzy pic? or did you mean to say: "but it sure does show the steady steam off people!!)"

 

[Deacon Harbey Santiago]

That looks like Sarria-SDC in a typical summer day.

"Viva Cristo Rey!!"
DHS

 

[Mark Lee]

Wow, that's busy, but beautiful nonetheless.
I've heard the trek up Mount Fuji in Japan gets busy like that frequently. It's on my to do list. Anyone on here done the pilgrimage up Fuji?

 

[jmcarp]

That looks like Sarria-SDC in a typical summer day...

I would say the same thing, especially the first few km out of Sarria around 7:30-8:00am

 

[Wanderer64]

This brings back some good hiking memories, not because of the crowds but because of the weather conditions I experienced doing this walk. I recall it being a very warm, sunny day when I set off from National Park. It was early January (summer in NZ), about 10 years ago. As I began the hike, still very pleasant conditions, but clouds rolling in, a bit of drizzle. While at the summit, a sudden, unexpected blizzard, heavy snow, white-out conditions. I couldn't see more than a couple meters in front of me and the foot path was covered with snow. It was like feeling your way through the dark. Snow turned to rain during the descent shortly after.

Step for step, the Tongariro ranks as one of the greatest day hikes I've ever done. I include the walk over the Pyrenees as among the best days of walking I've ever done.

Thanks for the memories, Kiwi.

 

[Wanderer64]

I've heard the trek up Mount Fuji in Japan gets busy like that frequently. It's on my to do list. Anyone on here done the pilgrimage up Fuji?

I've done this walk. It's a good one. I began at about 5am and summited by lunchtime. Apart from some mild altitude sickness, a spectacular day hike, especially if you have clear weather when you reach the summit.

It's busiest in July and August, so if you can go in June or September, maybe better. Japanese workers take very few days off work, but when they do it tends to include a weekend, so hike Fuji on a mid-week day to beat the worst of the crowds. And avoid doing it on or close to a national holiday!

 

[hikingmd_05]

Hi! fr the Philippines. Mark Lee, my friends & I hiked Mt Fuji on a weekday last July. It was busy, both with locals and foreigners.

 

[petitewalker]

Wow, that's busy, but beautiful nonetheless.
I've heard the trek up Mount Fuji in Japan gets busy like that frequently. It's on my to do list. Anyone on here done the pilgrimage up Fuji?

Believe it or not, I hiked up Mt. Fuji in August 1978 and it looked pretty much like hikingmd_05's photos he just posted. We hiked part way up the first day, stayed at one of the huts for dinner and a quick sleep and continued at 2:00am to get to the top for the most amazing sunrise. Very crowded, but worth it for the short time it takes to do the trek.

 

[Mark Lee]

Believe it or not, I hiked up Mt. Fuji in August 1978 and it looked pretty much like hikingmd_05's photos he just posted. We hiked part way up the first day, stayed at one of the huts for dinner and a quick sleep and continued at 2:00am to get to the top for the most amazing sunrise. Very crowded, but worth it for the short time it takes to do the trek.

Yeah, I have looked up a couple of You Tube videos people have posted of their experience hiking up Mt. Fuji recently. Very busy, crowded trail, but looks cool nonetheless.
My dad hiked up Fuji back in the 1950's when he was stationed in Japan while in the military. He said it was a popular thing to do then.