In fairness, I wrote, 'Some albergues
may not be well heated' and the italicised use of a modal verb having as its meaning 'possibility' clearly indicated a statement of a tentative nature i.e. I suggested that
some of the time there
may not be heating
. You wrote in reply, 'There was
always some type of heating when I walked in February', but I respectfully suggest that what you say is only valid for the subset of albergues that reflected your daily choice of overnight stopping point and albergue. What I wrote and suggested is valid for those albergues I stayed in in 2013. Which is not to say that
now in 2015, all albergues along the route do not have some form of heating.
When I stayed in the Albergue de Castilblanco de los Arroyos, there were a few portable electric radiators which helped to dry clothes on a very damp and rainy day, but which could not make up for the absence of a tumble drier and were a little overwhelmed by the need to dry clothes. This albergue also had no available blankets so I had to sleep in my clothes in my one season Gelert sleeping bag: I did not sleep well. In the Albergue Municipal El Realejo in El Real de La Jara, there were blankets but no heating except for an open fire in the kitchen. This was very atmospheric when lit in the evening and very warming to sit in front of, but the building itself (especially the dormitory) was ice cold away from the fire. There was also no drying rack to dry clothes once a fire was lit. This albergue appears to have electric heaters now (
http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/albergue-municipal-el-realejo-en-el-real-de-la-jara), but there were certainly none in March 2013.
There is also a modern, private albergue in El Real de La Jara which has heating, a washer and a tumble dryer. I'd refer anyone reading this to what was implicit in my original post (which I also said was based on experience of the route from nearly three years ago): that is, in a season where you cannot depend upon being able to hand wash and dry clothes outside, knowing which albergues in which locations have heating, washing machines and tumble driers (or are even open) is a prudent part of the planning process. Having a light sleeping bag in winter is possible in albergues where blankets are plentiful, but may be inadequate in other situations where there are no blankets. Some people prefer to travel light and accept occasional discomfort. Others prefer to carry heavier packs (with more clothes and heavier sleeping bags) and feel secure that they will always be warm. I walked with pilgrims with four season bags and two changes of (warmer) clothing compared to my one season bag and one change of (lighter) clothing. On the Vía de la Plata in February it
may be wise to have a heavier sleeping bag and more changes of clothing than one would have on, say, the Camino Francés in Spring or Autumn (or Winter for that matter) because there
may be a smaller choice of albergues in which there
may be less equipment and infrastructure. It ultimately comes down to choice, such choice being informed through research and canvassing the opinions of people who have experienced the route and who will have a variety of opinions and experiences.
As for a decision as to whether to remove shoes or not before fording swollen streams, Removal of shoes is simply a possibility and, of course, a personal preference. I walked with other pilgrims who all, like I did, removed their shoes and socks. There were probably some who did not. But in 2013 in March and April, it was typically not possible to cross these streams without the water coming almost up to our knees. Such weather conditions may not soon be repeated again. However, they may. On one occasion I made my own diversion off the camino to bypass one particularly bad spot. An elderly French pilgrim, however, decided to go in
to nearly her waist (yes really) at the same spot sans chaussures de rando, chaussettes et pantalon. Chapeau! Those who wish to keep their shoes on may by all means do so. Chacun à son goût
.