What/Where is the Meseta?

[shell]

What/Where is the Mesta? I am walking the Camino in August and people have suggested I take particular care with the heat while walking on the Mesta

 

[William Marques]

As far as the Camino Frances in concerned the Meseta is the section between Burgos and Astorga, approximately.

It is the name for the flat plains on the plateau of central Spain.

The heat will be no worse there than many other places and certainly less than on the same meseta sections on the Via de la Plata further South.

You do need to take care:
Yes it can be hot and on the meseta there is very little shade so take a hat and sunscreen.
Carry plenty of water, by then you will know how much is enough for you as some people seem to drink more than others I will not suggest how much.
Some of the sections on the meseta are longish without the villages that you can stop in to refill.

Buen Camino
William

 

[Peter Robins]

from mesa, a table, so literally 'table mountain'. More correctly, what you're referring to is the meseta central, the central plateau of Spain, or high plains of Castile. It's the Spanish heartland - you cannot claim to know Spain if you do not know the meseta. The Camino Frances crosses the northern edge. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_ ... _mountains and there's a map on the Spanish wikipedia http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relieve_de_España

As William says, the problem is more the lack of shade than the actual temperature; the hottest city on the CF is actually Logrono. IMO the meseta section of the CF is the most interesting, but I would never dream of walking it in August. :shock:

 

[Minkey]

Peter, I've walked the Meseta in August with no problems at all... The only thing I did was start walking a little earlier so as to avoid the summer sun. Never realised Logrono was the hottest city on the Camino... Interesting!

 

[Peter Robins]

http://www.peterrobins.co.uk/camino/weather.html
Go through the months, and you'll see that for most of the year Burgos and Leon are actually the coolest of the major towns (because they're higher up). There's probably a psychological effect on the meseta section: because of the lack of shade and the lack of water, it seems hotter than it is. The converse of wind chill, perhaps 8)

 

[sillydoll]

Heat on the camino

Perhaps the affects of the heat depends on which part of the world you come from. I live close to Durban (South Africa) and 36oC with humiture levels of 100o are common in summer.
I have walked the camino in May - June - and mid July. The heat was not a problem.
Last year we walked the Via Francigena where the temperatures in the north of Tuscany reached 40oC+ - THAT was hot!! Some days we shade hopped through the fields.

 

[Minkey]

Shade hopping? You should copyright, that!

I see what you mean, Peter.

 

[shell]

Thanks to you all, especially Peter. I will bring a hat and lots of sun block and make sure I drink plenty of water

Shell

 

[Minkey]

When in August are you going?

 

[shell]

Hi Minkey, I am leaving Leon 2nd August to start my Camino... I am really excited about this and really want to enjoy the experience and not have to pull out because of sunburn etc.... that’s the reason why I was concerned about walking on the Mesta

 

[Billy Franks]

I am about to embark on this section of the Camino de Frances and the stories about heat and shade differ from every person who tells them. One guy, on his 5th Camino reckons on 8 days without shade. Of course there are small towns dotted along the way but my plan is to start early and prepare to stop at the nearest albergue to the mid afternoon. Having said that, the temperature on the first day was 33 degrees uphill. No one on this trip with any experience has the suggested that what's coming next could be worse. Enjoy your Camino. It is something to be treasured. Billy

 

[JohnMcM]

As far as the Camino Frances in concerned the Meseta is the section between Burgos and Astorga, approximately.

It is the name for the flat plains on the plateau of central Spain.

The heat will be no worse there than many other places and certainly less than on the same meseta sections on the Via de la Plata further South.

You do need to take care:
Yes it can be hot and on the meseta there is very little shade so take a hat and sunscreen.
Carry plenty of water, by then you will know how much is enough for you as some people seem to drink more than others I will not suggest how much.
Some of the sections on the meseta are longish without the villages that you can stop in to refill.

Buen Camino
William

Good advice William, although, I remember some bits between Burgos and Astorga that defy the phrase "flat plains"
Buen Camino

 

[domigee]

I am about to embark on this section of the Camino de Frances and the stories about heat and shade differ from every person who tells them

That could be because we all feel the heat differently - depends a lot where we actually live! -, we all walk in different months and different years....differ or something like that
Whenever I write 'wow it was hot' I get people who answer 'No it was NOT' and if I say 'actually that part isn't very hot.... you've guessed.... others reply 'Oh YES it was!'

 

[Richard1007]

Hi. I'm currently around the mid-point of the Mesta (in Sahagun). I started in Burgos last Friday and I hope to be in Astorga in around 4 days. Like you I had some concerns about this stage but I'm finding it no harder really than any of the other stages to date.

The gaps between villages and water are 2-3 hours quite often so a bit more planning + carrying extra water + food is good advice.

Afternoon daytime temperatures are 26c-32c at the monent but I find there is quite often a nice breeze (especially in the morning) and on no day so far has the heat been a problem.

If you can, early starts (pre sunrise) help keep things cool and the early dawn light and sunrises are magical

Buen Camino,
Richard

 

[Castilian]

More correctly, what you're referring to is the meseta central, the central plateau of Spain, or high plains of Castile.

Not all the meseta central is Castilian.

Having said that, the temperature on the first day was 33 degrees uphill. No one on this trip with any experience has the suggested that what's coming next could be worse.

It could be hotter but on the area of the meseta crossed by the Camino Francés is unlikely. Ponferrada (and surroundings) can be hotter than the area of the meseta crossed by the Camino Francés what means some more chances of finding temperatures over 33ºC but no guarantee you'll find them. No heatwave on sight yet so temperatures over 33ºC several days in a row shouldn't be a concern.

Mesta

Mesta

Be careful with spelling. We are talking about the Meseta. The Mesta was another thing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesta).

 

[trecile]

I plan on bringing my own shade in the form of an umbrella.

 

[november_moon]

I plan on bringing my own shade in the form of an umbrella.

I saw some people with umbrellas that clipped to the shoulder strap of their packs and thought it was a really great idea. They used them in the sun and in light rain. Very useful.

 

[trecile]

How far in kilometers does the meseta span on the Camino Frances?

 

[mspath]

How far in kilometers does the meseta span on the Camino Frances?

Between Burgos and Astorga on the CF the distance is roughly 215 kms.

 

[Kanga]

I find an umbrella, rigged hand free, invaluable; it's a way to carry my shade with me. Mine is silver coated so particularly good in the sun. No good if it is windy, but if that happens the breeze will cool you. The umbrella is also very handy when it rains and you don't want to get into waterproof clothes (otherwise known as saunas!)

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Meseta Central, great interior meseta (plateau) of the Iberian Peninsula, central Spain. With Madrid at its centre, it extends over 81,000 square miles (210,000 square km) and has an average elevation of 2,165 feet (660 metres). It constitutes the oldest and most complex geologic formation of the peninsula. Its western slope is gently inclined toward the Atlantic Ocean and forms the basins of the Duero, Tagus, and Guadiana rivers. To the north the plateau rises abruptly into the Cantabrian Mountains, and to the east it becomes a series of ranges. A certain symmetry is provided by the tectonic troughs of the Ebro in the northeast and the Guadalquivir in the south, which are overlooked by various ranges to the east and by the Sierra Morena to the south. The block mountains in the centre of the peninsula divide the Meseta Central into the high basin of the northern Meseta (Castile-León) and the lower plateaus of the southern Meseta (Castile–La Mancha and Extremadura).

 

[Castilian]

The block mountains in the centre of the peninsula divide the Meseta Central into the high basin of the northern Meseta (Castile-León) and the lower plateaus of the southern Meseta (Castile–La Mancha and Extremadura).

Those mountains in the centre of the peninsula are the Sistema Central (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistema_Central)

Not all Castile and Leon is in the Northern Meseta and not all Castile and Leon is in the meseta central but most of it is both in the meseta central and in the Northern Meseta.

The Southern Meseta includes too the Autonomous Community of Madrid and part of Castile and Leon.

 

[whariwharangi]

I went in November 2012. The problem was hypothermia ... due to cool wind and low energy after a long day from Burgos to Hontanas.

The Meseta is exposed to the elements hot or cold, wet or dry, sun or cloud.

Distances between villages is long ... you will likely want to carry a lot of water if the weather is hot. A broad brimmed hat would be a good idea. Sunglasses too.

 

[Blaze]

I find an umbrella, rigged hand free, invaluable; it's a way to carry my shade with me. Mine is silver coated so particularly good in the sun. No good if it is windy, but if that happens the breeze will cool you. The umbrella is also very handy when it rains and you don't want to get into waterproof clothes (otherwise known as saunas!)

Where can one buy these clip on umbrellas?

 

[trecile]

Where can one buy these clip on umbrellas?

http://www.euroschirm.com/trekking-weitere.php?session=8GQasF9yjVJY5&sprache_land=usa

 

[domigee]

Where can one buy these clip on umbrellas?

From this forum shop. Ivar sells them.