Winter Madness!

[scruffy1]

Sitting here in Jerusalem, 8 degrees celsius, rain, cold, hail, and winter... nasty weather for us here in the Middle East. Where do the thoughts go on such an evening, your Christmas, our Hanukah, what do you find as comfort? And people ask "Why do you keep going back there you crazy fool?".

 

[SYates]

Ask me - walking a winter camino in what seems to be never ending, but magical!, fog and cold. Buen Camino and Feliz Hanukkah! SY

 

[MTtoCamino]

I think the cold of winter makes one appreciate the warmth of home, family, & the sheer fact that once out of the elements we reflect the zest for life. It keeps the small rewards great.

 

[markinwinter]

Ask me - walking a winter camino in what seems to be never ending, but magical!, fog and cold. Buen Camino and Feliz Hanukkah! SY

SY, how is your Camino coming? I will be doing my first (partial) walk from Leon starting January 22 and believe you will only be a few weeks ahead of me. Am struggling a little to figure out which albergues will be open but decided to cross those 'bridges' when I arrive based on input from other active pilgrims.

 

[SYates]

... Am struggling a little to figure out which albergues will be open but decided to cross those 'bridges' when I arrive based on input from other active pilgrims.

The best friend of the winter pilgrim http://www.aprinca.com/alberguesinvierno Updated daily! Buen Camino, SY

 

[ManyMiles2Go]

SY, how is your Camino coming? I will be doing my first (partial) walk from Leon starting January 22 and believe you will only be a few weeks ahead of me. Am struggling a little to figure out which albergues will be open but decided to cross those 'bridges' when I arrive based on input from other active pilgrims.

Or just follow SYates "Camino Frances in Winter" thread right here on the forum Great read and lots of winter information!!

 

[susanawee]

Sitting here in Jerusalem, 8 degrees celsius, rain, cold, hail, and winter... nasty weather for us here in the Middle East. Where do the thoughts go on such an evening, your Christmas, our Hanukah, what do you find as comfort? And people ask "Why do you keep going back there you crazy fool?".

and my answer to those folk who continue to ask that particular question is "Why Not".....

 

[Anemone del Camino]

and my answer to those folk who continue to ask that particular question is "Why Not".....

Why not... if it's anything like the weather today here, that's why not. Setting a foot outdoors in this freezing rain is plain old dangerous. Wouldd not want to be on the Camino on a day like this, even with my super Salomons.

 

[MTtoCamino]

Some forget the brutality of locations with dangerous winters. So far I am impressed with the weather that SY has had, I hope it continues.

 

[Colette Z]

Ask me - walking a winter camino in what seems to be never ending, but magical!, fog and cold. Buen Camino and Feliz Hanukkah! SY

Thoughts and prayers for you. I'm Canadian and love winter trekking. I'm planning my first CF starting late March 2017. I'm a bit afraid of Day 1 and snow. I've read near death stories. How was it for you? Do you recommend a sleeping bag for albergues? Any tips for potential winter weather are appreciated and BUEN CAMINO !

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Thoughts and prayers for you. I'm Canadian and love winter trekking. I'm planning my first CF starting late March 2017. I'm a bit afraid of Day 1 and snow. I've read near death stories. How was it for you? Do you recommend a sleeping bag for albergues? Any tips for potential winter weather are appreciated and BUEN CAMINO !

In March, and April, you will most definitly need a sleepingbag. There will be snow on the ground in higher elevations, and heating is not what albergues are known for. In fact at night many turn it completely off.

This being said, as the Napoleon route is closed at least until April 1st, you will have no choice but walk the Valcarlos route or start in Spain, and I think most of the winter horror stories happened on the Napoleon route. Be sure to listen to the advice given at the SJPP pilgrim welcome center: they know the terrain, follow the local weather advisories, and will be able to advise on how safe it is to get going on said day. And please, don't look for short cuts, that is also how people manage to,get lost even in the middle of summer. If you think you may have missed an arrow just back track until you find one again. And bring a cell for emergency calls.

 

[Sha]

The best friend of the winter pilgrim http://www.aprinca.com/alberguesinvierno/Updated daily! Buen Camino, SY

Respectfully I am finding @SYates posts on winter camino a lot more useful than the guidebook and app combined. At the risk of sounding terribly ungrateful, the alberguesinvierno website list has been marginally helpful at best as I key this from the camino.

@SYates do you have a separate website, email for contact?

 

[SYates]

@Sha The website I quoted gets updated daily, my own reports are just 'snap shots' on how it was for me as I walked by ... and you can always PM me via this forum ;-) Buen Camino, SY

 

[Anniesantiago]

The best friend of the winter pilgrim http://www.aprinca.com/alberguesinvierno/Updated daily! Buen Camino, SY

Hey SYates, this link led me to a weird advertisement page.

 

[SYates]

Hey SYates, this link led me to a weird advertisement page.

Oops! Here the correct link: http://www.aprinca.com/alberguesinvierno/

Feliz Año Nuevo, SY

 

[markinwinter]

Or just follow SYates "Camino Frances in Winter" thread right here on the forum Great read and lots of winter information!!

okay, for a week I have been too embarrassed to admit I can't figure out how to do that. How do I follow a thread?

 

[kdespot]

Markinwinter, you aren't alone. I typed in "Camino Francés in winter" into the search bar at the top of the page and found it in the list.

 

[Bradypus]

A winter camino can have a special appeal but it does take more care and forethought. A recent cautionary tale here which fortunately has a relatively happy ending:
http://www.rioja2.com/n-108323-2-evacuado-un-peregrino-ingles-en-ciruena/

 

[markinwinter]

Markinwinter, you aren't alone. I typed in "Camino Francés in winter" into the search bar at the top of the page and found it in the list.

thanks, found it; wealth of information and great overview of the pilgrim experience. a jewel, SY.

 

[J F Gregory]

Winter walking, quiet, peaceful and less people. One vendor told us, "you are walking a pilgrim's walk, after the middle of May it becomes a pilgrim's processional.