What is the hardest part of the Camino Frances?

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Ivar Rekve — 16 Comments ↓

The question was:

which is the hardest part of the camino frances? i’m planing to do it during this summer, alone.

Read the interesting conversation on the hardest part of the Camino Frances here in our Camino forum.

Tagged with: Difficult, Hardest part
Posted in From the Camino de Santiago forum

flewitheagles

I believe the only “thing” I found difficult was the first two or three days – just getting used to the routine. The rest was / can be a leisurely walk (and prayer time for me).
- http://www.facebook.com/frank.j.farrell.1 Frank J Farrell
  
  Novelty and fresh feet carry you through the first day. But when you look at the map on the second day and realise just how much more there is, then you have to be some kind of stupid just to carry on
Funkycold

Crossing the Pyrenees was physically difficult, while crossing the Meseta was mentally difficult. I went alone last summer and for me, finding a routine and good people to walk with were the keys to getting through these stages. It got easier though – towards the end of the Meseta, and everyday onwards, I found I could just walk, not wanting to stop. Though it’s worth mentioning the traverse and descent from Foncebadon to Molinseca was also challenging – take your time through that area and you’ll be fine.
- jlh64
  
  Agree with this one – the descent is tough – it’d been raining when I went and I had a nasty tumble – no major injuries – split lip and a few fabric repairs needed – poles are really good for this bit. Shamefully the worst part of the fall was the sound of 2 young lads running down the hill after me – they saw me fall and came to my aid – bless them thay were wonderful – but I felt stupid (at having been seen falling) – the old adage of pride coming before a fall is so true – it also comes after…. People are wonderful
  - patty moak
    
    I can relate. I crossed the Pyreness in a driving rain storm. Had to take off my glasses just to see where i was going. . No falls or slips, but it took a long time.
http://www.facebook.com/svenolav Sven-Olav Back

If you start in St Jean, the first 500 meters is the hardest part of the Camino.
Riccardo

Say goodbye to Camino friends……
http://twitter.com/YtButterfly Papix

The second stage from Roncesvalles to Zubiri was hell on earth. My backpack was too heavy. The first day across the mountains drained all my energy and I cursed the way!
victor Morgado

During my first camino in ’91, crossing the pyrenees was hard and then climbing the Cebreiro mountain in galicia….but upon my two other caminos I realised that the worse really is el Cebreiro because is constant climbing no stop to the top…is tiring…many pilgrims think that if they have their back pack carried for them by car while they climb it would be easier…I actually found that more difficult not to have weight on my back while climbing…the pyrenee climb is not so bad after all…
Paul Adelizi

The hardest part of the Camino Frances was leaving…
- patty moak
  
  Leaving was really hard!
David Vincent

I am confident the physical abilities will not spoil my attempt to walk the Camino, What I have not be able to spark in my desire is the devotion of time and expense for a mythological story.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000178225420 Paula Bowser

I found the first two days St Jean, Roncesvalles to Zubiri physically hardest, while crossing the Meseta was mentally and emotionally challenging.
windchillfactor

Stupidly walking from puente la reina to los arcos in one day!
We got into Estella at mid day had a Menu del dia with a bopttle of winw and stupidly decided to walk on. The wine had no baring what so ever on our decision! lol
Marianna

Going back to the routine back home.
- patty moak
  
  Transitioning back to everyday life after experiencing total freedom on the Camino was really difficult. I’m not sure friends and family at home fully understood that.

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