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Thank you. I was asking for past experiences amongst people who had passed through there in the begining of May. Seeing how many people would say that yes there was snow or no there wasn't.Yes. Sometimes no. Are you asking for predictions, forecasts, history or guesses?
The Route Napoleon is usually open and passable by late April - early May but may not be. Ask at the Pilgrims Office on your day of departure. Any other 'opinion' is worthless.
that's downright scary.I'm pretty sure this was April 21012, not long after May
Other years it's been dry.
But even in the snow, it can be lovely if you listen to the locals and walk the correct route.
Thank you for the link. I much less appreciate the image you've left me with thoughSo, you were after history - available here http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos. I've no doubt that members will post experience of sunshine, blizzard, rain and fog. Personal experience of one day, one morning, on the hill while of interest should not be used to inform your decisions about whether or not to take the route. Ask at the Pilgrims Office on the morning or eve of your departure.
My experience has been all of the above plus watching Griffon Vultures spiralling in a crystal blue sky above a crystal white landscape while my exhaled breath turned to snow and I nearly lost my sight in the snow-glare. Pure stupidity, I should never have been there so ill-prepared. And that was on the 8th of May.
Oh, I guess May is still too unpredictable. Thank you for your input. I will have to figure something out, or just quit my job and walk in the summerAs Tinker says, past experiences are useless as a guide. Mountain weather is notoriously unpredictable in spring.
Just to illustrate, I have crossed via the Route Napoleon (or attempted) three times in early May and conditions were different each time. Once was freezing with fog and cold rain, but doable. Once was sunny and gloriously clear, but with a cold wind (pretty well ideal IMO). A third time I had intended to cross but decided against it at the last moment, because of heavy snow, so I started from Roncesvalles instead.
Decide when you get to SJPDP and if the Pilgrims Office advise against, you can take the equally beautiful but safer Valcarlos route.
Why? Start in SJPP and walk either the Valcarlos route or the Napoleon route, depending on the actual conditions!Oh, I guess May is still too unpredictable. Thank you for your input. I will have to figure something out, or just quit my job and walk in the summer
Oh, I guess May is still too unpredictable. Thank you for your input. I will have to figure something out, or just quit my job and walk in the summer
Oh, I guess May is still too unpredictable. Thank you for your input. I will have to figure something out, or just quit my job and walk in the summer
To me, ideal conditions for a pleasant, nice walk. I'd just add a bit of muddy paths, and it would be perfect. I rather like this kind of weather and conditions.We crossed on the Napoleon April 26 and 27th of this year - cold, foggy, windy, a little snow on the sides on the road.
I walked the Napoleon on 1st June 2013 when it snowed heavily on already packed snow on trek from St Jean and next morning in Roncesvalles. It then changed to mist and rain -good for slipping/sliding- for 5/6 days when the sun took over. Weather is not always predictable!! The last few weeks this Sept were ideal for walking though. Predictions beware, come prepared. Buen Camino.I was planning on a summer Camino, but it might be a spring-summer one instead.
Is there still snow (usually) in the begining of May on the Napoleon route in the Pyrenees?
I recall this Spring/early Summer period. I was in the south (on the VDLP) and it was "bloody" cold - I think it even snowed/sleeted in Madrid with the opening of the bull-fighting season. If I recall correctly it was the coldest Spring in Spain for 40 years. Just reinforces the concept of unpredictability of the weather. Its times like this when the advice from the people in the Pilgrim Office in St Jean is most important.I walked the Napoleon on 1st June 2013 when it snowed heavily on already packed snow on trek from St Jean and next morning in Roncesvalles. It then changed to mist and rain -good for slipping/sliding- for 5/6 days when the sun took over. Weather is not always predictable!! The last few weeks this Sept were ideal for walking though. Predictions beware, come prepared. Buen Camino.
I'm from Quebec, so snow is no issue for me either. As you said, it's mostly because of the different packing you need to do, for just a few days, maybe only one day. That picture is not something I would have liked to walk into, especially on the side of a road like that.Was closed on April 8th when we started this year and I gather it was for 10 days beyond that.
For people that are from snow free climates, I would follow the directions given by the local authorities.
I am from Canada and winter hike, so snow is not really an issue, but packing snow shoes for the Camino would be problematic and obviously not needed after day 1!
We had heavy snow on the last couple hours of the Val Carlos route into Roncesvalles as well on this so called low route, so you need to be prepared. The picture attached is when we crossed the highway leading into the last part of the trail into Roncesvalles.
This is the WEEK I'm hoping to StartWe crossed on the Napoleon April 26 and 27th of this year - cold, foggy, windy, a little snow on the sides on the road. The week afterwards we heard there was a snow storm and the route was closed. Just play it by ear.
Annie, I would not bother with the thermals. Even with the possibility of snow it would not be that cold in late April. Maybe 5C at the summitt, if even that and likely a lot warmer.This is the WEEK I'm hoping to Start
So after reading the comments around this topic
I'm thinking best to pack a few thermals in my mix