March sleeping bag

[Bumpa]

Greetings all. I walked from Roncesvalles to Sahagun this past October with a 10 degree C down bag that served the purposes very well. I am planning on returning to Sahagun in late March and walking to Santiago with an April finish. The weather sites, I have consulted, seem to indicate that this bag will likely be fine for late March and early April. I am a fairly warm sleeper and not beyond wearing extra clothes to bed.

I am wondering if those of you who have been in this area of the Camino, at that time in the past, have any thoughts. Googling weather sites is informative but, in my experience, no substitute for someone who has experienced actually doing it.

I may have to wear a heavier weight kilt.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

March can be pretty cold! Inside temperatures may be almost a low as outside temperatures; albergues do not like to turn up the heat for one or two pilgrims!!!

 

[Bumpa]

March can be pretty cold! Inside temperatures may be almost a low as outside temperatures; albergues do not like to turn up the heat for one or two pilgrims!!!

falcon269...thanks for the thoughts. I guess we sometimes assume that we can brave the chill during the day and then be inside and warm in the evening. Not always the case, I guess. May have to rethink the sleeping arranements.

 

[VNwalking]

I've walked in March 3 times and it's a wild range of temps--fine and spring-like to frigid.
My bag is rated to 30F and it was plenty--except at San Juan de Ortega where everyone had a frigid night regardless of the rating of their bag.

 

[Saint Mike II]

Whist I have not presonal experience with the Camino at this time of the year, you are resuming on the western end of the Meseta (Sahagun) so I doubt you will have any snow until you reach Rabanal, although you might have frosts early in the morning. So my recommendation - take this favoured bag; include a silk liner and maybe some lightweight thermals. Only you can really know how you handle the cold. Cheers.

 

[nycwalking]

falcon269 is correct about cold albergues. March 2014, I was in this area, and a few albergues did NOT turn on heat. If memory serves, most had blankets.

Buen camino.

 

[Bumpa]

falcon269 is correct about cold albergues. March 2014, I was in this area, and a few albergues did NOT turn on heat. If memory serves, most had blankets.

Buen camino.

Viranani, Saint Mike and nycwalking....many thanks for your thoughts which I will respond to collectively.
I think falcon269 raised a good point in that I have considered that the day temps. were well within my comfort range for walking and it was the accommodation that I may have misjudged. I believe that I will have to augment my down bag with a liner. I am already in possession of light weight Merino that I can wear to bed. I actually plan to start in late March and so the bulk of the walk will be in April. A few days on either side of April first is not going to make a great deal of difference, however, I just wanted to be clear that I am not walking in the early part of March.

I may have to resort to an old wilderness trip trick. Heat water, place it in a nalgene bottle. Place the nalgene in a sock. Place this combination in the sleeping bag close to your core.

Again...thanks all for your thoughts. I am really looking forward to this. I am back to placing things around the living room floor, deciding what will return with me and what I can leave behind this time.
As always, my wife views all of this with one of those small smiles she used to reserve for our kids. Oh well, she doesn't want to go but is very supportive of me and this I appreciate.

 

[julia-t]

Advice please!

I have a very lightweight sleeping bag, 1-2 seasons, which when tested last week in my heated home with a silk liner made me realise this combination will not be sufficient when I walk Astorga to Sarria in March.

Sales are now everywhere; I am on a budget, but have found a decent fairly lightweight 3/4 season bag extreme temp -11C and 1.4kg, and also a 4 season bag extreme temp -21C and 1.9kg (this one is a bit more expensive).

So, bearing in mind I will be walking Cruz de Ferro and O'Cebreiro, should I go for the warmer option?

Many thanks in advance!

 

[Bradypus]

@julia-t I would always take the temperature ratings provided by sleeping bag makers with a large pinch of salt. "Extreme" usually means just that: if it gets that low you'll probably live with all your extremities but don't expect to sleep! "Comfort" is about as low as you can reasonably expect to get any decent sleep - not 'comfort' as most of us understand the term. Having said that I think that for use in albergues - even poorly heated ones - a 4 season bag is probably overkill and excess weight. The 3-4 season bag you mention sounds like a decent balance between weight and comfort to me. If you do find things chillier than expected you may find yourself wearing more clothing at night than during the day.

 

[C clearly]

You won't be sleeping at the Cruz de Ferro and the Albergue at O Cebreiro was terribly overheated when I was there in November. The lighter weight one you mention will likely be more than enough!