Please Help. Last Minute Doubt

[Paulo Arantes]

Hi pilgrims,

I am planning to split my first day (leaving from SJPdP) and staying in Orisson. If the route Napoleon is closed, can I stay at Orisson and the next day check if it will open, and if not, walk to Roncevalles through the Valcarlos route?!
Would I have to go all way back to SJPdP to take the Valcarlos route?!
If the Napoleon route is closed, it is closed before I reach Orisson?!

Thank you very much.

 

[jpflavin1]

Hi pilgrims,

I am planning to split my first day (leaving from SJPdP) and staying in Orisson. If the route Napoleon is closed, can I stay at Orisson and the next day check if it will open, and if not, walk to Roncevalles through the Valcarlos route?!
Would I have to go all way back to SJPdP to take the Valcarlos route?!
If the Napoleon route is closed, it is closed before I reach Orisson?!

Thank you very much.

Paulo:

You are worrying about something totally out of your control. Just go as planned and trust in yourself to adjust.

If the weather makes the pass a no-go the locals will direct you to the Valcarlos route.

Check with the Pilgrim office when you arrive and make your decisions from that point.

All will be well.

Joe

 

[Paulo Arantes]

Thanks Joe, my concern was if I would stay at Orisson or if I would have to take the Valcarlos route already on the first day.
But you're right, I'll try not to worry at all and deal with the situation as it happens.
Thanks again. Buen Camino.

 

[The Austrian]

Really sorry I missed you in Bega, Paulo.
I took the Val Carlos route to begin with and broke it up into two.
The Albergue in Val Carlos is great, clean and the village has some decent dining options.

 

[Icacos]

If the Route Napoleon is closed, there's a good chance Orisson will be closed too. (If we hadn't checked with the Pilgrim Office just before we headed out from SJPP, we would have learned this the hard way.). Orisson will give you a refund if they are closed due to the weather. If the weather turns bad overnight while you are at Orisson, we were told by the proprietor there that transportation can be arranged to get you to Val Carlos to continue your walk from there.

 

[John Ferguson]

If the Route Napoleon is closed, there's a good chance Orisson will be closed too. (If we hadn't checked with the Pilgrim Office just before we headed out from SJPP, we would have learned this the hard way.). Orisson will give you a refund if they are closed due to the weather. If the weather turns bad overnight while you are at Orisson, we were told by the proprietor there that transportation can be arranged to get you to Val Carlos to continue your walk from there.

Hi pilgrims,

I am planning to split my first day (leaving from SJPdP) and staying in Orisson. If the route Napoleon is closed, can I stay at Orisson and the next day check if it will open, and if not, walk to Roncevalles through the Valcarlos route?!
Would I have to go all way back to SJPdP to take the Valcarlos route?!
If the Napoleon route is closed, it is closed before I reach Orisson?!

Thank you very much.

Enjoy your total expire. The Passport Office in StJPdP will advise on status of the pass and Orrisson. No worries.

I have a question to all who read this forum.. I am leaving in mid May from Lisbon, as best as I can understand, one of the passport offices is at the Se Cathedral, is that correct. I also note that from Lisbon to Porto the Hostels seem to be far between. In the perfect world, I would plan on 22 Km per day, anybody walk this portion recently and can comment on accommodation?

 

[Mark Lee]

Early season CF, just walk the ValCarlos. It's a beautiful route.
I've walked both routes. One is not better than the other. Both are nice.
ultreia

 

[cher99840]

@Mark Lee, now that he has reservations he probably wouldn't get a refund unless the Pilgrim's Office suggests not to go that way. Other than that little wrinkle I think your advice is sound. April 15 I'm going via Valcarlos no matter what the weather is...just not willing to take the chance. If I'm going to be a statistic, I'd rather it be a little later in the game.

 

[clivespicer]

@Mark Lee, now that he has reservations he probably wouldn't get a refund unless the Pilgrim's Office suggests not to go that way. Other than that little wrinkle I think your advice is sound. April 15 I'm going via Valcarlos no matter what the weather is...just not willing to take the chance. If I'm going to be a statistic, I'd rather it be a little later in the game.

I start on April 19th and am minded to go via Valcarlos also. Seems too early in the season to take a risk on the unpredictable and changeable weather going over the Napoleon.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

@Mark Lee, now that he has reservations he probably wouldn't get a refund unless the Pilgrim's Office suggests not to go that way. Other than that little wrinkle I think your advice is sound. April 15 I'm going via Valcarlos no matter what the weather is...just not willing to take the chance. If I'm going to be a statistic, I'd rather it be a little later in the game.

I leave from SJPdP on April 12th and plan to take the Valcarlos route...again. I loved it in 2015!

 

[Suzanne S.]

Enjoy your total expire. The Passport Office in StJPdP will advise on status of the pass and Orrisson. No worries.

I have a question to all who read this forum.. I am leaving in mid May from Lisbon, as best as I can understand, one of the passport offices is at the Se Cathedral, is that correct. I also note that from Lisbon to Porto the Hostels seem to be far between. In the perfect world, I would plan on 22 Km per day, anybody walk this portion recently and can comment on accommodation?

John, head over in this forum to the Camino Portuguese section and all your questions can be answered!!!

 

[Suzanne S.]

Enjoy your total expire. The Passport Office in StJPdP will advise on status of the pass and Orrisson. No worries.

I have a question to all who read this forum.. I am leaving in mid May from Lisbon, as best as I can understand, one of the passport offices is at the Se Cathedral, is that correct. I also note that from Lisbon to Porto the Hostels seem to be far between. In the perfect world, I would plan on 22 Km per day, anybody walk this portion recently and can comment on accommodation?

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/forums/camino-portugues.13/

 

[Debora]

Early season CF, just walk the ValCarlos. It's a beautiful route.
I've walked both routes. One is not better than the other. Both are nice.
ultreia

Mark...just curious...was the ValCarlos route easier than Napoleon?

 

[Saint Mike II]

Hola @Paulo and welcome to the Forum. As per the above the weather is something you cannot control. So check with the Pilgrim Office in St Jean - they are most knowledgeable and will offer guidance. As for Orisson - this is a small albergue (18 in their main place and 10 more back Huntto) so it is best to book in advance (there is an email address elsewhere on the Forum - I will try to find and post later). If they are full - they will advise - your options walk the full distance to Roncesvalles (a long 26 km on day 1) or via Valcarlos ( via the lower route). Buen Camino

 

[Annie Little]

Mark...just curious...was the ValCarlos route easier than Napoleon?

I have not done Napoleon but did Vacarlos 2016 ... they call it the lower route .... don't be fooled the only way over a mountain is UP .... it still has it difficulties on the last stretch ... I would still split it into two days .... unless you are a young mountaineering type

 

[DebR]

@Mark Lee, now that he has reservations he probably wouldn't get a refund unless the Pilgrim's Office suggests not to go that way. Other than that little wrinkle I think your advice is sound. April 15 I'm going via Valcarlos no matter what the weather is...just not willing to take the chance. If I'm going to be a statistic, I'd rather it be a little later in the game.

I'm Valcarlosing this time, just because I haven't before. Looking forward to embracing the unknown!

 

[Steve Hackman]

I leave from SJPdP on April 12th and plan to take the Valcarlos route...again. I loved it in 2015!

Hey Camino Chris, I did the Valcarlos route in April 2015 and head out from St. Jean on April 13. Hope to see you on the Way. Buen Camino!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Hey Camino Chris, I did the Valcarlos route in April 2015 and head out from St. Jean on April 13. Hope to see you on the Way. Buen Camino!

I'm a relatively slow walker, so you will probably catch up for sure!

 

[Steve Hackman]

I'm a relatively slow walker, so you will probably catch up for sure!

I don't know, this time I will have my 6 yr old son along with my wife and parents in their 70s. If you see a guy trying to bribe his kid to walk further with a chocolate croissant, that would be me.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I don't know, this time I will have my 6 yr old son along with my wife and parents in their 70s. If you see a guy trying to bribe his kid to walk further with a chocolate croissant, that would be me.

Wow, are you walking the whole way to Santiago with a 6 yr old? Amazing!
I'm walking the whole way with my kids, too, but they are in their 30's. I'll probably be bribing them with wine!

 

[Paulo Arantes]

To all who will start walking next week.
The weather forecast on the Napoleon route was predicting some rain from Wednesday next week to Sunday. This forecast has been changing the last few days and now it predicts cloudy weather with less than 10% chance of rain!!!
So we'll probably have the Napoleon route open!!! Yay!!!

Muy buen a Camino a todos!!!!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

To all who will start walking next week.
The weather forecast on the Napoleon route was predicting some rain from Wednesday next week to Sunday. This forecast has been changing the last few days and now it predicts cloudy weather with less than 10% chance of rain!!!
So we'll probably have the Napoleon route open!!! Yay!!!

Muy buen a Camino a todos!!!!

I take the Valcarlos route, so no matter, "it is what it is", onward and forward!

 

[kay lee]

If the Route Napoleon is closed, there's a good chance Orisson will be closed too. (If we hadn't checked with the Pilgrim Office just before we headed out from SJPP, we would have learned this the hard way.). Orisson will give you a refund if they are closed due to the weather. If the weather turns bad overnight while you are at Orisson, we were told by the proprietor there that transportation can be arranged to get you to Val Carlos to continue your walk from there.

A very helpful response, thanks!

 

[Former member 62607]

Thanks Joe, my concern was if I would stay at Orisson or if I would have to take the Valcarlos route already on the first day.
But you're right, I'll try not to worry at all and deal with the situation as it happens.
Thanks again. Buen Camino.

You can book to stay at Orrison online, it will tell you If it's open on their website. We split the first day, it was a good decision. Staying in the mountains was lovely.

 

[clivespicer]

Hello everyone, advice please to those on this thread that are starting out next week, are you taking a sleeping bag or just a liner?

 

[Former member 62607]

Hello everyone, advice please to those on this thread that are starting out next week, are you taking a sleeping bag or just a liner?

We stayed at Orrison in early oct and used sleeping bags, it may be warm enough for just a liner now as they give you a blanket, but I really can't say. If it helps, next time I plan to use a silk liner and a down blanket/ sleeping bag that opens into a blanket which will be lighter than the bag I took and won't be so confining.

 

[AZ Hiker]

Wow, are you walking the whole way to Santiago with a 6 yr old? Amazing!
I'm walking the whole way with my kids, too, but they are in their 30's. I'll probably be bribing them with wine!

I’m in the planning stages of walking this fall with my 40 something daughter. She will probably be bribing me with wine