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Is the Olvidado for you?

peregrina2000

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Staff member
There is a fairly large upsurge in interest in the Olvidado. The on-the-ground organization, which brings in all the municipalities from start to finish, is doing an amazing job of marking and of getting albergues up and running, both of which are essential. One factoid — the number of pilgrims who slept in the Fasgar albergue in May 2019 was more than the number that slept in the albergue in all of 2018. True, the numbers were small, about 60 or 70, I think, but still, things are on the move.

I walked the days from Aguilar de Campoo to Ponferrada this year, having walked the “whole route” (from Bilbao to Ponferrada) a few years ago. In the few years in between, the changes have been incredible. There is a guide (my English translation of Ender’s guide will be posted soon), an app (careful for a few of the stages crashing), GPS tracks (totally essential as of today, in fact, I think it would be reckless to walk without a GPS or an impeccable sense of direction). In the towns and villages, there is much more awareness of the route overall. Distances tend to be longer and elevation gain higher than on other caminos, but there are often ways to break things up.

But you are going to have to accept that the marking is not perfect or complete, and the remoteness of some of the stages means no cell phone coverage. Also, given the low numbers, you just have to be prepared for the fact that you are going to walk through terrain where the bush-whackers, the tree trimmers, the grass-cutters, and the debris-clearers will not have been through before you.

The sustained mountain beauty of this route, as others have already said, is unsurpassed by any other camino I have walked (well, a few days on the Vasco come close!). I was very lucky to have had a companion except for the last four days or so from La Magdalena to Ponferrada, and I am not so sure I would want to walk the mountain alternatives between Aguilar and La Magdalena alone.

The mountain alternatives are unbeatable, but Ender did tell me that the “old way” (which is the way I followed a few years ago, and I wlked alone) has also been improved and brought more off road. And luckily, since none of this route passes through Galicia, there are no bulldozed paths covered in crushed rock. :p

I think @Aglass is just starting out and I hope we hear updates!

And btw, the Olvidado into Ponferrada makes for a perfect combination with the Invierno. I think the two groups ought to get together and join forces in promoting this combo, it is spectacular.

We are forming our Olvidado Alumni group (@omicko and @alansykes are eligible for free premium membership because they helped me so much) and we are looking for new members, so please report in. Happy to answer questions.

Buen camino, Laurie
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
There is a fairly large upsurge in interest in the Olvidado. The on-the-ground organization, which brings in all the municipalities from start to finish, is doing an amazing job of marking and of getting albergues up and running, both of which are essential. One factoid — the number of pilgrims who slept in the Fasgar albergue in May 2019 was more than the number that slept in the albergue in all of 2018. True, the numbers were small, about 60 or 70, I think, but still, things are on the move.

I walked the days from Aguilar de Campoo to Ponferrada this year, having walked the “whole route” (from Bilbao to Ponferrada) a few years ago. In the few years in between, the changes have been incredible. There is a guide (my English translation of Ender’s guide will be posted soon), an app (careful for a few of the stages crashing), GPS tracks (totally essential as of today, in fact, I think it would be reckless to walk without a GPS or an impeccable sense of direction). In the towns and villages, there is much more awareness of the route overall. Distances tend to be longer and elevation gain higher than on other caminos, but there are often ways to break things up.

But you are going to have to accept that the marking is not perfect or complete, and the remoteness of some of the stages means no cell phone coverage. Also, given the low numbers, you just have to be prepared for the fact that you are going to walk through terrain where the bush-whackers, the tree trimmers, the grass-cutters, and the debris-clearers will not have been through before you.

The sustained mountain beauty of this route, as others have already said, is unsurpassed by any other camino I have walked (well, a few days on the Vasco come close!). I was very lucky to have had a companion except for the last four days or so from La Magdalena to Ponferrada, and I am not so sure I would want to walk the mountain alternatives between Aguilar and La Magdalena alone.

The mountain alternatives are unbeatable, but Ender did tell me that the “old way” (which is the way I followed a few years ago, and I wlked alone) has also been improved and brought more off road. And luckily, since none of this route passes through Galicia, there are no bulldozed paths covered in crushed rock. :p

I think @Aglass is just starting out and I hope we hear updates!

And btw, the Olvidado into Ponferrada makes for a perfect combination with the Invierno. I think the two groups ought to get together and join forces in promoting this combo, it is spectacular.

We are forming our Olvidado Alumni group (@omicko and @alansykes are eligible for free premium membership because they helped me so much) and we are looking for new members, so please report in. Happy to answer questions.

Buen camino, Laurie

Great! Thank you, Laurie! I have got the Olvidado in my sights(?) for 2021, but given my age, am going easy nowadays as far as planning is concerned. Collect as much info as comes my way, and start serious planning the year before. So, your info is going into the Olvidado folder to be looked at some time next year. Thank you for the encouragement you give to all!

Buen camino!
Ina
 
There is a fairly large upsurge in interest in the Olvidado. The on-the-ground organization, which brings in all the municipalities from start to finish, is doing an amazing job of marking and of getting albergues up and running, both of which are essential. One factoid — the number of pilgrims who slept in the Fasgar albergue in May 2019 was more than the number that slept in the albergue in all of 2018. True, the numbers were small, about 60 or 70, I think, but still, things are on the move.

I walked the days from Aguilar de Campoo to Ponferrada this year, having walked the “whole route” (from Bilbao to Ponferrada) a few years ago. In the few years in between, the changes have been incredible. There is a guide (my English translation of Ender’s guide will be posted soon), an app (careful for a few of the stages crashing), GPS tracks (totally essential as of today, in fact, I think it would be reckless to walk without a GPS or an impeccable sense of direction). In the towns and villages, there is much more awareness of the route overall. Distances tend to be longer and elevation gain higher than on other caminos, but there are often ways to break things up.

But you are going to have to accept that the marking is not perfect or complete, and the remoteness of some of the stages means no cell phone coverage. Also, given the low numbers, you just have to be prepared for the fact that you are going to walk through terrain where the bush-whackers, the tree trimmers, the grass-cutters, and the debris-clearers will not have been through before you.

The sustained mountain beauty of this route, as others have already said, is unsurpassed by any other camino I have walked (well, a few days on the Vasco come close!). I was very lucky to have had a companion except for the last four days or so from La Magdalena to Ponferrada, and I am not so sure I would want to walk the mountain alternatives between Aguilar and La Magdalena alone.

The mountain alternatives are unbeatable, but Ender did tell me that the “old way” (which is the way I followed a few years ago, and I wlked alone) has also been improved and brought more off road. And luckily, since none of this route passes through Galicia, there are no bulldozed paths covered in crushed rock. :p

I think @Aglass is just starting out and I hope we hear updates!

And btw, the Olvidado into Ponferrada makes for a perfect combination with the Invierno. I think the two groups ought to get together and join forces in promoting this combo, it is spectacular.

We are forming our Olvidado Alumni group (@omicko and @alansykes are eligible for free premium membership because they helped me so much) and we are looking for new members, so please report in. Happy to answer questions.

Buen camino, Laurie
Sorry to keep doing this to you Laurie but how does it compare with the scenery of the Primitivo and elevation gain?
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Thank you Laurie. A really interesting summary. I have chickened out at the last moment and am doing 2 weeks on the Norte from tomorrow. The reasons - much the ones you suggest above and the fact that I have ended up with only 2 weeks. I will do it, just not this year.
Buen camino
Andrew
 
Sorry to keep doing this to you Laurie but how does it compare with the scenery of the Primitivo and elevation gain?

From Bilbao to Aguilar I would say the scenery is very nice,not spectacular unless you count the truly incredible Romanesque churches near Villasana de Mena. From Aguilar to Ponferrada all but the last day, I’d say, has many wow moments. Lots of mountains.

I think the Olvidado is probably tougher than the Primitivo but I’d like to hear what others think. I wouldn’t say there was any day that left me totally depleted, but some of the mountain stages were both long and with a lot of elevation. But gorgeous, so well worth it.
 
And btw, the Olvidado into Ponferrada makes for a perfect combination with the Invierno. I think the two groups ought to get together and join forces in promoting this combo, it is spectacular.

I remember when we discussed this combo in Lisbon last year, and I think next spring might be the time for it. And if Wendy’s feet are OK, we might even tack a few more things onto it! ;)
 
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
There is a fairly large upsurge in interest in the Olvidado. The on-the-ground organization, which brings in all the municipalities from start to finish, is doing an amazing job of marking and of getting albergues up and running, both of which are essential. One factoid — the number of pilgrims who slept in the Fasgar albergue in May 2019 was more than the number that slept in the albergue in all of 2018. True, the numbers were small, about 60 or 70, I think, but still, things are on the move.

I walked the days from Aguilar de Campoo to Ponferrada this year, having walked the “whole route” (from Bilbao to Ponferrada) a few years ago. In the few years in between, the changes have been incredible. There is a guide (my English translation of Ender’s guide will be posted soon), an app (careful for a few of the stages crashing), GPS tracks (totally essential as of today, in fact, I think it would be reckless to walk without a GPS or an impeccable sense of direction). In the towns and villages, there is much more awareness of the route overall. Distances tend to be longer and elevation gain higher than on other caminos, but there are often ways to break things up.

But you are going to have to accept that the marking is not perfect or complete, and the remoteness of some of the stages means no cell phone coverage. Also, given the low numbers, you just have to be prepared for the fact that you are going to walk through terrain where the bush-whackers, the tree trimmers, the grass-cutters, and the debris-clearers will not have been through before you.

The sustained mountain beauty of this route, as others have already said, is unsurpassed by any other camino I have walked (well, a few days on the Vasco come close!). I was very lucky to have had a companion except for the last four days or so from La Magdalena to Ponferrada, and I am not so sure I would want to walk the mountain alternatives between Aguilar and La Magdalena alone.

The mountain alternatives are unbeatable, but Ender did tell me that the “old way” (which is the way I followed a few years ago, and I wlked alone) has also been improved and brought more off road. And luckily, since none of this route passes through Galicia, there are no bulldozed paths covered in crushed rock. :p

I think @Aglass is just starting out and I hope we hear updates!

And btw, the Olvidado into Ponferrada makes for a perfect combination with the Invierno. I think the two groups ought to get together and join forces in promoting this combo, it is spectacular.

We are forming our Olvidado Alumni group (@omicko and @alansykes are eligible for free premium membership because they helped me so much) and we are looking for new members, so please report in. Happy to answer questions.

Buen camino, Laurie
I am looking forward to being able to join your alumni group, hoping next year to walk the rest of the way from Bonar.
 
And btw, the Olvidado into Ponferrada makes for a perfect combination with the Invierno. I think the two groups ought to get together and join forces in promoting this combo, it is spectacular.
Hmmmm. Such a good idea; it's one of those recurring dreams.
We are forming our Olvidado Alumni group (@omicko and @alansykes are eligible for free premium membership because they helped me so much) and we are looking for new members, so please report in. Happy to answer questions.
I will be lurking...

Thank you, Laurie, for the inspiring thread...!
 
I looked into walking the Olvidado several years ago, with the help of your guide. But I found that there was very little accommodation of any sort and much of what you had listed in your guide was no longer available to pilgrims. So I gave it up for the moment and walked the VdlP instead. Accommodation and routing on the Olvidado would have to be much improved for me to consider it again.
 
Down bag (90/10 duvet) of 700 fills with 180 g (6.34 ounces) of filling. Mummy-shaped structure, ideal when you are looking for lightness with great heating performance.

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I looked into walking the Olvidado several years ago, with the help of your guide. But I found that there was very little accommodation of any sort and much of what you had listed in your guide was no longer available to pilgrims. So I gave it up for the moment and walked the VdlP instead. Accommodation and routing on the Olvidado would have to be much improved for me to consider it again.
I am planning to walk the Olvidado in Sept and there seems to be plenty of accommodation available.
 
I am planning to walk the Olvidado in Sept and there seems to be plenty of accommodation available.
I believe that the upsurge in interest in the Olvidado, with trail marking and opening of new albergues, is enough for me to look at it again. There is often a balance on the lesser walked caminos between the time when only a few find the services adequate and the time when the crowds arrive. I am trying to fit into this sweet spot by walking the Madrid and the Invierno this fall.
 

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