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I’ve worn good sunglasses all my adult life. I don’t see how the intensity of what you do effects the need-it’s how much time you spend in the sun. Portugal is sunny-protect your eyes!
My husband and I did this in spring of 2018. The trail from Montpellier to Castres is fairly difficult. Be sure you understand the altitude gain and loss. Some parts are steep and very rocky. It’s a beautiful trail, but quite remote. Some trail finding skills are a plus. The villages...
Your itinerary for yourself seems fine. It’s reasonable for a relatively young person in decent condition. My hesitation is for your mom. I’m a lifelong hiker and belong to a hiking group in the Pacific NW USA. Our group has a lot of strong hikers, but we’re getting older. We have people in...
I use ziplock bags. One thing I love about being on Camino is dumping the pack and seeing how few are needed and how little gear there is. So much easier than traveling with a load of stuff.
The entire Camino Portuguese is the flattest. Whether you begin in Lisbon or Porto, whichever Portuguese route you take has very little elevation gain or loss.
I love my black diamond z poles, but don’t use them on terrain that isn’t steep or slippery. I can’t imagine fussing with adjustments every time I climb and descend and I don’t think I know anyone who does, except in an exceptional situation. Mine don’t adjust, but they fold small enough to...
I haven’t read all the replies in detail, but if they haven’t been suggested, there are a few brands to suggest. First is Patagonia. They have a human rights policy and sell used as well. Some companies that sell gear made in America are Zpack, Hyperlite Mountain Gear, Danner (boots), and...
I’ve walked several sola caminos since reaching age 60. (Now 67). There are lots of advantages to being alone. First and foremost, your pace is your own. I’ve seen many injuries caused by someone trying to keep another’s pace. It’s pretty natural to meet up with others and you can choose...
Amy, I agree that transfer through some countries might be easy. You still need to research, and moving targets regulation-wise are stressful. We purchased our flight without knowing that the transfer country-even though we just sat in the airport for an hour and a half-required a test and...
If you transit through another country on your way to Spain, you need to understand what requirements are needed to transfer through that country. With Covid, it’s worth extra cost to me to avoid transfer through other countries. Portland will have direct flights to Spain. If necessary to go...
You will need to learn what’s required much closer to the time of your trip. Start to monitor possibly 3-4 weeks before the trip. Be sure to book a refundable flight, or one that can be rescheduled for no cost. Depending on the volatility of the situation, you need to check your official...
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