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I hope you have beautiful weather when you cross the Pyrenees! But of course, check the weather beforehand. Snow is not a surprise on the Napoleon Route in April. Just from my own experience, in 2019 an intense snowfall closed that route on May 3 and medevac helicopters had to rescue several...
Hi there, fellow pilgrim! I've only walked the route that goes off to the left, sometimes called the steep route. It was steeper at the beginning and a couple of places after that, but mostly I was carried away by what I've come to call The Enchanted Woods. It was absolutely gorgeous. However...
in 2019, in the Pilgrims Office in SJPP, the volunteer showed me a big box of shells where I could choose my own, and then drop a donation into the box mounted there. Each shell was drilled with 2 tiny holes and strung with a piece of twine, so you could hang it on your pack.
These look great, and not as expensive as some other brands. Another brand of trail runners with a wide toe box is Saucony. They made my feet look enormous (good practice for laughing at my ego), but I walked the Camino Frances with nary a blister.
How exciting to be planning for your first Camino! You're right, it's helpful to pack light. From my one-time experience in that season, both a long sleeve merino or fleece, and a down jacket are needed, if that's all you're bringing for warmth. It gets cold at night and some days, particularly...
I loved "The Way of the Wild Goose" by Beebe Bahrami, I think written in 2019. She walks 3 different Camino routes, including the Camino Frances, tracing pre-Christian symbols honoring ancient Earth mother, nature & the cosmos, that are today still found in the oldest churches. She has also...
I flew from the US to Madrid, took the train to Pamplona, and stayed one night in a hostel there to help me get over jet lag after my 20-hr trip. The following day I took the bus to St Jean Pied de Port. And I was really glad to fly home from Madrid, because it's only a 5-hr train ride from...
From looking at my guidebook, as well as what I remember (from 3 yrs ago), the steep & slippery section is between Manjarin and Molinaseca. It's pretty easy before and after that.
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