WestKirsty
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Next up: Viejo/Olvidado
Greetings,
I am planning to walk the Vasco this Easter break and have been trying to find ways to walk the mountain alternative. A friend was over yesterday and she walked 3 stages on that route a few weekends ago ((1) Lasarte-Oria to Bidegoian (2) Bidegoian to Zegama (3) Zegama to Salvatierra) and wanted to share information about the route.
Unfortunately, there were 2 points on the trail where fences have been put up with Private Property signs. The first was along the trail near where the alternative reconnects with the main route (between Zerain and Segura). There is a property there that the trail went through but apparently is now fenced off. My friend went through anyway (apologizing out loud) as there wasn't a clear alterative at that point lest she walk back up the mountain. No one was around so there were no issues.
The second was closer to Zegama where the mountain alternative approaches the highway. This time the route was blocked by a fence and there was a dog on the other side. She backtracked a bit and then walked the final few Km to Zegama on the side of the main road.
If others are planning to walk these alternatives, better to know in advance! She was gutted by the first block as it had already been a 30+km day in the mountains.
We were examining wikilocs and maps yesterday and think we've found some alternatives:
There is a trail that connects the mountain alternative to Tolosa (so the route would be Hernani via the mountains until Iturrioz where you can take the GR 285 to Tolosa and stay there (https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trai...eltz-herniozabal-munoaundieta-tolosa-41557854) It would probably be about 35km so a full day but if the weather is decent in April I might try this out!
My friend also mentioned that there was a connecting route from the mountain alternative to the main route between Salbatore and Beasin.
So if these fences are indeed an issue, there might still be options to do the mountain alternative and reconnect with the main trail before Zegama.
Happy walking!
I am planning to walk the Vasco this Easter break and have been trying to find ways to walk the mountain alternative. A friend was over yesterday and she walked 3 stages on that route a few weekends ago ((1) Lasarte-Oria to Bidegoian (2) Bidegoian to Zegama (3) Zegama to Salvatierra) and wanted to share information about the route.
Unfortunately, there were 2 points on the trail where fences have been put up with Private Property signs. The first was along the trail near where the alternative reconnects with the main route (between Zerain and Segura). There is a property there that the trail went through but apparently is now fenced off. My friend went through anyway (apologizing out loud) as there wasn't a clear alterative at that point lest she walk back up the mountain. No one was around so there were no issues.
The second was closer to Zegama where the mountain alternative approaches the highway. This time the route was blocked by a fence and there was a dog on the other side. She backtracked a bit and then walked the final few Km to Zegama on the side of the main road.
If others are planning to walk these alternatives, better to know in advance! She was gutted by the first block as it had already been a 30+km day in the mountains.
We were examining wikilocs and maps yesterday and think we've found some alternatives:
There is a trail that connects the mountain alternative to Tolosa (so the route would be Hernani via the mountains until Iturrioz where you can take the GR 285 to Tolosa and stay there (https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trai...eltz-herniozabal-munoaundieta-tolosa-41557854) It would probably be about 35km so a full day but if the weather is decent in April I might try this out!
My friend also mentioned that there was a connecting route from the mountain alternative to the main route between Salbatore and Beasin.
So if these fences are indeed an issue, there might still be options to do the mountain alternative and reconnect with the main trail before Zegama.
Happy walking!