Advice for day 1

GerFol · Apr 20, 2015

Good morning forum members,
I arrive in SJPP later this week around mid-day. I don't have any long flights or jet- lag to get over. I was thinking of starting to walk on arrival and that would mean getting into Ronscesvalles at approx 8.00 in the evening. Is this possible? Would there still be accomodation available in the albergue at Ronscesvalles arriving that late? Any downside that I'm not seeing?
Regards,
Gerard.

Deleted member 3000 · Apr 20, 2015

GerFol said:
Would there still be accomodation available in the albergue at Ronscesvalles arriving that late?

It is very likely there will be. It is not crowded yet. Darkness and rain could be a problem. If you just want to get going to stretch your legs, Hounto or Valcarlos would be pretty easy for a first leg. Hounto is quite a short day, but you cover a fair amount of the ascent. Orisson is further up, but seems to fill with reservations. Orisson does have additional beds a bit down the hill at Kayola.

Mark Lee · Apr 20, 2015

Yeah, I don't think walking in to Roncesvalles that late in the day would be a good idea if it involves walking in the dark.
Depending on which route you take, stopping in Orisson or ValCarlos would probably be more prudent.

Jo Jo · Apr 20, 2015

Gerald,

Two things: 1) check with the pilgrim office to see the state of the Napolean route before starting out. If they say its closed, follow their advice; 2) even if it is open, a friend just went over it and her photos showed lots of snow on the path. That makes for slow walking, and you would be cutting it close for ending in the dark anyways. The path down to Roncevalles is not one to do in the dark. The Camino is very long. No need to rush Day 1 and either hurt yourself hurrying or arrive exhausted and hungry. Bad beginnings can be hard to psychologically overcome.

I agree with Mark Lee--Orisson of ValCarlos is more than enough. We also got into SJPP about noon, hurried to the pilgrim office before it closed for lunch (barely made it), had our own lunch, walked around the town and to the top of the ramparts, and then walked to Orisson. A lovely beginning.

Ultreia,
Jo Jo

Julio Gone Camino · Apr 20, 2015

Jo Jo said:
Gerald,

Two things: 1) check with the pilgrim office to see the state of the Napolean route before starting out. If they say its closed, follow their advice; 2) even if it is open, a friend just went over it and her photos showed lots of snow on the path. That makes for slow walking, and you would be cutting it close for ending in the dark anyways.

The weaather is likely to be unpredictable, and well-crafted plans may stumble if routes are not open. SJPdP is worth a bit of a look round, so usually the advice is to rest up and prepare and start in good time the next day.

Buen Camino!

mikevasey · Apr 21, 2015

Its doable but not advisable, if you are really confident in your walking ability, know that you will be able to do it with out suffering from tiredness too much, you will be walking against the clock, don't mind arriving to find maybe the albergue full but also the eating options fully booked out, even then I still wouldn't recommend it. Have a good look around SJPDP, use the next day to enjoy perhaps the most beautiful section of the Camino.

Felipe · Apr 21, 2015

I think that crossing a mountain pass (this is what walkers do in the stage SJPP-Roncesvalles) by night is a no-no, unless you know the path well or are an expert trekker. There are roots, loose stones, slippery sections, signposts are not easily visible, and the weather can turn from "quite good" to "awful" very quickly.
Buen (and safe) Camino!

naplesdon · Apr 21, 2015

The last time I was in SJPdP, the pilgrim office was closed at lunch time for and hour or so. If you arrive at noon you will not be able to get a credential until Roncevalles and you will not be able to get a report on the conditions in the mountains. Everyone is right about walking in the dark down the hill to Roncesvalles, it is slippery even when it hasn't rained and it is a very dark gloomy forest, not a great place to be after sunset. On Saturday 18/5 we were having a lovely spring day with temperatures in the 20's and then suddenly out of nowhere a storm blew in off the Atlantic around 14:30 dropping about 20cm of sleet and snow on us and turning a spring day into a winter nightmare with winds approaching tornado velocity, this is the season of changes.

Peter Aulbury · Apr 21, 2015

biarritzdon said:
The last time I was in SJPdP, the pilgrim office was closed at lunch time for and hour or so. If you arrive at noon you will not be able to get a credential until Roncevalles and you will not be able to get a report on the conditions in the mountains. Everyone is right about walking in the dark down the hill to Roncesvalles, it is slippery even when it hasn't rained and it is a very dark gloomy forest, not a great place to be after sunset. On Saturday 18/5 we were having a lovely spring day with temperatures in the 20's and then suddenly out of nowhere a storm blew in off the Atlantic around 14:30 dropping about 20cm of sleet and snow on us and turning a spring day into a winter nightmare with winds approaching tornado velocity, this is the season of changes.

Thanks for all the advice, I arrive in SJPdP in morning of 15th May,and have just decided to book at Orisson, thru their website. I haven't yet received a confirmation, so if they are full, I will take Valcarlos route. I've heard the albergue at Roncesvalles is huge, does that mean a fwd booking is not necessary? And should one book ahead for a meal at Roncesvalles?

naplesdon · Apr 21, 2015

You are right, if you plan to stay at the albergue there should be no bed problem this time of year, I don't even know if you can reserve there. My best advice about booking for dinner is to go to the Hostal La Posada, where most people have dinner and book a spot. You have two seating choices as far as serving times and you will share your meal with a table of 8 to 10 other pilgrims, it's a lot of fun. There are a couple of other dining options in Roncevalles as well as the vending machines in the albergue.

Peter Aulbury · Apr 22, 2015

biarritzdon said:
You are right, if you plan to stay at the albergue there should be no bed problem this time of year, I don't even know if you can reserve there. My best advice about booking for dinner is to go to the Hostal La Posada, where most people have dinner and book a spot. You have two seating choices as far as serving times and you will share your meal with a table of 8 to 10 other pilgrims, it's a lot of fun. There are a couple of other dining options in Roncevalles as well as the vending machines in the albergue.

Thank you biarritzdon...still awaiting email reply from Orisson. Maybe they are already fully booked, but it would be nice to hear back one way or another.

WalkonBy · Apr 23, 2015

GerFol said:
Good morning forum members,
I arrive in SJPP later this week around mid-day. I don't have any long flights or jet- lag to get over. I was thinking of starting to walk on arrival and that would mean getting into Ronscesvalles at approx 8.00 in the evening. Is this possible? Would there still be accomodation available in the albergue at Ronscesvalles arriving that late? Any downside that I'm not seeing?
Regards,
Gerard.

Gerard, you've got some advice from experienced Trekkers, IMO to echo some others...take your time the first two weeks, please don't push yourself too hard, that's when injury happens and if you can just let things happen without planning stops, booking beds, meals...it will be ok. Buen Camino pilgrams.

cabigred · Apr 24, 2015

Hi Peter, it can take a week or so to hear back from Orisson. They do respond though.
Buen Camino

KtBoo · Apr 25, 2015

Peter Aulbury said:
Thanks for all the advice, I arrive in SJPdP in morning of 15th May,and have just decided to book at Orisson, thru their website. I haven't yet received a confirmation, so if they are full, I will take Valcarlos route. I've heard the albergue at Roncesvalles is huge, does that mean a fwd booking is not necessary? And should one book ahead for a meal at Roncesvalles?

Hello Peter,
We also arrive SJPP on the morning 15 May from an early start from Bayonne. I have been contemplating starting that day or staying in SJPP and starting on the 16th. I finally had my response from the refuge in Orisson and it has been nearly two weeks. So today I will spend time detailing stopping points for the whole route so that I can book some private hotels along the route. I have the forum badge to put on my back pack so I will see how many others I spot along the way. Buen Camino on foot.

sriyantra · Apr 25, 2015

Peter Aulbury said:
Thanks for all the advice, I arrive in SJPdP in morning of 15th May,and have just decided to book at Orisson, thru their website. I haven't yet received a confirmation, so if they are full, I will take Valcarlos route. I've heard the albergue at Roncesvalles is huge, does that mean a fwd booking is not necessary? And should one book ahead for a meal at Roncesvalles?

There is a shuttle service that will take you from Orisson back to SJPDP for the night and then return you back to Orisson about 8.30 the next morning. We did that last September. Check with Express Bouricott.

petitewalker · Apr 25, 2015

KtBoo said:
Hello Peter,
We also arrive SJPP on the morning 15 May from an early start from Bayonne. I have been contemplating starting that day or staying in SJPP and starting on the 16th. I finally had my response from the refuge in Orisson and it has been nearly two weeks. So today I will spend time detailing stopping points for the whole route so that I can book some private hotels along the route. I have the forum badge to put on my back pack so I will see how many others I spot along the way. Buen Camino on foot.

I would not advise booking the stopping points along the route, except maybe the first few day. It is hard to judge how far you will be able to walk each day based on weather, injurred feet, whatever. One shorter day or a days rest is going to throw all your bookings off. Go with the flow, enjoy the journey and once you get going a days notice will suffice.

Al the optimist · Apr 25, 2015

I agree about not booking ahead. In my experience most people I have spoken to find that life has a way of overtaking their plans anyway. By all means book your first night and then go with the flow. Don't plan too much distance the first few days, it pays dividends later.

bismith · Apr 26, 2015

GerFol said:
Good morning forum members,
I arrive in SJPP later this week around mid-day. I don't have any long flights or jet- lag to get over. I was thinking of starting to walk on arrival and that would mean getting into Ronscesvalles at approx 8.00 in the evening. Is this possible? Would there still be accomodation available in the albergue at Ronscesvalles arriving that late? Any downside that I'm not seeing?
Regards,
Gerard.

My advice. Relax in St. Jean PdP. Meet some fellow pilgrims and walk up the hill in the morning after a great night of sleep.

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