An Alternative Starting Point to St Jean

[Saint Mike II]

A week or so back (I can't find it) there was a discussion about whether St Jean was the only starting point for the Camino Frances. Yesterday I received the bi-monthly update from Cierone - detailing a number of walking trails across the UK and Continental Europe. Included was one about the Camino Aragon - yes the one that includes crossing the Somport Pass. Here is a link if anyone is interested, or wants some background information.

http://www.cicerone-extra.com/trekking-the-camino-aragon
Cheers

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Included was one about the Camino Aragon

I have done the walk from Toulouse (Via Tolosana) to Puente la Reina twice. It is a great walk. I diverted down to Lourdes on one walk and rejoined the Tolosana/Aragones at Oloron-Ste. Marie. I highly recommend it.

 

[Albertagirl]

I have done the walk from Toulouse (Via Tolosana) to Puente la Reina twice. It is a great walk. I diverted down to Lourdes on one walk and rejoined the Tolosana/Aragones at Oloron-Ste. Marie. I highly recommend it.

@falcon269
I am looking forward to walking the route from Oloron Ste Marie through the Aragones to Puenta la Reina and on to Santiago de Compostella, starting on September 15.

 

[timr]

@Saint Mike II
Very interesting and some lovely photos.
I walked from Lourdes some years back and carried on past Oloron Ste Marie to SJPP. It is a fabulous walk, especially if you like a bit of 'peace and quiet' - only five others walking in September. I would love to go back and take the left turn at Oloron Ste Marie, which brings you on to the Frances very near Eunate which has my favourite albergue of all, though I see here in the past few days confirmation that it has definitely closed. Fascinating church too. A huge loss.

 

[nidarosa]

@Saint Mike II - thanks for sharing. My husband and I are planning a March camino starting on the French border but as the Napoleon route will be closed/not recommended until April 1st we were looking for alternatives. I forgot about the Somport pass but luckily I have the info in my Rother guide so we are now looking at that. Not the same mountain vistas but the river walk looks lovely! Then at Obanos we will probably get a taxi to Pamplona, stay there a day and then carry on along the CF.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

brings you on to the Frances very near Eunate

It brings you into Eunate's backyard, actually!!

 

[timr]

It brings you into Eunate's backyard, actually!!

@falcon269
Well what could be nicer!? I haven't come at Eunate from that direction yet. The article quoted above says that even the church is now open only at weekends, but this thread /www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/news-regarding-santa-mar%C3%ADa-de-eunate.42541/#post-437018 is more encouraging

 

[movinmaggie]

A week or so back (I can't find it) there was a discussion about whether St Jean was the only starting point for the Camino Frances. Yesterday I received the bi-monthly update from Cierone - detailing a number of walking trails across the UK and Continental Europe. Included was one about the Camino Aragon - yes the one that includes crossing the Somport Pass. Here is a link if anyone is interested, or wants some background information.

http://www.cicerone-extra.com/trekking-the-camino-aragon
Cheers

There is also an excellent video ' Six Ways To The Camino'.

 

[Albertagirl]

Not the same mountain vistas

@nidarosa
I am not sure what you mean by this. Google Vallee d'Aspe for some incredible photos or try this link: http://www.tourisme-aspe.com/index.php I believe that that Somport Pass is higher than the Route Napoleon. In the winter, it is a popular ski area, reached by a lengthy road tunnel. I do not know whether the GR653 route over the Pyrenees for walkers is open or usable in winter. There is a bus up the valley. I would hesitate to walk the Camino Aragones in winter.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I believe that that Somport Pass is higher than the Route Napoleon. In the winter, it is a popular ski area, reached by a lengthy road tunnel. I do not know whether the GR653 route over the Pyrenees for walkers is open or usable in winter.

It is higher, and the climb is continuous. Somport is 1,632 m and Loepedor is 1,441 m elevation. The road N-33A is kept open by snowplows in the winter, but that does not leave much of a shoulder. In the winter you can take the bus to Estacion Canfranc and walk the road to Somport once it is plowed. Again, the shoulder is not great, but it is wider than on the French side. I agree; it is not worth the risk in winter.

 

[SYates]

... Then at Obanos we will probably get a taxi to Pamplona, stay there a day and then carry on along the CF.

Curious mind wants to know - Why do you want to take the taxi backwards and not simply walk from Obanos to Puente la Reina and onwards? Buen Camino, SY

 

[nidarosa]

@Albertagirl @SYates Sorry, we haven't started doing any real research yet and what I should have said is that at that time of year we will start after the pass (if I understood it correctly when I did a quick scan last night and watched some videos and blogs) and walk along the river. I haven't got the Rother guide here now but it gives downward slopes and flats until Obanos. Also going backwards because husband wants to have a day in Pamplona I clearly have research to do but that's half the fun!

 

[NualaOC]

@Saint Mike II - thanks for sharing. My husband and I are planning a March camino starting on the French border but as the Napoleon route will be closed/not recommended until April 1st we were looking for alternatives. I forgot about the Somport pass but luckily I have the info in my Rother guide so we are now looking at that. Not the same mountain vistas but the river walk looks lovely! Then at Obanos we will probably get a taxi to Pamplona, stay there a day and then carry on along the CF.

The Camino del Baztan is worth considering too - and I understand that the albergues are open all year round. 4-6 days walking from Bayonne to Pamplona. You will probably have the albergues to yourselves at that time of year!

 

[nidarosa]

@NualaOC Thanks, that is definitely worth considering. My husband would like to see and walk the places I did but at that time of the year we will have to be flexible. As long as we get to Burgos within three slow weeks all is well.

 

[Saint Mike II]

@Saint Mike II - thanks for sharing. My husband and I are planning a March camino starting on the French border but as the Napoleon route will be closed/not recommended until April 1st we were looking for alternatives. I forgot about the Somport pass but luckily I have the info in my Rother guide so we are now looking at that. Not the same mountain vistas but the river walk looks lovely! Then at Obanos we will probably get a taxi to Pamplona, stay there a day and then carry on along the CF.

Hola - Given that this route is around 200 metres higher than the Napoleon Route - I suggest that it is quite likely to be snow bound even in late May. Maybe do some weather research (snow depth etc) before making firm plans. Cheers

 

[nidarosa]

@Saint Mike II Will do! We will weigh up our options as to what is safe and doable, I was just excited to be reminded of a different route into Spain knowing that the Napoleon route will be closed at that time (we start mid March). We are hoping to start near the border somehow but if the weather is bad we wait or move into lower ground or start/stay in Pamplona. We will do our research I promise - I am not one for taking chances or going unprepared.

 

[camino-david]

I walked from Oloron to Santiago via the Somport Pass but in Sept 2011. I doubt that the pass will be open/wise to walk in March, but you could email the tourist bureau in Jaca who are very helpful and speak English. There are buses from Jaca that go all the way up to Somport in clear road conditions. The Aragonnes is a beautiful route, quiet but with enough facilities, and the route is well marked although not with the number of arrows as the Frances.

 

[VNwalking]

@falcon269
I am looking forward to walking the route from Oloron Ste Marie through the Aragones to Puenta la Reina and on to Santiago de Compostella, starting on September 15.

I walked from Oloron to Santiago via the Somport Pass but in Sept 2011. I doubt that the pass will be open/wise to walk in March, but you could email the tourist bureau in Jaca who are very helpful and speak English. There are buses from Jaca that go all the way up to Somport in clear road conditions. The Aragonnes is a beautiful route, quiet but with enough facilities, and the route is well marked although not with the number of arrows as the Frances.

Thinking for next year...and doing a search to check out the Aragones--particularly the time when it becomes possible in the spring/early summer. And here is a recent thread! Thanks all. I am assuming March is too early. But May?

 

[Castilian]

But May?

It can still snow in May in Somport. It doesn't mean it'll snow though. It just mean it may/might snow. Basically, your question is: How much will snow next year? And, of course, there's no way we can know it now. OTOH, in May is unlikely to snow so much as to not plow the road so, in the worse case, that might be an alternative... if you find it safe enough. Otherwise, take public transport and start from Jaca.