The Somport valley
Our first day from Somport to Jaca was a wonderful day, (20.4). It was snow at the start, as I said, but it was really the last snow of the year, and if we had wanted to avoid it, we would have followed the road for the first few kilometers. The wonderful thing was this: When we started on the top (1632m) it was bitterly cold and we put on ALL our clouds. It was a last farewell to the winter. After some kilometers, we met the spring and the warmth creeping up the valley. From Canfranc we really walked in springtime. Some trees had got there first leaves, others had not. On the ground there were daisyes, blue anemones, violets and daffodils. I can not remember seeing any almond trees. My be it was too early? From Castiello de Jaca we put on our T-shirts and had a summer-feeling.
I think this is important: We were lucky. The weather was just perfect. On a rainy day the impression would have been another. (From Sta. Cilia de Jaca to Artieda we had a rainy day and what we remember from that day was the rivers we had to cross and all the mud!)
Yes, we crossed the river with the step-stones. I was a bit nervous. If there are places you do not know if you can manage, why not follow the main road for some kilometers? We have been walking on different Caminos each April from 2003, and everywhere we have found the locals very willing to help and explain. When you speak spanish, you can avoid the difficult places, I think.
Good luck! I plan to start near Navarrenx in France in the end of March.