Augh! Should be in SJPDP by April 2 - 3

[Lulumom]

Hello,

My husband and I are using military travel so there's no way to know the exact date we will arrive in France (or really, exactly where we will arrive) but (somehow) we expect to make it to the starting point by early April; we leave home (California) on the 29th.

I'm wondering if any others out there plan to start around the same time and also, from those in the know, what to expect in terms of early weather conditions. We have been looking at the weather forecast and I ended up ordering a few more pieces of cold-weather gear because some temps were below freezing but still feeling a little nervous about one bag of gear going from wintery temps to summery temps. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Kim

 

[nycwalking]

Buen camino.

 

[Bala]

There was a lengthy thread not long ago, Confused about clothes in April, or something similar to that. I'd link to it, but don't know how..... But you can find it through the search if you weren't following at the time.

I know how you feel, though. I'll be walking mid-April to mid-May and keep eliminating, adding, eliminating, adding, ad infinitum. What if I'm cold? What if I'm hot? What if it's a deluge? What if there's relentless sun?

Short answer, layers, layers, layers.

Good luck and Buen Camino!

 

[CdnDreamer]

I took leggings to wear under my zip-off pants, thin gloves and headband rather than a winter hat. The headband fit under my sun hat. I also took a really thin down jacket that I wore more for sitting outside than when I was walking.

Cold mornings I wore the leggings, and long pants, a long sleeve shirt with a thin fleece jacket and my rain jacket over top, with my hat headband and gloves. Some mornings it was around the freezing mark, but once the sun was up it would warm up a lot. Just make sure you don't get sweaty when its cold. Stop and take off layers. There are always stores along the way if you need extra clothing.

(Note that I was coming from Toronto where the weather had been well below freezing, so I found that when the weather got up to the mid 60's F I was dying from the heat!)

 

[Iriebabel]

Hi I am retired AF so I am familiar with the hops but I refuse to hurry up and wait or deals with the sometimes unexpected complications of hops lol so I am flying to BCN on norwegian air, Cheap tickets great service. I will be in St jean 31 March to start 1 April. I am using a merino expedition pull over sweater (with hoodie) as a base layer for warmth over my quick dry long sleeve shirts and a northface rain(wind)jacket. I use running(exercise quick dry) pants with a liteweight base layer for warmth if needed. Also gortex surround (breathable) boots which work for me in terms of support for my knees/ankles

I live in Florida but I never walk in shorts or short sleeve T-shirt’s..due to mosquitos and possible sunburn so long pants as used by runners and long sleeve exercise wear works for me. I also have rain pants made by Columbia i think bought at walmart $20. Sun hat and buff and gloves. Decided against the down liner , although lighter, once it is wet it looses its warmth . I agree with @CdnDreamer with dressing in layers..you dont want to be sweaty in cold weather. Been cold weather a lot and this is sensible advise .
This is My first camino and I have read lots of advise here I decided to be sensible yet prepared and still keep my pack wight down ...10kg when weighed sounds like at lot at first but unfortunately I have to carry some medical items for my troubled knees.

I’ve have been following Stephen Jones from Ireland videos on YouTube as he is currently on the trail to see what the weather is now like as thought the eyes of someone on the camino in real time

also Efren’s videos

are great too, he does a daily account along with costs. Hope this helps



Buen Camino

 

[Lulumom]

Wow! Thanks for the links and the great suggestions! I'm excited to check out Stephen Jones on youtube tonight. The advice about not sweating in the cold is also great; I will be sure to remember that.

It's hovering around freezing here in Redding, CA today and POURING rain. Just going out in this weather to run a few errands made me realize that I need to focus on not being miserable in cold or wet weather. Also, surely things will not dry as fast when it's cold and damp. I decided to put one more long sleeve shirt in my bag and ordered a wool Buff-like thing that should provide extra warmth, if needed. I am toying with the idea of investing in Smartwool leggings as they might also make for good sleepwear.

Anyway, thanks again!

 

[Iriebabel]

Wow! Thanks for the links and the great suggestions! I'm excited to check out Stephen Jones on youtube tonight. The advice about not sweating in the cold is also great; I will be sure to remember that.

It's hovering around freezing here in Redding, CA today and POURING rain. Just going out in this weather to run a few errands made me realize that I need to focus on not being miserable in cold or wet weather. Also, surely things will not dry as fast when it's cold and damp. I decided to put one more long sleeve shirt in my bag and ordered a wool Buff-like thing that should provide extra warmth, if needed. I am toying with the idea of investing in Smartwool leggings as they might also make for good sleepwear.

Anyway, thanks again!

Hope you enjoyed the videos. I loved Efren’s it gave me a good idea on cost and daily life. Stephen’s gave me a good idea on weather and people.

A cold 31 F in west Florida today with frost but now sun is coming up hopefully will be warmer todards mid day. I agree things might take longer to dry so quick dry materials work best at least with some safety pins you can hang sock or shirts onto your pack to get dry as you walk. Good luck packing hope to see you on the camino.. weighed my pack and I’m At 10kg without water in the camelback so I keep tweaking it lol Hope to see you on el Camino Buen Camino

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

We have been looking at the weather forecast and I ended up ordering a few more pieces of cold-weather gear because some temps were below freezing but still feeling a little nervous about one bag of gear going from wintery temps to summery temps. Any suggestions?

Bring some old sweatshirts or similar. Also old wool socks to use as mittens. Get them secondhand if you don't have any handy. Use them in the Pyrenees if you need them and then throw them into the trash once in Pamplona.

 

[Malachiuri]

Howdy,

We are leaving the US on the 28th, staying for a day day to unwind in SJPdP for a day and then heading out on the morning of the 29th, or so. Look for a big guy in orange along your way and say hi!

Mark

 

[Z_May]

Hey Kim,
Greeting from a fellow California Girl
I will be arriving around the same time as you it sounds like. I'm leaving March 30th and getting to SJPD on the 1st, walking the 2nd. I totally empathize with the confusion on how to pack because the weather has been so erratic. I echo some of the advice on here. I plan to layer. If you can find lightweight base layers, I would pack them. And if they can double as your post-walk "lounge" outfit then even better.

I initially was going to use my patagonia windbreaker/rain jacket, but with all the snowflakes popping up on my apple weather app throughout the camino, not to mention the days where the high is 28F, i've decided on a more insulating "shell" jacket that can withstand that type of weather.

I hope our paths cross,
Buen Camino,
Z