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Here it is:I would be very interested to know of one too, but I highly doubt that one exists
You can walk the road all the way - the LE 142. It is much longer because it winds backwards and forwards, but at least you don't get the uneven rocky path. I took it one year from the Cruz to El Acebo because I was feeling a bit shaky that day. If you do take it, wear bright clothes and be aware that sections of the road are quite narrow and cars may not be expecting any walkers. Many bike riders though.We had to curtail our camino in Leon in 2018 and owing to a ruptured achilles and then Covid, this summer will be our first chance to complete it.
However, I still have to manage my achilles and steep uneven descents are a risk, so we thought we'd just skip Cruz de Ferro.
Is there lower walking route around or a bus for example between Rabanal del Camino and Molinaseca or would that be a taxi or would it just be easier to just get the train from Astorga to Ponferrada?
I know many think of Cruz de Ferro as a highlight but I'd rather still be able to walk on to the end.
Many thanks in advance.
We walked just past Cruz de Ferro to the little colourful stop run by the individual last Knights Templar (??) who then called us a taxi. The taxi also brought up some grocery supplies for him so that suited all of us. It was pleasant waiting for the taxi and not too long, we took it to Ponferrada.We had to curtail our camino in Leon in 2018 and owing to a ruptured achilles and then Covid, this summer will be our first chance to complete it.
However, I still have to manage my achilles and steep uneven descents are a risk, so we thought we'd just skip Cruz de Ferro.
Is there lower walking route around or a bus for example between Rabanal del Camino and Molinaseca or would that be a taxi or would it just be easier to just get the train from Astorga to Ponferrada?
I know many think of Cruz de Ferro as a highlight but I'd rather still be able to walk on to the end.
Many thanks in advance.
Hi kiwicat, I would be interested in seeing the evidence for your assertion re achilles problems in older walkers. I am an "older walker" who tried Merrells and Salomons on my first two Caminos before discovering Altra Lone Peaks and wearing them with great success on all subsequent Caminos. As discussed at length in other forum threads, zero drop shoes are not for everyone so some testing, or medical consultation, could be required before switching from conventional shoes. There are other benefits to the Altras as well, e.g. the wide toe box. As always, each to their own. Buen camino.And remember to make sure your footwear is suitable the walk. This current "obsession" with zero drop shoes (example Altras) is leaving many , especially older walkers with some major archilles problems.
Bus from Astorga to PonferadaWe had to curtail our camino in Leon in 2018 and owing to a ruptured achilles and then Covid, this summer will be our first chance to complete it.
However, I still have to manage my achilles and steep uneven descents are a risk, so we thought we'd just skip Cruz de Ferro.
Is there lower walking route around or a bus for example between Rabanal del Camino and Molinaseca or would that be a taxi or would it just be easier to just get the train from Astorga to Ponferrada?
I know many think of Cruz de Ferro as a highlight but I'd rather still be able to walk on to the end.
Many thanks in advance.
Please don’t skid Crux de Ferro! It’s the highlight of the Camino. Just get a taxi down to Molinaseca at the bottom.We had to curtail our camino in Leon in 2018 and owing to a ruptured achilles and then Covid, this summer will be our first chance to complete it.
However, I still have to manage my achilles and steep uneven descents are a risk, so we thought we'd just skip Cruz de Ferro.
Is there lower walking route around or a bus for example between Rabanal del Camino and Molinaseca or would that be a taxi or would it just be easier to just get the train from Astorga to Ponferrada?
I know many think of Cruz de Ferro as a highlight but I'd rather still be able to walk on to the end.
Many thanks in advance.
Take a bus to Triacastella as you avoid O'Cebreiro (which is one of the steepest climbs over the shortest distance on the Camino) and walk to Sarria (big enough town where you can find medical assistance if need be). You might want to try using wide medical tape to tape up the foot area - unsure if this will help you but it worked for me. I recommend that you purchase some walking sticks as this can take up to 20% of the strain on the foot. Also, use the backpack forwarding service to keep the extra weight off and walk slowly, at your pace.We had to curtail our camino in Leon in 2018 and owing to a ruptured achilles and then Covid, this summer will be our first chance to complete it.
However, I still have to manage my achilles and steep uneven descents are a risk, so we thought we'd just skip Cruz de Ferro.
Is there lower walking route around or a bus for example between Rabanal del Camino and Molinaseca or would that be a taxi or would it just be easier to just get the train from Astorga to Ponferrada?
I know many think of Cruz de Ferro as a highlight but I'd rather still be able to walk on to the end.
Many thanks in advance.
Hey, newbie here, 57 years old, am doing Frances in September and planned on altras bc they fit my feet so well with wide toe box. Do you have a lot of experience hiking and if so do you think it’s doable to adapt to zero drop before I leave? I have plenty of time to trainAnd remember to make sure your footwear is suitable the walk. This current "obsession" with zero drop shoes (example Altras) is leaving many , especially older walkers with some major archilles problems.
The closest bus route I could find for this same issue just a few days ago is the Alsa from Astorga to PonferradaWe had to curtail our camino in Leon in 2018 and owing to a ruptured achilles and then Covid, this summer will be our first chance to complete it.
However, I still have to manage my achilles and steep uneven descents are a risk, so we thought we'd just skip Cruz de Ferro.
Is there lower walking route around or a bus for example between Rabanal del Camino and Molinaseca or would that be a taxi or would it just be easier to just get the train from Astorga to Ponferrada?
I know many think of Cruz de Ferro as a highlight but I'd rather still be able to walk on to the end.
Many thanks in advance.
I took a taxi from the Cruz de ferro and did the horse ride up to O Cebreiro. Loved itI would be very interested to know of one too, but I highly doubt that one exists. The Camino as we know it today is one of the few straightforward routes over the mountain. If you look at the road (that the bus takes) from Astorga to Ponferrada you will see that it goes completely around the mountain.
If a lower trail exists, I imagine it would be very long indeed.
I worry that if the climb up and down to the Cruz is difficult, you will likewise find the climb to O Cebreiro and he subsequent descent into Triacastela to be equally challenging. Apart from walking a completely different route from Ponferrada (the Camino de Invierno) your best bet might be to budget yourself several more days to spread out the difficult stretches into shorter stages.
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