Camino del Norte in June

[Dorian Gray]

Hello, just saying hi! Planning on walking del Norte starting mid to late June with two people I met last year on the Frances. From looking at the elevation on the first day, I imagine it's going to be a lot like crossing the Pyrenees from SJPdP: a hell of a way to start the first day!

 

[trecile]

Hello, just saying hi! Planning on walking del Norte starting mid to late June with two people I met last year on the Frances. From looking at the elevation on the first day, I imagine it's going to be a lot like crossing the Pyrenees from SJPdP: a hell of a way to start the first day!

The first week is like crossing the Pyrenees every day - but with more ups and downs.

 

[Dorian Gray]

The first week is like crossing the Pyrenees every day - but with more ups and downs.

Even better! That said, despite how difficult it was, crossing the Pyrenees was probably one of my favourite days on the Camino.

 

[LTfit]

Hello, just saying hi! Planning on walking del Norte starting mid to late June with two people I met last year on the Frances. From looking at the elevation on the first day, I imagine it's going to be a lot like crossing the Pyrenees from SJPdP: a hell of a way to start the first day!

I've done the Norte twice and would not compare the first day with SJPP to Roncesvalles which I have also done twice. There are ups and downs most everyday but not long. I personally don't understand when people say how hard it is. The biggest problem on the Norte is all the asphalt, especially in Cantábrica.

 

[Dorian Gray]

I've done the Norte twice and would not compare the first day with SJPP to Roncesvalles which I have also done twice. There are ups and downs most everyday but not long. I personally don't understand when people say how hard it is. The biggest problem on the Norte is all the asphalt, especially in Cantábrica.

Well that's good. The first part about it not being as bad, not the asphalt part. Much like last year, I'm going to have to ease my way in the first week not having kept up with walking, so not having it be terrible in the beginning will be nice.

Is it actually walking on the asphalt the entire time or are there non-asphalt shoulders to walk on next to it?

 

[nathanael]

Hello, just saying hi! Planning on walking del Norte starting mid to late June with two people I met last year on the Frances. From looking at the elevation on the first day, I imagine it's going to be a lot like crossing the Pyrenees from SJPdP: a hell of a way to start the first day!

In regards to the steep uphill the first time I did this Camino I walked with an Italian and we didn't do the steep upclimb the second time I did it on my own I did the stairs and it was a bit hard for me . How can one bypass this with taking a bus.

 

[LTfit]

Well that's good. The first part about it not being as bad, not the asphalt part. Much like last year, I'm going to have to ease my way in the first week not having kept up with walking, so not having it be terrible in the beginning will be nice.

Is it actually walking on the asphalt the entire time or are there non-asphalt shoulders to walk on next to it?

Sometimes this is possible but not always. My suggestion is not to wear hiking boots. I personally wear trail runners which are light and are not so hard on the joints. I was also glad I did so on the Portuguese coastal and interior routes where setts (that's the term for those cobblestones in Portugal) can do you in.

 

[Phoenix]

If you want a great visualization of the first week of the Norte, check out the vlog series by Efrén Gonzalez on YouTube. It helped me a great deal to see it in such detail before making the decision to walk the Norte next summer.

 

[lt56ny]

Even better! That said, despite how difficult it was, crossing the Pyrenees was probably one of my favourite days on the Camino.

Well imagine a week or more of that type of walking and instead of the Pyrenees you look to the sea.

 

[trecile]

Well imagine a week or more of that type of walking and instead of the Pyrenees you look to the sea.

On the Norte whenever you come to a fork in the road you can be sure that the correct path is uphill.