Camino (early March 2012)

[crad80]

Hi Everyone,

This past May, I completed my first Camino de Santiago. I enjoyed it so much I am planning on attempting my second Camino in early of March 2012. Does anyone know the weather conditions during the month of March. When I started my Camino this year, there were patches of snow up in the higher elevations of the Pyrenees. Is the S-J-P-P to Roncesvalles segment even open in early March? I live in Los Angeles; where the weather is warm year round so I was trying to get someone's opinion about starting the Camino the first week of March. Thanks to all who made my first Camino such a memorable experience!!!! I hope to see you all again while following the "yellow arrow." Buen Camino.

 

[skilsaw]

The weather in March can vary from lovely to deadly.

Every few years, a perigrino tries to go from SJPP to Roncesvalles without checking the weather forecast, gets caught in a snow storm and dies. No Kidding.

The key is to ask the weather forecast first thing in the morning at the Camino Office. They will tell you what to expect and if there is a threat of snow, recommend you take the road route to Roncesvalles that runs through the little town of Valcarlos.

My first Camino started on the 8th of April. Snow was forecast and the recommendation was to go by the Valcarlos route which we did. We got 4 inches of wet snow and the Route Napoleon got more. Lots of people went over Route Napoleon that day. I think the path the first pilgrims made in the snow was instrumental in the other pilgrims getting through.

If you go in March, be prepared for cold, wet and muddy conditions. But don't hesitate to go. The blogs written by the "winter" pilgrims are wonderful. There is something like the historic camino in the air, and the few perigrinos are really drawn together.

 

[grayland]

I have done the Camino twice in march (starting about the 13th both times). In 2009 the pass was a problem and much snow. In 2010 we had to take the Valcarlos route as the Route Napoleon was closed the day we went over. So....early March (and later March as well) is a bit of a gamble.

We had much more rain and stormy windy weather all along the Camino in 2010 with only a few days of really hot weather. We only used our ponchos in 2009 on a couple of days near and after Sarria.

 

[jpflavin1]

Crad80:

I walked this Spring from SJPdP to Santiago. Left SJPdP on March 24th. It was a beautiful day though there was snow in the pass prior to the descent into Roncesvalles. The weather in general was very good. We only had about 4-5 rain days and it was actually very warm on the Meseta around 90 degrees. Everything was in bloom and it was quite beautiful.

I am thinking about walking again this Spring but starting in Irun (The Camino Vasco) and intersecting the Camino Frances around Santa Domingo de Calzada. There are several places on the Frances I missed and I wanted to change the route up a little. Based on what I have seen on this forum the Tunnel route seems to be sparsely traveled.

Maybe we will see each other on the trail?

Ultreya,
Joe