Camino Norte

[andralynn]

Hi fellow pilgrims, Andra from California here. I will be starting my journey from San Sebastián May 27th. Does anyone know how difficult the terrain is on the Norte? I’ve been looking at maps and reading the guidebook but that is not quite like hearing from someone who has walked it. I’m 70 years old but in reasonably good shape.

 

[Ozrob]

Brutal - just done Irun to Pobena. Brutal

 

[andralynn]

Brutal - just done Irun to Pobena. Brutal

Brutal in what ways

 

[Ozrob]

Very long and steep ascents and descents and the path is unforgiving - extremely rocky and bumpy with tree routes and other obstacles. I normally average about 5.5ks an hour. But on this terrain i was reduced to much less. But its stunning. It was just very hard for me as most of my training was on relatively flat land. After 2 days i posted 2 kilos of stuff home to reduce my pack weight.

 

[Marc S.]

Agree with Ozrob here. Irun-Bilbao is tough, because of its ascending and descending. However, after Bilbao, it gets easier - almost feels like a walk in the park. Some say that the Norte entails more walking on tarmac (as compared to the Frances) but I did not really notice this. It's beautiful camino which I plan to walk again some day.

 

[andralynn]

Agree with Ozrob here. Irun-Bilbao is tough, because of its ascending and descending. However, after Bilbao, it gets easier - almost feels like a walk in the park. Some say that the Norte entails more walking on tarmac (as compared to the Frances) but I did not really notice this. It's beautiful camino which I plan to walk again some day.

I am starting in San Sebastian and planning to walk to Bilbao and then take a bus or train to Burgos. I am certainly not opposed to taking a bus or whatever to detour "brutal" areas. I'm not out to injure myself. I have been training on a "small" mountain, four miles a day with a loaded backpack AND I have poles.

 

[Ozrob]

Poles essential

 

[Lunchmeat337]

Wife and I arrived in San Sebastian at 16:00 after leaving Irun at 06:00 Sunday morning. The weather was perfect. The walk was really difficult after leaving Pasajes. Poles helped a lot. I wouldn't do it again, however, we are in our 70s and fit. Just a very long day!

 

[andralynn]

Wife and I arrived in San Sebastian at 16:00 after leaving Irun at 06:00 Sunday morning. The weather was perfect. The walk was really difficult after leaving Pasajes. Poles helped a lot. I wouldn't do it again, however, we are in our 70s and fit. Just a very long day!

Knowing you are the same age as me is encouraging. I keep telling myself that I have nothing to prove. This journey is about facing my fears so just leaving home and trekking in a foreign country is a win for me. Having said that I am looking forward to the challenge and meeting exceptional people along the way and maybe making some lifelong friends. It has amazed me how people have “just shown up in my life” that have walked the Camino or dreamed of walking the Camino since I made up mind to do it. That has been the beginning of the miracles to come.
Buen Camino Fellow Pilgrims