camino via de la plata starting from sevilla in february, 20

[piogaw]

a happy and prosperous new year to everybody.
i will be walking el camino de la plata hopefully starting the first week of february from sevilla with rest days in sevilla, caceres, salamanca, zamora and ourense. i will be coming from london and have no time limitation.
i have noticed quite a few of my fellows peligrinos/peligrinas have walked this route in the winter time. i will appreciate any advice, guidance, recommendations from anyone of you. i am more worry about the terrain and the elements. i would be very interested as to what to bring in terms of clothing and equipment as i want to keep the weight of my backpack to a minimum without freezing during my walk. i know walking in the spring is not the same as walking in the winter. i am especially as to albergues that are closed dowm during this time. i am budgeting 6 weeks of walking, not counting the rest days. also, what to pack for the walk in the winter.
a little bit about myself. i live in london and am retired. i am 69 and in good health. i have never walked the el camino in the winter time. however, i have walked the el camino frances this past may/june from st jean pied de port to santiago de compostela in 31 days.
thank you all in advance. god bless, pio.

 

[viajero]

I walked from Sevilla last year starting in late February. For warmth I brought a fleece jacket and a very light weight long sleeved wool shirt. I also had silk long underwear. I may have brought a lightweight wool hat but I don't remember having to use it. I brought a very lightweight rain jacket. I kept my pack to between 6-7 kg. As it turned out, for the most part it was unseasonably warm while I was there. I don't recall being cold while walking but in the evenings at the albergues it was often very cold (little to no heat). I had very little rain. It did not rain at all until I got to Salamanca and then only a day or two. It is good that you have unlimited time. I had a pretty tight schedule so I couldn't take any rest days which I would have enjoyed. I loved this camino but it was a rather tough one for me.

 

[hotelmedicis]

I'll be doing the VDLP in February as well. No time limit either. I'm planning on bringing waterproof clothing head to toe including gore-tex boots and even a pair of Sealskinz waterproof socks just in case. I think in the north and in the mountains rain and wind will be inevitable. Insulation will be long underwear, fleece and a down jacket to wear under the Gore-Tex shell. I've read reports of people in snowstorms on the VDLP in winter.

 

[Davroos]

I rode this in April, and Spain had a very late winter last year. It was very warm down south, but by halfway, it was cold, we had snow, sleet, hail and rain !!!

Be prepared !!!