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I would be remiss if I didn’t say how much I loved the Primitivo. I wasn’t paying attention to infrastructure re gluten free but just as a Camino it was my favorite. I’d suggest start on CF and if it’s too crowded (I’d be surprised at that in March) change to the Primitivo. There are easy places all along the Frances to do that by train or bus or a combination of those (and in some spots to change by foot). Or change just because…have I mentioned how beautiful it is?switching to the primitivo
The Valcarlos route is open and people have posted some spectacular pictures of that route. In bad weather it’s better not only for safety but because in bad weather there are no good views on Napoleon. And as @SabineP mentioned, if the weather looks too bad for SJPdP or Roncesvalles then there’s always Pamplona.Napoleon opening at the end of the month.
Yes, you are probably overestimating the struggle, but the Napoleon route is closed until the end of March, so you would need to take the Valcarlos route. As others have suggested, you can always change your mind at the last minute - for example if the weather is bad - and start in Roncesvalles.As an Irishman I'm used to walking in cold, wet, humid weather but have no experience in high mountains and heavy snow. Am I overestimating how much of struggle it would be to start from SJPdP?
Regarding the mountain pass on the Camino de Madrid (Puerto de la Fuenfría) that @C clearly mentioned, we had snow in April 2019 the day after we crossed it and people behind us had to take transport in the following days. For this reason and others, I think the Francés makes more sense in your situation.@SabineP My reason for starting at Zaragoza was that I got the impression that March was still too early for crossing the Pyrenees, something about Napoleon opening at the end of the month.
@Marc S. Thanks for that it's what I was hoping for, do you know what the albergue situation is like on the Argonese?
Hi everyone
First of all, thanks for the body of knowledge you've build up over the years, it's been very helpful.
I'm planning my first camino, and the default recommendation (taste in geography aside) for a long camino seems to be the Frances (from Zaragoza with Finisterre). But I notice that many here are also exasperated with the ever increasing crowds on it (which I want to avoid mainly for the scramble for accommodation), and I think I gather that it's more expensive for accommodation than others.
I also noticed that quite a few people here like or would like to try the Madrid camino, which seems to have good infrastructure for the small numbers who currently walk it.
Since these two have ~30% of their lengths in common, my current thinking is to do the Madrid camino (using one of the itineraries from here) to get the more solitary reflective experience, then have the latter stage of the CF for the more communal experience, with the option of switching to the primitivo (weather permitting) if it's too crowded.
But is the Madrid camino appropriate? I'm a coeliac (strict gluten-free, but otherwise fit) and I'm concerned about not having the safety net of the infrastructure of the CF. Is the CF a lot or a little quieter in March?
Of course if you've got a better idea, let me know! I've also considered the Norte and VdlP but they seem expensive, please set me right on this if it isn't true. (Expensive meaning the costs of albergues and food). I get the impression that the Portuguese one has similar crowding issues and with fewer options between Lisbon and Porto.
Thanks for any and all help and ideas
I crossed the mountain early April and there was a foot of snow for 5k. I just walked in my hiking shoes but it really slowed me down. There are picture in a Madrid thread from 2016.Thanks all again for the advice;
@MarianneGardner I do like a quiet walk but it's mainly the infrastructure I'm concerned about, and the availability of gluten free food. I have looked into the others (except the cid, never heard of that one) and they all seem to sparse albergues, which I would prefer to stay in to keep costs down. Is this accurate?
@jpflavin1 Yes I was concerned about the pent-up walkers too, that and the yearly increases of traffic on the CF were my main reasons for looking elsewhere. How dangerous is the snow walking in spring in the CdM mountain pass? I have some experience walking in icy weather but not snowfall. Does it require special gear other than normal winter hiking clothes? Any tips on spring hiking would be helpful
@Jenny@zen Thanks, I'll keep that in mind
@jsalt the Portuguese was actually the first one I read up on, I ended up moving away from it because I wanted a ~1 month camino and the lisbon-porto section was described as having fewer albergues and not great scenery.
Are you looking for a route where you will meet people? Do you speak Spanish?That's generally what I wear too, sounds good.
To be completely honest, I accept everything everyone says here about the benefits of the CF; but while my head is with you all my heart is on a quieter dirt track.
I think my issue with the CF (maybe there's some anti-hype going on) is that it feels a bit too safe. While I always have to work with the coeliac thing, I'm also a semi-experienced hiker; I've done a number of 30 km single day hikes over semi-mountainous terrain in winter and do a 15-20 km walk most days (I'm in my 20s), and the amount of pavement on the CF plus the sort of package holiday feel of it (which I could be being completely unfair about) just doesn't seem like an adventure/journey/test to me. Sorry if this seems like I'm dismissing the advice here, I'm not, I just feel like after some reflection I'm not being honest with myself about the kind of camino I'd like to do if I do the CF.
Something I forgot to mention is that my local airport has a direct flight to Malaga but nowhere else in mainland Europe. This makes it much easier to start the CdM or VdLP (maybe with the Via August/Serrana too) than the others. I was thinking if I did the VdlP as far as Caceres, then switched to Madrid I would be more likely to avoid the snow in Segovia problem. Or I could just do the VdlP; I think the Mozarbe from Malaga is too much.
What is the VdM like compared to the VdLP? Am I being unfair to the CF?
This is completely fair. Hopefully, reading the various opinions and suggestions has helped you evaluate what you are seeking, and also help with expectations and preparation.Sorry if this seems like I'm dismissing the advice here, I'm not, I just feel like after some reflection I'm not being honest with myself about the kind of camino I'd like to do if I do the CF.
It's very easy to post a link to another thread. When you are on the other thread simply copy the URL (page address) from the search bar at the top of your browser, then paste it into your comments, et voila!As you mentioned the Via de La Plata as a possibility - some information that may be useful - there is a very good and detailed Virtual Planning thread on the site -courtesy of @AJGuillaume and others - sorry that I'm not sure how to send you to that link directly - (I'd love to know!) - but you can find it on the Home Page of the forum under the area that lists the various routes.
Yikes, of course that's how I would from any website. Thank you. Is there such a thing as 'lockdown brain'.It's very easy to post a link to another thread. When you are on the other thread simply copy the URL (page address) from the search bar at the top of your browser, then paste it into your comments, et voila!
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