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When in September will you be starting? IIRC the peak is in the first half of September - very much concentrated on the last 100k into Santiago. Allowing 27 days, or so, for the route you’re still going to encounter the congestion at some point.Hello sojourners.
I want to walk CF to Santiago in September 2023. With all the pilgrim congestion and uncertainty about albergues/boarding originating in SJPdP, does it make sense to start CF in Santiago de Compostela and walk east on the CF. This is not a religious Way of St. James pilgrimage for me, so I'm looking for practical information about logistics and actual trekking. Thank you!
Honestly, for actual trekking, you should pick another route entirely. Sure, you can enjoy the same views and cultural sites, but...does it make sense to start CF in Santiago de Compostela and walk east on the CF. This is not a religious Way of St. James pilgrimage for me, so I'm looking for practical information about logistics and actual trekking.
great explanation, thank you.Well, s
Honestly, for actual trekking, you should pick another route entirely. Sure, you can enjoy the same views and cultural sites, but...
For pilgrim congestion, it might be the same even if you are going backwards - the beds will be occupied anyway, depending on the timing of the bubble from SJPP and your trip. You will be constantly explaining that you are going backwards. You won't enjoy the camaraderie of walking/eating with new friends. You will regularly get confused, trying to follow arrows by looking backwards. You won't even have the satisfaction of returning from a pilgrimage.
So, no, it doesn't make sense to me, at least for the reasons you gave. However, if you want to know about variations of the route TO Santiago, that will alleviate the crowding problem, just ask!
great explanation, thank you.
hi henrythedog, Is there a route you might suggest?When in September will you be starting? IIRC the peak is in the first half of September - very much concentrated on the last 100k into Santiago. Allowing 27 days, or so, for the route you’re still going to encounter the congestion at some point.
Have you considered one of the many less popular routes?
great explanation, thank you.
What variations would you suggest? Thank you.Well, s
Honestly, for actual trekking, you should pick another route entirely. Sure, you can enjoy the same views and cultural sites, but...
For pilgrim congestion, it might be the same even if you are going backwards - the beds will be occupied anyway, depending on the timing of the bubble from SJPP and your trip. You will be constantly explaining that you are going backwards. You won't enjoy the camaraderie of walking/eating with new friends. You will regularly get confused, trying to follow arrows by looking backwards. You won't even have the satisfaction of returning from a pilgrimage.
So, no, it doesn't make sense to me, at least for the reasons you gave. However, if you want to know about variations of the route TO Santiago, that will alleviate the crowding problem, just ask!
I think that the peak that you are talking about is from SJPdP. The peak for arrivals to Santiago would be in July or August.When in September will you be starting? IIRC the peak is in the first half of September - very much concentrated on the last 100k into Santiago
Thank you for your reply. Trekking is my reason for CF.You need to give us something to work with!
What has attracted you to the Camino, and what do you want from the journey? (The trekking alone wouldn't bring you to the camino.) Do you have preferences for starting point, end point, type of accommodation, daily distances, company, type of terrain, cultural interests, etc? Do you speak Spanish?
This is not a religious Way of St. James pilgrimage for me, so I'm looking for practical information about logistics and actual trekking.
My concern might seem philosophical, but its impact is logistical. You are clearly not walking as a pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago, so I presume you don't intend to use albergue accommodation reserved solely for pilgrims, or carry a credencial for that matter.Trekking is my reason for CF.
If "trekking" means walking in the wilderness, then the CF is not a good choice. Maybe look into hiking routes in the Picos de Europa, if you want mountains, or other GR routes if you are interested in the very different types of terrain that can be found in Spain.Trekking is my reason for CF
Certainly there are other routes, but I do recall seeing the GR markings at various stages along the CF, and in Spain, the E3 European long distance path follows the alignment of the CF. Pilgrims have no monopoly over these paths, and sharing them with others is part of the pilgrim experience. That might vary from a few local cyclists out for a weekend ride, recreational walkers to someone walking from Cabo de Sao Vincente or Cadiz through to Istanbul on the E3.If "trekking" means walking in the wilderness, then the CF is not a good choice. Maybe look into hiking routes in the Picos de Europa, if you want mountains, or other GR routes if you are interested in the very different types of terrain that can be found in Spain.
The Portuguese has pretty good infrastructure, and a couple of variants. Much quieter than the Frances.hi henrythedog, Is there a route you might suggest?
I personally find the idea of a Camino backwards very exciting. And next year I actually might do the Inglés backwards.Hello sojourners.
I want to walk CF to Santiago in September 2023. With all the pilgrim congestion and uncertainty about albergues/boarding originating in SJPdP, does it make sense to start CF in Santiago de Compostela and walk east on the CF. This is not a religious Way of St. James pilgrimage for me, so I'm looking for practical information about logistics and actual trekking. Thank you!
I haven't walked the Camino Frances backwards, but I did walk the Camino del Ebro backwards, starting in Logrono and ending in Barcelona. There are arrows to help you since this is actually part of the long Camino Ignaziano, which starts in Loyola and ends in Manresa. The arrows are red.When in September will you be starting? IIRC the peak is in the first half of September - very much concentrated on the last 100k into Santiago. Allowing 27 days, or so, for the route you’re still going to encounter the congestion at some point.
Have you considered one of the many less popular routes?
We plan to walk the Camino Inglés backwards to A Coruña this fall as part of a pilgrimage starting in Gibraltar and walking the Camino Serrana, and Via de la Plata/Camino Sanabrés to SdC. We're thinking of the last portion as an alternative to walking the Camino Finisterre to the coast, which we did on our last pilgrimage and greatly enjoyed. We'll be happy to post our experiences and the pros and cons.I personally find the idea of a Camino backwards very exciting. And next year I actually might do the Inglés backwards.
However, keep in mind that
So I would not enjoy all that for a very long time I suppose ...
- If you meet interesting people, you will never meet them again as they are going the opposite way. A part of the Camino experience is that you meet people more than once and you for a kind of loose bond. I myself never experienced a real Camino family (people at the same pace as you) as I am a rather fast walker. But it is fun still to meet people again after you took a day off. Or I remember that old Scotsman, who did between 35 and 45 k every day. Met him often and it was sometimes like a race with him which we both enjoyed.
- Also you will miss the walk-and-talk ... walking together with someone for 5 minutes, 20 minutes or even hours and adjusting to their speed while having a conversation, sometimes concluded with lunch or dinner together.
- When you walk the same direction as everyone else, you can, by choice of when you walk each day, decide to walk mainly on the crest of the wave, with many people around you, or in the through, in between two waves, where you can enjoy at least some solitude even during the busiest times of the year. If you walk it backwards in contrary, you will cut through all those waves and you will see many more people. In fact you will walk past everyone who does the Camino the same time you do it – not just those that started around when you did it.
- Not to forget, signs and markings are mainly placed that you see them easily when you walk with the flow, not against it.
This is exactly my plan for early 2024We plan to walk the Camino Inglés backwards to A Coruña this fall as part of a pilgrimage starting in Gibraltar and walking the Camino Serrana, and Via de la Plata/Camino Sanabrés to SdC. We're thinking of the last portion as an alternative to walking the Camino Finisterre to the coast, which we did on our last pilgrimage and greatly enjoyed. We'll be happy to post our experiences and the pros and cons.
I agree on the concept of seeing every single pilgrim walking the opposite direction, and hence having a much "busier" experience on the trail, which is a bit worrisome. We'll be walking the Camino Inglés the second week of November, so pilgrim numbers should be down substantially. And we'll be walking with a friend we're meeting in SdC, so we'll have some company on that part of the journey. I anticipate it to be a very wet walk in November.
I like your plan better than ours! We initially intended to be walking it now, with cooler temperatures in the south and gradually warming heading north. Life just got in the way this Spring, so we'll do a fall trip. It will be warm in September in Andalucia!This is exactly my plan for early 2024
Please share your experience!
Great place to stay.Montserrat is the high point, and you can stay as a pilgrim in the monastery for only 6 euros and get a voucher for a pilgrim's meal at the mega expensive hotel next door.
After a long day's uphill walk that started even before Igualada, we simply HAD to have a beer. Fortunately, they were for sale at the Quickie Mart or whatever it is called there.Great place to stay.
Only downside: the bar doesn’t open until after vespers!
Yes, enjoyed it immensely in 2017, it was like walking the Camino I'd never seen before.Hello sojourners.
I want to walk CF to Santiago in September 2023. With all the pilgrim congestion and uncertainty about albergues/boarding originating in SJPdP, does it make sense to start CF in Santiago de Compostela and walk east on the CF. This is not a religious Way of St. James pilgrimage for me, so I'm looking for practical information about logistics and actual trekking. Thank you!
I would enjoy all the pilgrims and travelers whether I go east or west.Would also be interested to hear eastbound experiences; but if travelling solo it is good to meet up with others on a regular basis and share stories. It is good to meet up with someone a few days later and is fascinating to hear their experiences.
If you do that, you will come to intersections where an arrow tells you where you came from but doesn't tell you which of the other roads/trails is the Camino. If you don't have a map, you may have to stand there a little while until you see where the "regular" pilgrims are coming from. Fortunately on a day when there wasn't much traffic, I came along in time to direct a Korean peregrina who was biking eastward.start CF in Santiago de Compostela and walk east on the CF. This is not a religious Way of St. James pilgrimage for me, so I'm looking for practical information about logistics and actual trekking. Thank you!
With a gps app that shows the Camino route this shouldn't be a problem.If you do that, you will come to intersections where an arrow tells you where you came from but doesn't tell you which of the other roads/trails is the Camino. If you don't have a map, you may have to stand there a little while until you see where the "regular" pilgrims are coming from
Hello sojourners.
I want to walk CF to Santiago in September 2023. With all the pilgrim congestion and uncertainty about albergues/boarding originating in SJPdP, does it make sense to start CF in Santiago de Compostela and walk east on the CF. This is not a religious Way of St. James pilgrimage for me, so I'm looking for practical information about logistics and actual trekking. Thank you!
I see. Thank you.Not really, the route is somewhat uni directional and you wouldn't qualify for the pilgrim accommodation if you hadn't walked to Santiago in the first place. Why not walk on one of the many other routes available, and enjoy a secular experience on a GR. The coast to coast GR10 might be a good one for you.
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