Descent from Alto de Perdon

[Gadflyparexcellence]

If it rains, how muddy does the descent from Alto de Perdon get? While from some of the clips on this forum the descent appears to be rocky, does it also get very muddy during rain? I heard that the mud during or following rain could be almost ankle high. If that's the case, cleaning your shoes/boots could be a real problem. Did anyone experience this problem?

 

[KinkyOne]

If it rains, how muddy does the descent from Alto de Perdon get? While from some of the clips on this forum the descent appears to be rocky, does it also get very muddy during rain? I heard that the mud during or following rain could be almost ankle high. If that's the case, cleaning your shoes/boots could be a real problem. Did anyone experience this problem?

I had luck to walk this section twice in nice (no rain) weather. But from the type of the surface I wouldn't say there should be lots of mud in case of rain, it's quite rocky. One of our forum members (can't remember his name right now) lives in Cizur Menor and I think he is the right person to answer this.

Ultreia!

 

[koilife]

It wasn't so much a mud bath as a stream (slight exaggeration there) with mud-slicked rocks (no exaggeration here). I was glad to have poles, and I hugged the sides of the trail.

 

[Al the optimist]

At the start of May 2013 it was very slippery in places with running water as well. I don't remember it as being especially muddy though ( not like the Rioja was that spring). Wet or dry though I find it a challenging descent and I am glad when it is over.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

If it rains, how muddy does the descent from Alto de Perdon get? While from some of the clips on this forum the descent appears to be rocky, does it also get very muddy during rain? I heard that the mud during or following rain could be almost ankle high. If that's the case, cleaning your shoes/boots could be a real problem. Did anyone experience this problem?

When I walked that stretch last year it was very hot, I was very glad when I enter the town. First thing what I did was to drink a nice cool beer.
Wish you well and a Buen Camino, Peter.

 

[november_moon]

If the trail is very slick, you can choose to walk along the road instead - this is the route that the cyclists take.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

And don't wander off behind the scrubby trees - that ain't no mud bro!

 

[Gadflyparexcellence]

Thanks to all of you for your feedback. Very reassuring. Perhaps this happens to those who're about to go on their first Camino walk. Your imagination runs wild and you conjure up so many scenarios that turn out to be simply remote and trivial.

 

[grayland]

In January of this year there was about 18" of snow on it. The locals were sledding down the top part.
Pretty tough going as the big rocks were not visible.

 

[Dutchwalk53]

Last May it was dry and even though I took my time.....I didn't find it too hard ....Probably a different story when it rains !

 

[Icacos]

It was the constant stepping on the loose stones that I found so taxing. Despite my good boots and cushiony inner soles, the soles of my feet were never so sore as they were when I finished that descent. Other than that, the Alto de Perdon was a great climb and a great descent.

 

[MaryLynn]

I walked from Pamplona to Burgos last July, took the train back to Pamplona and walked to Estella where I would be working at an albergue. My only concern was walking down from the Alto de Perdon in wet weather. The first time down was dry and fine - but slow-going with the rocks and loose stones. On my second time down, two weeks later, it had rained during the night and into the morning and I was worried about the descent...but it wasn't bad at all. I still had to very carefully pick my way down on the narrow path amid the rocks, but it wasn't as difficult as I had expected. You never know!

 

[Albertagirl]

I can remember going up to the Alto del Perdon last fall, but I have no memory of going down. Going up was easy, and I was looking forward to the sculptures on the heights and the new view at the top. Going down was simply not memorable - no challenges at all. It was dry that morning and I walk with boots and a walking stick which are more than adequate for ordinary challenges of the trail. I see from the above posts that some people have had challenges in bad weather or on a wet or muddy trail. So far, that has not been my experience. Perhaps that is one place where boots are particularly suitable footwear. Choose boots or shoes that work best for you and keep in mind that whatever you choose may not be ideal for particular sections. My boots can be heavy going on pavement. Buen camino.

 

[november_moon]

I remember that decent vividly. It was a dry day, but there were sections with small, round rocks and loose shale that made the going kind of tough. Even with poles and good boots, I was slipping and sliding, ended up on my butt a couple times. At one point, I looked up to admire the view, took a wrong step, and twisted my ankle. I was super sore the next day. I do a lot of hiking, but shale has always been my arch nemisis.

 

[mspath]

Check out this earlier Forum thread re the possible perils of mud,etc. on the Alto de Perdon.
Do indeed watch your feet!

 

[Pabloke]

Don't bother cleaning your boots, you'll find tons of mud this year.

 

[CaminoRay]

Walked it in the rain September 2015, wet and slippery on the way up but I made it. I took it extra slow on the descent with no problems. Just remember to take your time coming down.

 

[Bajaracer]

And don't wander off behind the scrubby trees - that ain't no mud bro!

You mean the places you think would be a good place to camp out?