descent from Col de Lepoeder

dalstonmarra · Jan 31, 2015

I have noted the concerns of many Pilgrims about the descent from Col de Lepoeder.I am assuming that the ground in mid April will not be too stable.
Being one with suspect knees I was wondering how sustained the difficulty,and what distance has to be walked before the descent eases to a reasonable gradient.
I know there is the alternative descent by road to Ibaneta

Al the optimist · Jan 31, 2015

Don't even think of the forest route! Even taking the road route stop frequently to give your knees a break. Zigzag if necessary. The walk through the leaves can be tiring if muddy. There are many views on this but I fall into the two stick fraternity. Good Luck

Deleted member 3000 · Jan 31, 2015

It is about 4km from the col to Roncesvalles. There is a bit of a break about 2/3 of the way, then the descent steepens again.

SYates · Jan 31, 2015

I personally wouldn't take the forest road in mid-April. Buen Camino, SY

dalstonmarra · Jan 31, 2015

thanks to those of you who answered my query.

Icacos · Jan 31, 2015

Thank you also for this information, but could we be more specific. The Route Napoleon was closed due to snow when I went through (early April) so I had to take the Valcarlos route, but I still would like to walk the Napoleon some time. My understanding is that after the col, there are two options, one to the right and one to the left. Which exactly is the forest road?

Anemone del Camino · Jan 31, 2015

Icacos said:
Thank you also for this information, but could we be more specific. The Route Napoleon was closed due to snow when I went through (early April) so I had to take the Valcarlos route, but I still would like to walk the Napoleon some time. My understanding is that after the col, there are two options, one to the right and one to the left. Which exactly is the forest road?

If memory serves me right, forest to the right. Beautiful, but in April would be very slippery in my opinion.

Icacos · Jan 31, 2015

Anemone del Camino said:
If memory serves me right, forest to the right. Beautiful, but in April would be very slippery in my opinion.

Thank you. What I'd really like to know is how the forest section in April between the Col and Roncesvalles compares with the descent from Roncesvalles to Zubiri, in similar conditions. When I walked the latter in early April, the combination of snow and mud over those sleek rocks made for a very 'interesting' and challenging trek. Fortunately I was relatively fit when I did it but, even so, I can't stress enough how invaluable my poles were that day. I've read that the forest between the Col and Roncesvalles is very beautiful and I'd like to walk it some day, but folks generally advise against it because of the risk of injury. I'm usually up for a challenge; the trick always is deciding where challenge ends and stupidity begins.

ranthr · Jan 31, 2015

Anemone del Camino said:
If memory serves me right, forest to the right. Beautiful, but in April would be very slippery in my opinion.

The best is to follow the road from the top. The path through the forest crosses the road after a short stage, then the path through the forest goes left and the road down to the Ibaneta chapel goes right.

C clearly · Jan 31, 2015

Anemone del Camino said:
If memory serves me right, forest to the right. Beautiful, but in April would be very slippery in my opinion.

I'm not sure that is correct. I thought the "safer" route went to the right, which I did. Two poles are very helpful at that point.

dalstonmarra · Jan 31, 2015

C clearly said:
I'm not sure that is correct. I thought the "safer" route went to the right, which I did. Two poles are very helpful at that point.

That's also my understanding of the options,left following the path and right for the road and never the twain shall meet.

norelle · Jan 31, 2015

In April 2011 I missed the turn to the right and went through the forest. I went slowly, the weather was fine and it was a beautiful walk.

I wasn't the only one to miss the turn that day! Keep a careful eye out for the road if that's the way you want to go.

buen camino

tpmchugh · Jan 31, 2015

dalstonmarra said:
I have noted the concerns of many Pilgrims about the descent from Col de Lepoeder.I am assuming that the ground in mid April will not be too stable.
Being one with suspect knees I was wondering how sustained the difficulty,and what distance has to be walked before the descent eases to a reasonable gradient.
I know there is the alternative descent by road to Ibaneta

I have already decided to take the alternative route, its only an extra 1km. I read some advice just today to never ever attempt it during or after wet weather. As we are both starting the same day in April I think we can reasonably assume the ground will be wet. One way or another if not in Orisson, will meet you in Roncesvalles be it Route Napolean or Valcarlos, Buen Camino

AJ · Jan 31, 2015

SYates said:
I personally wouldn't take the forest road in mid-April. Buen Camino, SY

Neither would I.

KiwiNomad06 · Feb 1, 2015

The road is to the right. At the pilgrim office in SJPP they give out a map that gives the options for getting to Roncesvalles, and they show the road going to the right. It is only about 1km longer I think than taking the forest path.
Margaret

Anniesantiago · Feb 1, 2015

Imagine a very steep hill.
Like, walk down 20 feet and you're eye level with the place you began.
Now imagine that hill covered with ice.
Now imagine that ice-covered hill covered with the most slippery snot you can imagine.
Now imagine that ice-covered, snotty hill, also covered with a layer of slippery, rotting, wet leaves.
And then consider the number of kilometers you will be walking down that hill.
Now imagine trying to walk down that hill with a 15-20 pound pack on your back.
And that's in May after a rain.

I've never taken the road; always have taken the trail, but wished I'd taken the road a time or two.
One time, we met up with a older Brazilian woman who was crying and having a horrible time, it was so dangerously slippery. Luckily I speak a bit of Portuguese - and asked could she use some help?
Bless Joe's heart, he put her pack on his front (and it was a BIG pack) and carried both packs down to Roncesvalles.
I gave her my pacer poles, and prayed all the way down.
We made new friends that day.

If you DO take the trail and it's been raining, don't do it without poles.

dalstonmarra · Feb 1, 2015

Anniesantiago said:
Imagine a very steep hill.
Like, walk down 20 feet and you're eye level with the place you began.
Now imagine that hill covered with ice.
Now imagine that ice-covered hill covered with the most slippery snot you can imagine.
Now imagine that ice-covered, snotty hill, also covered with a layer of slippery, rotting, wet leaves.
And then consider the number of kilometers you will be walking down that hill.
Now imagine trying to walk down that hill with a 15-20 pound pack on your back.
And that's in May after a rain.

I've never taken the road; always have taken the trail, but wished I'd taken the road a time or two.
One time, we met up with a older Brazilian woman who was crying and having a horrible time, it was so dangerously slippery. Luckily I speak a bit of Portuguese - and asked could she use some help?
Bless Joe's heart, he put her pack on his front (and it was a BIG pack) and carried both packs down to Roncesvalles.
I gave her my pacer poles, and prayed all the way down.
We made new friends that day.

If you DO take the trail and it's been raining, don't do it without poles.

thank you for those words of warning.

dalstonmarra · Feb 1, 2015

Let him who has earned it, bear the reward

Icacos · Feb 1, 2015

Anniesantiago said:
Imagine a very steep hill.
Like, walk down 20 feet and you're eye level with the place you began.
Now imagine that hill covered with ice.
Now imagine that ice-covered hill covered with the most slippery snot you can imagine.
Now imagine that ice-covered, snotty hill, also covered with a layer of slippery, rotting, wet leaves.
And then consider the number of kilometers you will be walking down that hill.
Now imagine trying to walk down that hill with a 15-20 pound pack on your back.
And that's in May after a rain.

I've never taken the road; always have taken the trail, but wished I'd taken the road a time or two.
One time, we met up with a older Brazilian woman who was crying and having a horrible time, it was so dangerously slippery. Luckily I speak a bit of Portuguese - and asked could she use some help?
Bless Joe's heart, he put her pack on his front (and it was a BIG pack) and carried both packs down to Roncesvalles.
I gave her my pacer poles, and prayed all the way down.
We made new friends that day.

If you DO take the trail and it's been raining, don't do it without poles.

Thank you, @Anniesantiago. This gives me a clearer idea of what that track entails.

cher99840 · Feb 1, 2015

I missed the road turn off in pouring rain. I fell flat on my back and was glad that I was protected by having a nice full pack to land on. My only "injury" was a bruise on the underside of my forearm that made contact with a stone when I went down. I witnessed a lady less fortunate who fell forward instead of backward and was bleeding profusely from a cut on her forehead. Upon finally reaching Roncevalles one of my cubicle mates had a muddy backside very similar to mine and he said he had also fallen flat on his back and had been protected by his pack. Still, a good time was had by all

SYates · Feb 1, 2015

cher99840 said:
... I fell flat on my back ... My only "injury" was a bruise on the underside of my forearm that made contact with a stone when I went down. I witnessed a lady less fortunate who fell forward instead of backward and was bleeding profusely from a cut on her forehead. ... one of my cubicle mates had a muddy backside very similar to mine and he said he had also fallen flat on his back and had been protected by his pack. Still, a good time was had by all

True pilgrim spirit all around there! Buen Camino! SY

ranthr · Feb 1, 2015

This is why I say take the road all the way from the top: I think the path at the top takes to the right of the way, like Anemone said, and crosses the road further down. There you have to take to the right to get on the road. I have walked the road twice, but the time I walked through the forest it was a very dense fog so I did not notice the road when I crossed it. The path was a hell! Stick to the road from the top all the way down to Ibaneta even if there are marked some shorts further down on the road. From Ibaneta there is a nice marked path to the left down to Roncesvalles. Nice walk through the wood.

susanawee · Feb 4, 2015

dalstonmarra said:
I have noted the concerns of many Pilgrims about the descent from Col de Lepoeder.I am assuming that the ground in mid April will not be too stable.
Being one with suspect knees I was wondering how sustained the difficulty,and what distance has to be walked before the descent eases to a reasonable gradient.
I know there is the alternative descent by road to Ibaneta

I took the forest path last April - yes, it WAS muddy and slippery in places, but, if you walk with care, it is a really beautiful pathway. In MHO, the steep, slippery and muddy path down to Zubiri was much, much worse and I did slip a few times on this one - that is where I damaged my Achilles tendon.

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