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Sound advice, that last section is what killed me.I walked that section in January when there was some ice and snow around. Too risky on the rough rocks for my liking. I walked down the road for the last 5km or so from Riego de Ambros. Quite spectacular in its own right. Do try to wear something high-vis (rucksack cover or vest) if you do that to make yourself more obvious to traffic.
I walked the CF in 2022 and found the descent into Molinaseca after Alto Altar extremely challenging - in fact, it nearly broke me. On 5 May I return for my 2nd CF and would like to know how others tackled this descent. Are there alternative ways down?
You asked about how this descent has been tackled...I walked the CF in 2022 and found the descent into Molinaseca after Alto Altar extremely challenging - in fact, it nearly broke me. On 5 May I return for my 2nd CF and would like to know how others tackled this descent. Are there alternative ways down?
German cyclist apparently - Heinrich Krause, who died there on 13 August 1987 according to Wikipedia.There is a memorial in El Acebo to a young - Japanese? - cyclist who came to an early end.
That looks like a tough descent and I have a couple of candidates for where it might be!! While it looks like these two have extended their poles at least a little, it pays to have one's poles as long as needed to maintain a balanced, upright stance, and not have to bend forward to get the poles in front of you.Walking poles are your best friends when descending there (and anywhere else)…
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Walking poles are your best friends when descending there (and anywhere else)…
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You are right as alwaysThat looks like a tough descent and I have a couple of candidates for where it might be!! While it looks like these two have extended their poles at least a little, it pays to have one's poles as long as needed to maintain a balanced, upright stance, and not have to bend forward to get the poles in front of you.
I too walk later in the year and always have my head turning and ears and eyes open and walk on the road.I walked that section in January when there was some ice and snow around. Too risky on the rough rocks for my liking. I walked down the road for the last 5km or so from Riego de Ambros. Quite spectacular in its own right. Do try to wear something high-vis (rucksack cover or vest) if you do that to make yourself more obvious to traffic.
I walked the road. Not exciting, but safe!I walked the CF in 2022 and found the descent into Molinaseca after Alto Altar extremely challenging - in fact, it nearly broke me. On 5 May I return for my 2nd CF and would like to know how others tackled this descent. Are there alternative ways down?
All of the comments here brought back a lot of memories of this descent. Not sure f you can enlarge this pic or not, but here is my description and pictures from that day.I walked the CF in 2022 and found the descent into Molinaseca after Alto Altar extremely challenging - in fact, it nearly broke me. On 5 May I return for my 2nd CF and would like to know how others tackled this descent. Are there alternative ways down?
Yes. The country road with very little traffic runs more or less parallel to the Camino path all the way down to Molinaseca. It is about 1 km longer, however you get to enjoy the wonderful view all the way down instead of looking down at the path and being scared of slipping or falling.I walked the CF in 2022 and found the descent into Molinaseca after Alto Altar extremely challenging - in fact, it nearly broke me. On 5 May I return for my 2nd CF and would like to know how others tackled this descent. Are there alternative ways down?
Here here! Everyone I walked with today survived to tell the tale.Let's not frighten off the newbies! Many thousands of walkers have completed this route without incident. I walked it last year, my 70th, and with a dodgy knee, and found that, with a trekking pole, and looking carefully at where I was going, it really wasn't that difficult. This, however, was on a warm summer's day - I wouldn't fancy it in rain or cold. It is, on any view, a tiring descent. But infinitely more fun than the road!
I just made the descent. I started on the trail and after walking about 30 minutes down the very steep rocky and dangerous pathway, I decided to walk along the road. It is a 2 Lane road and between 8:00 and 11:00 in the morning there was very little traffic and what traffic there was did not seem dangerous in anyway. There were no dangerous blind spots. It seemed much safer on the highway than on the path.I walked the CF in 2022 and found the descent into Molinaseca after Alto Altar extremely challenging - in fact, it nearly broke me. On 5 May I return for my 2nd CF and would like to know how others tackled this descent. Are there alternative ways down?
Thanks for memory! I must of put this section out of mindWalking poles are your best friends when descending there (and anywhere else)…
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Just the normal way, one foot in front of the other, carefully and mindfully in places. At first I was expecting much much worse given what people said here, but don't find it bad at all.would like to know how others tackled this descent
Details here.
The day I descended into Molinaseca (Nov 2021) was my absolutely worst day on the entire Camino by far. I slipped, fell, and hurt my leg. Fortunately, after a break, I was able to continue, but I was in a very foul mood all day. I was too upset to stop for a break in Molinaseca and just kept walking, hoping to walk off my anger regarding the fall which almost ended my Camino. I certainly intend to take the alternate route next time. Thank you for sharing it. (I had already read your original post and entered the information into my spreadsheet for my next Camino.) However, I don't recall seeing any markers in the small town that indicated the turn off. It seems to me the local government would be keen to offer an alternative route other than a narrow, twisty road. A sign would be most helpful. I look forward to reading what might be posted by anyone walking the route.I have posted about this alternative recently and wonder if anyone has taken the suggestion yet. There is a beautiful wooded trail from Riego de Ambrós to Molinaseca. It is well known in the area, called the Puentes de Malpaso, and it passes by two very old bridges. It is not rocky and the grade is not outrageous. Details here.
I thought it challenging, but very interesting with the angled bluestone path underfoot part of the way. I too, had stayed in Acebo, and I'm sure being fresh with new energy helped. It is one of my most vivid and beautiful memories on the Frances...Nearing Acebo, and on the way to Molinaseca.Plan to do this stretch early in the day when you’re fresh. My companions and I did it first thing in the morning after overnighting in Acebo, and found it a fun and challenging descent.
I will admit that the descent into Molinaseca from Riego de Ambros was one of my least favourite sections of the Camino. I suppose it didn't help that we were walking it in the pre-dawn and me with my knees shot.
oh, people, I want to shout from the rafters. Walk the Puentes de Malpaso trail from Riego to Molinaseca. It is shady, green, beautiful, and not steep or rocky.The first time I walked it was in the opposite direction after a rainy night. 'Thank God I am doing this going up' I thought to myself. I then did it going down several years later. 'Never again' I told myself. So in 2015 and this year, I walked Al Acebo to Molinaseca on the road. It is 2 kms longer but worth it to save myself from a bad fall - also I now have an arthritic knee. There was very little traffic on the road (I walked it in April this year)
This is excellent information. Unfortunately, you posted about this alternative in January of this year and I walked the trail in the summer of 2016. I will try and remember for next time I walk past (I think my next CF is likely to start a little later at Villafranca del Bierzo).oh, people, I want to shout from the rafters. Walk the Puentes de Malpaso trail from Riego to Molinaseca. It is shady, green, beautiful, and not steep or rocky.
Actually, I started posting about it in 2015, if you do a search.Unfortunately, you posted about this alternative in January of this year and I walked the trail in the summer of 2016.
I did a search. But the more recent posts were at the top and I didn't go through them all, just far enough to follow the link in your post 41 in this thread. Colour me lazy. I don't think I was reading these forums in 2015, before my second Camino.Actually, I started posting about it in 2015, if you do a search.
Hi Kulkija, I’m the guy you helped in Ponferrada to find my hotelI walked the descent yesterday and today. Yesterday from Rabanal to Acebo. Today from Acebo to Ponferrada. I did not have poles. It was not that difficult what I had expected. My strategy was to walk the descents very very slowly. Concentrating on each step. And stopping many times to enjoy the beautiful sceneries. It probably had been more difficult if the ground had been wet but now the weather was dry and lovely.
There are a couple curves where you would be extra cautious regarding oncoming autos
There is a beautiful wooded trail from Riego de Ambrós to Molinaseca. It is well known in the area, called the Puentes de Malpaso, and it passes by two very old bridges. It is not rocky and the grade is not outrageous
Have you walked this route, @AlwynWellington? There are many places to find GPS tracks, including wikiloc, but what I’d love to see is a report from someone other than me who has walked this alternative!A further detail is here at Hiking.WayMarkedTrails.org.
Please don't say 'you (all) can do it.' As I said earlier in my post I have an arthritic knee and that descent would have been dangerous for me. Yes, there may be an alternative lovely, non-dangerous path but I did not know of it - and judging by this thread, nor do many others. Why has it not been marked as an alternative Camino?Yes, it was an epically (beautiful) downhill for my knees. Oofdah Descent. Clearly people have gotten hurt on this section.....However, with caution and slow speed
AND walking poles.... you (all) can do it and will NOT regret this epic part of the Camino... Molinaseca is THE REWARD at the end of this difficult demanding descent with detritus. I just wish I knew the beauty of Molinaseca beforehand as I would have DEFINATELY taken a day off there ! It's a real gem and oasis. Next time! (however, God willing (and spouse) I head out in September Camino numero dos. Buen Camino y'all
Sadly no.Have you walked this route
oh, people, I want to shout from the rafters. Walk the Puentes de Malpaso trail from Riego to Molinaseca. It is shady, green, beautiful, and not steep or rocky.
No! Don't start there! Go down a block further first to take a picture of the iconic sign that Chris shows as the last picture in her post #44 above.The Mapy.cz app has this and many other hiking trails already built in - no need to download additional tracks.
This is what it looks like. Note the dark blue line is the Camino, and the Puente de Malpaso trail is gold.
Here's where it starts at Riego de Ambros
@trecile, thank youThe Mapy.cz app has this and many other hiking trails already built in - no need to download additional tracks.
This is what it looks like. Note the dark blue line is the Camino, and the Puente de Malpaso trail is gold.
Here's where it starts at Riego de Ambros
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