- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances, Autumn, 2023
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I prefer the old route.My wife and I (both mid-70’s) have been surprised by how treacherous some of the descents have been. Steep trails that have washouts, leaving deep ruts and narrow pathways and sharp, jagged rocks - lots of them!
How is the descent into Portomarin?
We have watched dozens of YouTube videos and they’re always positive, never addressed how steep and slippery things can become.
We would appreciate an accurate view of the descent into Portomarin from anyone willing to help us out.
Thank you.
Take the right hand option. It is a steep descent but all paved - like walking down a steep quiet road or lane. I walked this in June this year - and it doesn’t even register alongside treacherous descents like Zubiri in wet weather, Alto del Perdon or - worst in my opinion - Rabanal to Molinaseca, especially after El Acebo.My wife and I (both mid-70’s) have been surprised by how treacherous some of the descents have been. Steep trails that have washouts, leaving deep ruts and narrow pathways and sharp, jagged rocks - lots of them!
How is the descent into Portomarin?
We have watched dozens of YouTube videos and they’re always positive, never addressed how steep and slippery things can become.
We would appreciate an accurate view of the descent into Portomarin from anyone willing to help us out.
Thank you.
I went left, more rugged, and darn near fell face forward. Honestly, I feel Saint James grabbed my pack and set me upright, no other reason for why I didn't face plant. This is one of the options where "right is right" is the rule to follow.As others have said, one approach into Portomarin is more steep and rugged.
When you get close to Portomarin, there are two options. To the LEFT is the more rugged route, and to the RIGHT is the less difficult route. I believe it is the same distance for both. Buen Camino!
So true! Thank you for joining the discussion.Yes, I was surprised by the challenges of some of the descents, with all the loose and sharp stones. I'd sometimes be soaked in sweat by the bottom, from the intense concentration needed to avoid twisting an ankle. I was well prepared for the climbs, as they are frequently discussed and blogged about. I actually found the climbs to be easier than anticipated. But few people talk about some of the descents and how treacherous they are!
Take the road to the right, or the bike route, when it splits. The main route in the middle is a washout, it's like going through a canyon shoot toward the end. Starts out as anice enough trail. The route to the right is steep,but at least it's a road.My wife and I (both mid-70’s) have been surprised by how treacherous some of the descents have been. Steep trails that have washouts, leaving deep ruts and narrow pathways and sharp, jagged rocks - lots of them!
How is the descent into Portomarin?
We have watched dozens of YouTube videos and they’re always positive, never addressed how steep and slippery things can become.
We would appreciate an accurate view of the descent into Portomarin from anyone willing to help us out.
Thank you.
I only made it down because a man suddenly appeared behind me and held my arm to guide me.I went left, more rugged, and darn near fell face forward. Honestly, I feel Saint James grabbed my pack and set me upright, no other reason for why I didn't face plant. This is one of the options where "right is right" is the rule to follow.
My wife and I (both mid-70’s) have been surprised by how treacherous some of the descents have been. Steep trails that have washouts, leaving deep ruts and narrow pathways and sharp, jagged rocks - lots of them!
How is the descent into Portomarin?
We have watched dozens of YouTube videos and they’re always positive, never addressed how steep and slippery things can become.
We would appreciate an accurate view of the descent into Portomarin from anyone willing to help us out.
Thank you.
There are two routes down to portomarin. First two times I walked it, it was fairly decent descent. Third time, I got kinda lost in fog and came in by a different route. Because of the fog, I don't know where the second route deviates from first. Find my first trail and you will be grand. The second one is steep and rocky down the back of some buildings but is not as bad as the descent from perdón or down to Molinaseca. I was in my late 60s when I walked the second one and found it ok as long as you watch where you put your feet and use walking polesMy wife and I (both mid-70’s) have been surprised by how treacherous some of the descents have been. Steep trails that have washouts, leaving deep ruts and narrow pathways and sharp, jagged rocks - lots of them!
How is the descent into Portomarin?
We have watched dozens of YouTube videos and they’re always positive, never addressed how steep and slippery things can become.
We would appreciate an accurate view of the descent into Portomarin from anyone willing to help us out.
Thank you.
My wife and I (both mid-70’s) have been surprised by how treacherous some of the descents have been. Steep trails that have washouts, leaving deep ruts and narrow pathways and sharp, jagged rocks - lots of them!
How is the descent into Portomarin?
We have watched dozens of YouTube videos and they’re always positive, never addressed how steep and slippery things can become.
We would appreciate an accurate view of the descent into Portomarin from anyone willing to help us out.
Thank you.you can always walk on the road , some switchbacks but doable
Hi! There are 2 routes. The original, the most rugged, is the historical route. The less rugged is the complimentary route. I took the historical route after it had rained and a pilgrim was kind enough to help me down the slippery slope because it was not only slippery but it was so muddy that it was difficult to get any traction.My wife and I (both mid-70’s) have been surprised by how treacherous some of the descents have been. Steep trails that have washouts, leaving deep ruts and narrow pathways and sharp, jagged rocks - lots of them!
How is the descent into Portomarin?
We have watched dozens of YouTube videos and they’re always positive, never addressed how steep and slippery things can become.
We would appreciate an accurate view of the descent into Portomarin from anyone willing to help us out.
Thank you.
Needless to say that was the worst of the Camino Frances. Luckily, we made it down in one pieceHi! There are 2 routes. The original, the most rugged, is the historical route. The less rugged is the complimentary route. I took the historical route after it had rained and a pilgrim was kind enough to help me down the slippery slope because it was not only slippery but it was so muddy that it was difficult to get any traction.
I believe this is the route suggested in the Brierly guidebook.There’s an easy way to go. Took it last year. Start out on the left-hand trail. After a little ways you’ll see a small blacktop road branch off on the left. It’s quite pleasant and goes down to the road that goes along the river. Turn right and you’ll see the bridge shortly. This is all on your map app or google earth.
And yet... here you are and you made it. IMHO, the "luck" has to do with taking it very easy and very slow. As mentioned before, all other descends are "just as tricky". No worries - use common sense...We mistakenly took the difficult route today. So happy my husband was there to guide me as my short legs could not make the giant step downs. A very tricky but short section indeed. Luckily we emerged unscathed.
You get a bit more tarmac, but your knees will be most grateful for it !!Go to the right!
Cool! I’ll check it out.I believe this is the route suggested in the Brierly guidebook.
I took the tough way down. Why? because it was a challenge.My wife and I (both mid-70’s) have been surprised by how treacherous some of the descents have been. Steep trails that have washouts, leaving deep ruts and narrow pathways and sharp, jagged rocks - lots of them!
How is the descent into Portomarin?
We have watched dozens of YouTube videos and they’re always positive, never addressed how steep and slippery things can become.
We would appreciate an accurate view of the descent into Portomarin from anyone willing to help us out.
Thank you.
We are in our 60’s, we took the steeper route and turned back. The ‘steps’ are beyond my knees, and the rocks were wet, the path muddy. It was doable - if it had been dry I’d have done it for sure. We took the longer route and saved our legs for the stone steps up into Portomarin.My wife and I (both mid-70’s) have been surprised by how treacherous some of the descents have been. Steep trails that have washouts, leaving deep ruts and narrow pathways and sharp, jagged rocks - lots of them!
How is the descent into Portomarin?
We have watched dozens of YouTube videos and they’re always positive, never addressed how steep and slippery things can become.
We would appreciate an accurate view of the descent into Portomarin from anyone willing to help us out.
Thank you.
You have the option to go left or right. I went left. I slipped in the rain on the stone steps, fell and broke my hand. St. Jean Pied de Port to Portomarin. . . I could not finish.My wife and I (both mid-70’s) have been surprised by how treacherous some of the descents have been. Steep trails that have washouts, leaving deep ruts and narrow pathways and sharp, jagged rocks - lots of them!
How is the descent into Portomarin?
We have watched dozens of YouTube videos and they’re always positive, never addressed how steep and slippery things can become.
We would appreciate an accurate view of the descent into Portomarin from anyone willing to help us out.
Thank you.
I'm sorry to hear that your Camino was cut short. If you decide to return and complete it, just bring back your credencial and get it stamped again in Portomarin (assuming you got it stamped there before you left. So long as your credencial is stamped where you stopped and again in the same place when you re-start, the Pilgrim Office considers it all one Camino.You have the option to go left or right. I went left. I slipped in the rain on the stone steps, fell and broke my hand. St. Jean Pied de Port to Portomarin. . . I could not finish.
And yet... here you are and you made it. IMHO, the "luck" has to do with taking it very easy and very slow. As mentioned before, all other descends are "just as tricky". No worries - use common sense...
Re: how many rooutes - folks say its 2, i remembered 3 and here is a link to photo someone took this past August. as you can see it is 3 ways: 3 Routes
The original (tough one) is in red and 2 variations - to the left and to the right
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