Long Hiker
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- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Del Norte
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Hi! I haven’t walked the Norte but I just asked my husband (who has) and he says it does get easier....Sorry I cannot help further, I am sure others will.My wife and I just completed 2 days of hiking on the Norte. We are now in Zarutz. What I find the most challenging is all the steep rocky hills. Is it steep and rocky throughout or does it start getting easier?
I know the Norte is the hardest Camino. I can take steep but steep and rocky is hard and can be dangerous.
If someone can answer this, I would appreciate it.
My other concern is how remote some of these areas are. If I or my wife fell and got hurt, there aren’t that many other people walking by and it could be a hike to go find help. Surprisingly, I haven’t seen anyone talking about that.
Very sound advice. I have walked the francés 4 times, my Camino mate 7 or 8 times (I lose track!) - always in Summer and it is still a joy! The crowds only start from Sarria. Really. (But don’t tell anyone else!You can always switch to the Frances. That might be a good idea if the Norte is causing anxiety. Don't let the stories about crowds deter you - I expect they can be managed.
I will add a warming concerning the entry in to De ba, I fell there too, the concrete is very slippery. (There are warning signs)Walk on the red painted side of the road. The steps on the stairs are also slippery. 5 kilometers after Deba you can stay in tbe albergue Izarbide (perhaps the farm that is mentioned in this post)Does the Norte get easier after Zarautz? Yes, but not right away. (We needed 2 years to walk this one, DH fell at the entry into Deba and was injured in 2017. We went back last year, restarted at S. Sebastian. Didn't sleep in Zarautz this time, we liked that little walk along the water into Getaria a lot so we slept there instead.
I think we can all agree that the first week of the Norte is the toughest part. Some of this may be the need to condition our bodies. Some is the rugged paths. Bring picnic lunch on the walk from Deba into Markina, there is almost nothing between them. One farm had a table of drinks and a dish for payment. The bar that is sometimes closed was open for us (it was Saturday) and we were grateful for the bocadillo. We were dragging when we got into Markina. And we weren't the last people to walk into town.
After Bilbao it's less stressful. There are many threads discussing things like scenic paths instead of ordinary paths. We took older routes instead of newer ones at various places, largely because the older ones have more facilities. (And there is an ongoing lack of resting places with this route.) This decision worked out well for us after we made it mid-journey.
Some notes, not complete, but some photos and comments on my blog: www.texassunshine24.blogspot.com from time to time I add more comments and pictures about the walk.
HTH
Buen camino
Even if your phone has no signal try calling 112 because if any network has a connection in that area they will connect the call. I think it is possible to call from a lock screenHi! I haven’t walked the Norte but I just asked my husband (who has) and he says it does get easier....Sorry I cannot help further, I am sure others will.
As for your other concern: you can call 112 anywhere in Europe and get assistance, even if there is no signal.
"112" is the European emergency number people in distress can call 24h/24 and 7d/7 in all 28 member states of the European Union to get immediate assistance from the fire brigade, a medical team or the police. You can call the number 112 with a fixed or mobile phone. The European emergency number is free everywhere.
Hope this puts your mind at rest. Ultreia!
PS: Do you have a whistle? Maybe your backpack has one, on the chest strap.
I finished the Norte and I think it is a very challenging route. If I may, my advice would be take it easy. There is no deadline or requirement. Just do it to the point you find it challenging but enjoyable. You are not out there to prove anything to anyone but to enjoy the walking. Buen Camino.My wife and I just completed 2 days of hiking on the Norte. We are now in Zarutz. What I find the most challenging is all the steep rocky hills. Is it steep and rocky throughout or does it start getting easier?
I know the Norte is the hardest Camino. I can take steep but steep and rocky is hard and can be dangerous.
If someone can answer this, I would appreciate it.
My other concern is how remote some of these areas are. If I or my wife fell and got hurt, there aren’t that many other people walking by and it could be a hike to go find help. Surprisingly, I haven’t seen anyone talking about that.
And I learned that the 112 call will go through even if you do not have a SIM card for the country you are in—any phone will work.again, if you ring 112, they should be able to offer you some emergency help, you can feel confident about that.
Buen camino!
The 1000 km of the Via de la Plata is near the top of my list for challenges....of course i walked it in mid August.
Sorry as I won't be of much help here, but is Norte really the hardest???...
I know the Norte is the hardest Camino. ...
Not true. Even if you're of of a signal 112 does work!Just to be clear. Calling 112 does require a signal. This doesn't have to be from your provider, but there does need to be a signal. If there is no signal from any provider you will not be able to call 112.
Sorry, that is not correct. If there is no signal from any provider then you will not be able to call 112. Mobile phones do not use satellites and rely on a signal to send messages or make calls. Where there is no signal from any provider you cannot call 112. If there is a signal from a provider that is not your registered provider you will be able to call 112, but you will still not be able to receive calls or make non 112 calls..Not true. Even if you're of of a signal 112 does work!
Thank you. I should've mention that, yes. Regardles of your mobile provider if there is ANY signal you'll be able to make 112 call.Sorry, that is not correct. If there is no signal from any provider then you will not be able to call 112. Mobile phones do not use satellites and rely on a signal to send messages or make calls. Where there is no signal from any provider you cannot call 112. If there is a signal from a provider that is not your registered provider you will be able to call 112, but you will still not be able to receive calls or make non 112 calls..
I've done the Norte. I think what you have experienced is pretty much what the Norte is, there are a coupleof easier stages, but not many. Here is a helpful app for emergenciesMy wife and I just completed 2 days of hiking on the Norte. We are now in Zarutz. What I find the most challenging is all the steep rocky hills. Is it steep and rocky throughout or does it start getting easier?
I know the Norte is the hardest Camino. I can take steep but steep and rocky is hard and can be dangerous.
If someone can answer this, I would appreciate it.
My other concern is how remote some of these areas are. If I or my wife fell and got hurt, there aren’t that many other people walking by and it could be a hike to go find help. Surprisingly, I haven’t seen anyone talking about that.
It is definitely not the hardest Camino. Those would be San Salvador and Primitivo I think For emergencies there is the Spain equivalent of 911 which is 112. They can also guide you via GPS if you get lost. It is not steep and rocky throughout. Your option is to take a train to the Frances (not as nice though). You can also take taxis over the rough parts. Buena suerte y buen caminoMy wife and I just completed 2 days of hiking on the Norte. We are now in Zarutz. What I find the most challenging is all the steep rocky hills. Is it steep and rocky throughout or does it start getting easier?
I know the Norte is the hardest Camino. I can take steep but steep and rocky is hard and can be dangerous.
If someone can answer this, I would appreciate it.
My other concern is how remote some of these areas are. If I or my wife fell and got hurt, there aren’t that many other people walking by and it could be a hike to go find help. Surprisingly, I haven’t seen anyone talking about that.
May it be so. The "bed race" is putting me off.Very sound advice. I have walked the francés 4 times, my Camino mate 7 or 8 times (I lose track!) - always in Summer and it is still a joy! The crowds only start from Sarria. Really. (But don’t tell anyone else!)
My husband is about a week from finishing. He has done the Frances and Portuguese. This one is by far the hardest. He said today was uphill all the way and steep.My wife and I just completed 2 days of hiking on the Norte. We are now in Zarutz. What I find the most challenging is all the steep rocky hills. Is it steep and rocky throughout or does it start getting easier?
I know the Norte is the hardest Camino. I can take steep but steep and rocky is hard and can be dangerous.
If someone can answer this, I would appreciate it.
My other concern is how remote some of these areas are. If I or my wife fell and got hurt, there aren’t that many other people walking by and it could be a hike to go find help. Surprisingly, I haven’t seen anyone talking about that.
zGood walkDoes it get easier? Well, not really. My wife and I are just three days from Santiago and although the land has flattened out somewhat after we turned inland, our bodies are tired so small hills are still tough. We started May 5 and will arrive Santiago on June 18. Two rest days helped during the first two weeks. We tried to keep distances to about 20 to 25 km per day, although this doesn't always work out. Wine helps, carry on accordingly. Burn Camino!
Yes very good domigee I have walked the Francis once Aug start twice April start Bugger the April starts I got caught in the storm Category yellow on the masseta six day course of antibiotics got me right. Sort of. That Sarria crush Oh what fun.Very sound advice. I have walked the francés 4 times, my Camino mate 7 or 8 times (I lose track!) - always in Summer and it is still a joy! The crowds only start from Sarria. Really. (But don’t tell anyone else!)
My wife and I just completed 2 days of hiking on the Norte. We are now in Zarutz. What I find the most challenging is all the steep rocky hills. Is it steep and rocky throughout or does it start getting easier?
I know the Norte is the hardest Camino. I can take steep but steep and rocky is hard and can be dangerous.
If someone can answer this, I would appreciate it.
My other concern is how remote some of these areas are. If I or my wife fell and got hurt, there aren’t that many other people walking by and it could be a hike to go find help. Surprisingly, I haven’t seen anyone talking about that.
Thank you for your response. My wife and I have slowed down and are enjoying the Camino more. Hope to eventually speed up a little.I found out that difficult or not does not depend on the camino but on my head, the thoughts and assumptions I have. When a camino is hard for you, wether it is hilly or not, you can slow down and do smaller distances. No one else tells what distance to walk every day, suffering is a choice.
Having said that. After two days walking a body starts to get tired, it can be the hardest period in a camino. Slow down a little and it can recover. After it you will see walking gets more easy.
Buen camino!
Truth!!!!Very sound advice. I have walked the francés 4 times, my Camino mate 7 or 8 times (I lose track!) - always in Summer and it is still a joy! The crowds only start from Sarria. Really. (But don’t tell anyone else!)
???? Edit???Yes very good domigee I have walked the Francis once Aug start twice April start Bugger the April starts I got caught in the storm Category yellow on the masseta six day course of antibiotics got me right. Sort of. That Sarria crush Oh what fun.
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