- Time of past OR future Camino
- Pamplona to Burgos in 2012, Frances in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018 and half in 2019. VdLP in 2020!
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There are gaps, as Bradypus says.
And there are even LARGER gaps in the summer.
We found many fountains listed in the guidebooks to be stone dry during summer on the VDLP.
We were actually rescued when a group of firemen brought us water.
After that, I prayed for a water bladder.
Soon after I found the hose on the road, then the valve, then the bladder in an albergue free box.
The Camino (even the VDLP) provided.
You will definitely be carrying more water than on the CF.
I named my ice axe Esmeralda. A number of my motorbikes over the years have been called Ermintrude - usually because they have been eccentric in one way or another and steered like a cow...This is one of my main reasons for building Esmeralda ( my hip-belt hiking trailer),
I’m the same. I don’t know a map with reliable information on fountains. It’s best to assume that fountains won’t have drinking water. If you’re doing a stage where you won’t go through any towns with bars (per Gronze or other guide), you’d better carry enough water for the day. For me, that usually means drinking a half litre before I set off in the morning and filling a 1.5 litre bladder. On hot days I fill an additional bottle that I carry. It’s rare that I don’t drink every drop that I carry. The incentive to reduce the weight of my pack is a good motivator in addition to the desire to keep hydrated.I drink a LOT of water when I'm hiking. It's not unusual for me to go through 2 or more litres a day.
Or should I fill up with more than 2 litres of water in the morning? I'd rather not carry the weight if I don't have to!
Me too!..I adopt the camel principle in that I make myself as much water as possible before leaving, Whenever I have a café solo I also ask for a glass of water just to fill up. I also take some electrolyte sachets and a 600ml flask which I fill with cold water. After walking a few hours theres nothing better than a cold drink with an electrolyte sachet..by which time my camelback is nicely on the boil.I’m the same. I don’t know a map with reliable information on fountains. It’s best to assume that fountains won’t have drinking water. If you’re doing a stage where you won’t go through any towns with bars (per Gronze or other guide), you’d better carry enough water for the day. For me, that usually means drinking a half litre before I set off in the morning and filling a 1.5 litre bladder. On hot days I fill an additional bottle that I carry. It’s rare that I don’t drink every drop that I carry. The incentive to reduce the weight of my pack is a good motivator in addition to the desire to keep hydrated.
I’m paranoid about not having enough water to the extent that my water bottle has a filter that should protect me in the event that I need to fill up with non potable water. So far I have never needed to do so - but I have used the filter for drinkable but untreated water in villages in Galicia. Mind you, it’s never a problem to find water up there.
On one occasion in Andalusia, I found myself in a village with a closed bar and a dry fountain. I asked a random stranger where I could fill my container and she directed me to help myself from the tap behind the mains water hatch on the side of her house.
The need for water (also) depends on the time of year you'll be walking the VdlP. In 2018 I started walking the second half of August. Being rather naive I assumed that temperatures would be moderate by then (with autumn on it's way). They weren't.What is the VdLP like? Are there lots of fountains? Or should I fill up with more than 2 litres of water in the morning?
Sadly there have been several heat-related deaths on the VdlP in recent years. Including the death of a 40 year old German man near Canaveral at the end of a particularly long and dry stage. On leaving the El Berrocal park just before Almaden you pass two monuments to other pilgrims in very quick succession. Very sobering.The idea of walking in 40C or above days is not my idea of fun and at 67, or any age for that matter, is flat out dangerous.
So so true. A very good friend of mine walked 2 years ago. It was amazing as we had met the year before on the Camino Portuguese. I was eating the Buffet at San Martin Pinario and looked up and there he was! He had just finished the VDLP and it was obvious it had taken it's toll on him. It was the end of October when we met and he said early on their were some intensely hot days. He told me the story of a pilgrim who had died of heat stroke just a few days behind him. I do not know if it is the same man and I do not remember what town it was. He told me when he arrived in that town, he couldn't find the albergue and when he asked he said the townspeople he spoke to where not the friendliest or very helpful. My friend's Spanish is good enough to be understood. He said every person (which were just a few) didn't know where the albergue was. It was about 1:00 in the afternoon which he said was even later than he wanted to be walking. He luckily stumbled across the albergue and was fine for the night. A few days later his wife read in the newspaper that a man had died between the town my friend stayed in and the next town which was, I think, another 11k. I do not know, nor do I think anyone does, if he too couldn't find the albergue or just foolishly attempted to walk that last 11k after walking a long distance already and struggling with the intense heat.Sadly there have been several heat-related deaths on the VdlP in recent years. Including the death of a 40 year old German man near Canaveral at the end of a particularly long and dry stage. On leaving the El Berrocal park just before Almaden you pass two monuments to other pilgrims in very quick succession. Very sobering.
Unfortunately, (if you are referring to my post) it was not the person my friend was telling me about. He started his walk sometime in September. Sadly there was more than one casualty that year.I believe you may be referring to Josef Scheffler who died near Cañaveral (Aug 5, 2018)
Dehydration and heat stroke cause people become disoriented and confused, so even if you don't feel thirsty, you should keep drinking water. If you run out of water, do think through the implications of that - You might not be in optimal condition to get yourself out of trouble later.
Hi All,
I drink a LOT of water when I'm hiking. It's not unusual for me to go through 2 or more litres a day. On the Frances it used to be a bit more difficult to find water but now there are so many cafes and albergues (as well as many fountains) that I can refill as I go along. What is the VdLP like? Are there lots of fountains? Or should I fill up with more than 2 litres of water in the morning? I'd rather not carry the weight if I don't have to!
Does anyone know of maps that have fountains marked on them? The Brierley used to have fountains marked for the Frances, but I noticed it's not been on the last few editions.
No, 2 litres per day isn't a lot. I dare say it's far too little on hot days.I would just make 2 points. 2 litres per day is not really a lot is it? I would go trough 2-3 litres easily every day. I seem to average 10 kms per Litre.
Surprisingly, I haven't tried one. They look like a great idea.Umbrella! Do you use one?
I agree, but you can get water at any bar or cafe in the pueblos you walk through. Just top off your water bottles whenever you have opportunity. You'll be fine. We made it in terrible weather in the spring of 2018. All 1007 kilometers, 39 days. Walked every day.
Some people here, who are far from foolish, consider it very worthwhile.I do not advise any person to walk the VdlP or any southern route north from the Mediterranean or from Lisbon in the summer. Such is foolish to attempt when it is so hot and dry. It was no problem for us in the spring of 2018.
In 2018 we had no problem finding drinking water. It isn't as frequent as what we experience on Camino Francés, but I do believe there is more infrastructure post Spring 2018 than what you experienced in 2010, if that's when you walked it.
Do you mean wet?We made it in terrible weather in the spring of 2018
This is one of my main reasons for building Esmeralda ( my hip-belt hiking trailer), : its so I can carry plenty of water plus everything else!
Would you consider starting a thread about that? I know several people who would find that a much easier way to transport their kit.
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