First few days on the Way of St James

[pilgrimglenn7]

Hey All

I am planning a mountain bike trip from St Jean and wondering with this first day I am reasonably fit but wondering how hard is the first day? and which route shall i take?

Should I go on Napoleans way?

or Varicales? way

Which is more scenic?

Also on way to Pamplona what is the trails like please?

Is 40 kilometres a day good enough or should I aim for 30-35 kiliometres?

Thanks all Muchas Gracias mi amigas and mi amigos

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Check at the SJPdP pilgrims office for a weather report. The high route could be in the fog the day you want to go. I have not done the high route so I can't give very good advice on which route to take but a good portion between Valcarlos and the Puerto de Ibaneta is on a fairly steep road with twists and turns and traffic. Not the type of road I would like to bicycle with traffic.

Click the profile below for a better picture and additional comments.

Elevation profiles of the tracks from St. Jean Pied de Port to Roncevalles

• Rick of Rick and Peg
• Feb 14, 2019
• 10
• sjpp to roncesvalles

If seen in a post click the chart to see a page with comments on the details.

 

[Davey Boyd]

Just wrote this on your other thread!

From St. Jean you have two options in good weather. The Napoleon is hardest for the first 8km or so to Orisson. Very steep but on a road. From there I don't think it is too bad. But do take the road route from the summit. Valcarlos route is your other option. Mixture of roads (can be very busy main roads) and secluded forest. Mostly uphill, but the hardest bit is the end part nearing Roncesvalles. Very steep on a forest logging trail or small path. Both uneven. In bad weather always take Valcarlos. Also, Valcarlos you can do in two days as there is an albergue in the wonderful village of Valcarlos (about halfway). Always check in at the pilgrims office in St. Jean for latest weather/info of the routes.

Both are beautiful. Valcarlos is not easier in my opinion. I love both.

Davey

 

[trecile]

There's an entire subforum here dedicated to cycling the Camino. You'll find good info there.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/forums/biking-the-camino.24/

 

[pilgrimglenn7]

There's an entire subforum here dedicated to cycling the Camino. You'll find good info there.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/forums/biking-the-camino.24/

There's an entire subforum here dedicated to cycling the Camino. You'll find good info there.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/forums/biking-the-camino.24/

muchas gracias and many thanks

 

[pilgrimglenn7]

Just wrote this on your other thread!

From St. Jean you have two options in good weather. The Napoleon is hardest for the first 8km or so to Orisson. Very steep but on a road. From there I don't think it is too bad. But do take the road route from the summit. Valcarlos route is your other option. Mixture of roads (can be very busy main roads) and secluded forest. Mostly uphill, but the hardest bit is the end part nearing Roncesvalles. Very steep on a forest logging trail or small path. Both uneven. In bad weather always take Valcarlos. Also, Valcarlos you can do in two days as there is an albergue in the wonderful village of Valcarlos (about halfway). Always check in at the pilgrims office in St. Jean for latest weather/info of the routes.

Both are beautiful. Valcarlos is not easier in my opinion. I love both.

Davey

muchas gracias mate and many thanks again

Why is it called napoleans way? is this because of something to do with Napolean Bonaparte?

 

[pilgrimglenn7]

Check at the SJPdP pilgrims office for a weather report. The high route could be in the fog the day you want to go. I have not done the high route so I can't give very good advice on which route to take but a good portion between Valcarlos and the Puerto de Ibaneta is on a fairly steep road with twists and turns and traffic. Not the type of road I would like to bicycle with traffic.

Click the profile below for a better picture and additional comments.

Elevation profiles of the tracks from St. Jean Pied de Port to Roncevalles

• Rick of Rick and Peg
• Feb 14, 2019
• 10
• sjpp to roncesvalles

If seen in a post click the chart to see a page with comments on the details.

muchas gracias and many thanks Rick of Rick and Peg

Which camino have you done?

I been to Boston a few times and loved it

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

muchas gracias mate and many thanks again

Why is it called napoleans way? is this because of something to do with Napolean Bonaparte?

A lot of information on this came out in two recent threads but as incidental to the original post in each so skim through these:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/60957

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/60852

Essentially some of the French army passed that way during the Napoleonic wars.

 

[Davey Boyd]

muchas gracias mate and many thanks again

Why is it called napoleans way? is this because of something to do with Napolean Bonaparte?

Short history is yes. Napoleon never actually went there but his army did use that route to Roncesvalles. It is also known as the 'Artillery Route', because his armies took their artillery that way.

Davey

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

muchas gracias and many thanks Rick of Rick and Peg

Which camino have you done?

I been to Boston a few times and loved it

My signature has the following but depending on the browser it may not be visible in my posts:

From a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
SJPdP-SdC-Finisterre-Muxia (66 days, May-July 2015)

We walked the Valcarlos route because of threats of lightening on the ridge.

I'm not a big fan of big cities but Boston is alright.

I've been to Oz a few times; once pre-Peg for months and then again with Peg for a couple of weeks. We love it and wish it were closer. 48 hours of airports/airplanes are not fun (but Ozzies here on the forum already know that.)

 

[pilgrimglenn7]

A lot of information on this came out in two recent threads but as incidental to the original post in each so skim through these:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/60957

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/60852

Essentially some of the French army passed that way during the Napoleonic wars.

thanks mate

 

[pilgrimglenn7]

Short history is yes. Napoleon never actually went there but his army did use that route to Roncesvalles. It is also known as the 'Artillery Route', because his armies took their artillery that way.

Davey

thanks mate i know a little about him but i know more of his general berthier who arrested the pope in rome in february 1798

 

[pilgrimglenn7]

My signature has the following but depending on the browser it may not be visible in my posts:

From a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
SJPdP-SdC-Finisterre-Muxia (66 days, May-July 2015)

We walked the Valcarlos route because of threats of lightening on the ridge.

I'm not a big fan of big cities but Boston is alright.

I've been to Oz a few times; once pre-Peg for months and then again with Peg for a couple of weeks. We love it and wish it were closer. 48 hours of airports/airplanes are not fun (but Ozzies here on the forum already know that.)

yes all i could read was suburb of boston mate i plan to do same trip with rest days but back to santiago in 35 days by mountain bike

i dont like cities at all but the history on the freedom trail i only went to the old north church though and statue of paul revere out the back my friend wanted to see the aquarium more and the uss constitution battle ship. ( i wanted to see the battleship she wanted the aquariaum) that was in 2006

Yes i have driven from inbetween orlando florida to portland maine and more before but that trip i caught the train from jacksonville to bosotn via washington dc on 2 amtrak trains

glad u enjoyd my country and hope u come back mate

u planning any more caminos?

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

u planning any more caminos?

We've been discussing with a friend a visit to Barcelona so there is some thinking about the Catalan. Not quite at a planning stage though.