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Hello, I am walking the Camino for my first time next year. I'm beginning on new years day and wish to follow the steps of my Uncle beginning in Le Puy-en-Velay. I am an outdoor guide and can walk far distances without a problem. However I understand my limitations lie within the snow, as well as a short window of daylight hours. I want to know a few things (that I have had a lot of trouble researching myself and need local knowledge)
-Is there a lot of snow, storms or white-outs in January?
-Are the Pyrenees mountains open for walkers in January? (I've read contradicting info on this)
-Should I begin my walk instead on the 22nd of December to make this possible, or will that make no difference to weather?
-Will accommodation be open that time of year?
-Is there anything else I should be asking..?
I am not a cowboy and don't want to do anything stupid. I am also happy to contingency plan, so if you recommend to go stage by stage and skip a dangerous section if I need to, please let me know if anyone has done that/if there is a way using trains or busses. Perhaps I will need to begin further in than planned. Thanks in advance, all advice is much appreciated!
Gemma
.... this website usually runs from November and is updated with news of places which will be open during the Winter months.
I just bookmarked this for my camino in November/December thanks so so much!.... this website usually runs from November and is updated with news of places which will be open during the Winter months.
Wow thankyou so much for all of this, so valuable!! This goes a long way.Firstly, the Napoleon route from St. Jean will be closed. It closes on November 1 and I am not sure when they reopen it but it isn't until spring. You can walk the Valcarlos route. That one is open all year. Even if you wake up and it is sunny skies I think it is a must to check the weather with the Pilgrim office before you start your trek up the mountain.
This is my advice to you. Walking in winter of course presents challenges that are quite different. One of the biggest differences is the availability of Gites and allergies. In France the consensus of opinion is that the Miam Miam Dodo book is by far the best guide of all and the most up to date. When I walked in 2014 I got my passport in the Pilgrim Office in Paris. The lady in the office recommended this guide but I balked because I don't know any French. Big mistake. I bought the Michelin guide. I don't know if they have improved it. There are maps and a few places to stay but overall I was very Unimpressed with it. If you are leaving on New Year's day bring food for the day as I have a feeling everything may be closed. Check every day if there is an open gite wherever you are staying that night. You never know when something may be closed and they say it is open in a guide. This goes for Spain too. If you can't speak French/Spanish google translate with the gite or albergue owner/host and ask them to call for you. So make sure you have a SIM card for Europe.
In Spain there is always the Brierley guide and I would tell you to download either the Buen Camino or Wise Pilgrim app. I believe they are both free. The more resources you have for open albergues the better. For both caminos you can also reference Gronze.com, open it in google chrome to translate. This site has maps, distances, reviews of gites/albergus etc., elevation guides and accommodations for both caminos. It is free. Oh yea one more thing in France, make sure you stay in as many gites that offer dinner and maybe breakfast. You will have fantastic dinners believe me!! The food in Spain is good and you will get some really nice communal meals and dinners. Compared to France, no comparison.
I am sure you will have a at the very least a memory that will last a lifetime and who knows maybe a lot more!Wow thankyou so much for all of this, so valuable!! This goes a long way.
thanks for the links, I'll write to these on the weekend. Finding out numbers is a great idea and a transport service incase of bad weather would be a brilliant safety net.I usually read threads on the GR65 and I can't ever recall someone inquiring about starting from Le Puy at this time. (I don't know if the post by @J F Gregory is referring to this route or to the Portuguese.)
Anyway, I would suggest the following to get the best answers to your questions about the early portions of the GR65 in December and January:
First, write to the Tourist office in Le Puy (link below).
Second, write to La Malle Postale (link below). La Malle Postale is the best transport service (bags and people) from Le Puy to nearly Cahors. They probably have a feel for closure of gîtes and other lodging. They have responded in English, although a couple of years ago, to my phone and email inquiries. Their service might not extend through the winter months, I don't know for sure. I would also ask them how many fellow hikers leave Le Puy during December and January.
I have walked across the Aubrac Plateau twice and it is not a place I would want to be in a snowstorm. Once you descend from there, your elevation will be less than 1,000 ft and that drops even further after Cahors.
The GR65 is a beautiful hike and my favorite in France and Spain so far. But I wouldn't hike it during the winter months when grey, overcast skies are prevalent. Having said that, I realize you may have a window of time to do this that is not moveable.
Le Puy en Velay tourist office in the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region
Welcome to Le Puy-en-Velay. On the Le Puy-en-Velay urban community Tourist Office website, you will find all the details for your future stay in the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region.www.lepuyenvelay-tourisme.co.uk
Bon chemin.
Okay, thanks a lot - I'll look into these alterations on the weekend. Very much appreciated advice!I recommend you not start from Le Puy if your calendar is fixed. Instead, you can start from Figeac (2 weeks after Le Puy) or Cahors (3 weeks), both of which have transit connections to Paris. These are at lower elevations and should be snow-free. You can cross the Pyrenees by the lower-altitude route, going through Valcarlos.
In France, about half the lodgings close from All Saints (Nov 1) to Easter (late Mar - late Apr). Even if a place plans to be open, per MMD, if there are no reservations, they might go visit the grandkids. So planning a day or two ahead will be essential.
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