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Red and white light are probably equally disruptive when shone carelessly around an albergue. However, the red light will not ruin an individuals night adapted vision, and of course they will thank you for that as they try and get back to sleep.I took a headlamp and a tiny key chain type light with a red light that isn't as disturbing in the dark, that I could use if I had to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom.
I was just writing about how I do the "small headlamp which I can hang around my neck. It then shines down towards the floor"-thing. Good adviceRed and white light are probably equally disruptive when shone carelessly around an albergue. However, the red light will not ruin an individuals night adapted vision, and of course they will thank you for that as they try and get back to sleep.
I prefer a very small headlamp which I can hang around my neck. It then shines down towards the floor when I am using it, and unlike a head mounted or hand held flashlight, is much less likely to actually shine into someone's face as I go to the toilet in the middle of the night. I have carried a very small handheld in the past, but never used it.
I agree. I love walking at first light, the day is new, the opportunities to explore life seem endless.what is the purpose of walking when you don't see around you
I promise to be very quiet, not shine a light at anyone.
http://www.petzl-head-torches.co.uk/petzl_e_lite_head_torch.htmA headlamp is hands free and a good walking light. However I have seen many complaints about headlamps shinning too brightly in the dark in alberques in the night or early mornings.
A tiny flash light would seem to be best for early risers or trips to the bathroom at night. The flash light would also be easier to find in the dark if clipped to something you have close.
Yes, I'll want my hands free if I need to go to the bathroom at night. I could just put the flash light down?
Just checked the headlamp I have. It has a low level white light and I can position it to shine more on myself with a very low light on the floor - but changing the position of the light makes a clicking sound that would wake the dead. Only good for walking in the dark.
Yep.I have this image of a bunch of bag rustling headlamp flashers following one another's light into the darkness of the Spanish wilderness.
In the wrong direction of course
they are also a danger to themselves and others. Several mornings in the past few months I've had to drive to Palencia in the pre-dawn darkness. The Camino is alongside the N120 highway part of the way. Pilgrims are out there in pitch dark with their little twinkly headlamps, walking across, alongside, and ON THE BERM of the national road, wearing no reflective clothing or anything that makes them visible to drivers.
They cannot see where they're going. They cannot see the beautiful scenery around them. The drivers on the road certainly can't see them. Yeah, I know "they're walking their own camino," but they're also a fatal accident waiting to happen.
And if I run over a pilgrim, it will ruin my entire day.
Now you're getting melodramatic.
The merest suggestion of a thought about the probability of such an event likely hasn't entertained the notion of crossing the mind of any actuarian.
Its the same sort of thinking that has resulted in speed zones around schools when there is no actuarial evidence that suggests the speed zones do anything to reduce accidents involving children.
We love to walk in the dark Beks. Don't be horrid to us. We'll try to be careful and you try not to hit us.I repeat: Don't walk along the road in the dark, people. It's not safe. It is foolish. I cannot see you there, and I don't want to hit you with my car.
It seems to average that about one pilgrim every year does not make Santiago because they get run over by a car. You can count the numbers on the Amigos del Camino de Santiago website. It is very sad. And every person matters.
A USB headlamp with both red and white light functions. And a USB strong flashing bicycle strobe light to attach to the back of your pack. Some of your fellow peregrinos will hate you walking in the morning, but car driver's eyes will see that strobe way before they see you, and significantly lower the chances of being hit. You can also put DOT reflective tape on your sticks and/or bag.
I don't share your enthusiasm for walking in the dark but that comment is about the most sensible observation I've seen in a while. Too many people have wonderful romantic notions of what walking the Camino is all about: head in the clouds but no idea of where the rest of their body is or what the rest of the world is doing around themAnd being a pilgrim alas does not provide you with immunity from the hard facts of life and the bubble of sanctity is easily shattered by those who wouldn't see you if you were lit up like a Christmas tree!
I think it's wonderfully romantic that you are prepared to take the notion of following the stars so literally that you believe people might only have walked at night. Tell me, what happens when the night sky is obscured by cloud, and the stars can no longer be seen?My people followed the stars to Finisterre for hundreds of years. You do not see them in daylight.
I think it's wonderfully romantic that you are prepared to take the notion of following the stars so literally that you believe people might only have walked at night. Tell me, what happens when the night sky is obscured by cloud, and the stars can no longer be seen?
So much advice! Here's what I do, I have a tiny torch safety pinned to the inside of my backpack,very useful any time of day or night. Most albergues aren't completely dark even in October. Carry a small hand held torch in preference to a headlamp which takes up space and also weighs, so for the rare occasions it would be needed you may find you can do without it.Having read many of the topics there seems to be good reason to take a headlamp, it gets light late or dark early. A headlamp is hands free and a good walking light. However I have seen many complaints about headlamps shinning too brightly in the dark in alberques in the night or early mornings.
A tiny flash light would seem to be best for early risers or trips to the bathroom at night. The flash light would also be easier to find in the dark if clipped to something you have close.
Should I take both? We plan to begin in early Sept and finish up by late Oct.
Thank you.
I see many replies about don't walk in the dark. I started my Camino thinking I wouldn't need a light and brought only a keychain light. I'm a light sleeper and with "lights out" at 2200 in most alburgues, and with many pilgrims moving around by 0600, I wasn't able to get back to sleep despite earplugs, so I was up and moving, usually on the trail before 0700. My Camino was Sept- mid-Oct, 2016. By the end, I was walking 1 -1 1/2 hours in the dark. I bought a headlight in Burgos that was well worth the investment. if I ever do another adventure like this, a headlamp will definitely be on my packing list. BTW, mine had 3 brightness setting for the trails and a red setting for consideration of those who were able to sleep in.Having read many of the topics there seems to be good reason to take a headlamp, it gets light late or dark early. A headlamp is hands free and a good walking light. However I have seen many complaints about headlamps shinning too brightly in the dark in albergues in the night or early mornings.
A tiny flash light would seem to be best for early risers or trips to the bathroom at night. The flash light would also be easier to find in the dark if clipped to something you have close.
Should I take both? We plan to begin in early Sept and finish up by late Oct.
Thank you.
Having read many of the topics there seems to be good reason to take a headlamp, it gets light late or dark early. A headlamp is hands free and a good walking light. However I have seen many complaints about headlamps shinning too brightly in the dark in alberques in the night or early mornings.
A tiny flash light would seem to be best for early risers or trips to the bathroom at night. The flash light would also be easier to find in the dark if clipped to something you have close.
Should I take both? We plan to begin in early Sept and finish up by late Oct.
Thank you.
Head lamp. You can hold it in your hand to go to the bathroom.Having read many of the topics there seems to be good reason to take a headlamp, it gets light late or dark early. A headlamp is hands free and a good walking light. However I have seen many complaints about headlamps shinning too brightly in the dark in alberques in the night or early mornings.
A tiny flash light would seem to be best for early risers or trips to the bathroom at night. The flash light would also be easier to find in the dark if clipped to something you have close.
Should I take both? We plan to begin in early Sept and finish up by late Oct.
Thank you.
As a Brit this has taken some mental adjustment when walking caminos in winter. Hospitaleros will often take a relaxed attitude towards the "leave by 8am" rule because in January and February it may still be too dark to spot the arrows easily until nearer 9am. The upside of course is that nightfall is correspondingly later. As winter days are pretty short anyway staying aware of local sunrise and sunset is all the more important.You are setting out quite late in the year. Spain is actually using the CET timezone rather than the "natural" UTC/GMT timezone its longitude inhabits. So at the start of September sunrise in Santiago is around 08:00 AM by the end of October it is around 09:00 AM.
Ironically, at the end of October sunrise is still around 0800 - because of the end of daylight saving time that takes place on the last weekend in OctoberSo at the start of September sunrise in Santiago is around 08:00 AM by the end of October it is around 09:00 AM.
One pilgrim turned on an overhead light at 1:00 in the morning. He survived because I was up and had the light out again in seconds and because, after saying he was looking for a blanket, he shutup and went back to bed. I hope he shivered all night.Never ever EVER EVER EVER turn on a headlamp in an alburgue in the middle of the night. EVER!
I brought along a tiny single LED keychain light. It worked out perfectly. I could store it in the little zipper pocket on my sleeping bag so it was right nearby if I got up in the dark. It worked fine for spotting the signs heading out of town before sunrise. If you walk in the fall, you can't really avoid walking before sunrise given how far west Spain is in the time zone. I have a small headlamp but decided against bringing it. I'm not sorry I made that decision. My keychain light has a low power setting, which is what I used in alburgues when it was dark.Having read many of the topics there seems to be good reason to take a headlamp, it gets light late or dark early. A headlamp is hands free and a good walking light. However I have seen many complaints about headlamps shinning too brightly in the dark in alberques in the night or early mornings.
A tiny flash light would seem to be best for early risers or trips to the bathroom at night. The flash light would also be easier to find in the dark if clipped to something you have close.
Should I take both? We plan to begin in early Sept and finish up by late Oct.
Thank you.
I do a lot of hiking here in the mountains around the northwest and I have got used to just taking my headlamp because it can be a lifesaver at times.I brought along a tiny single LED keychain light. It worked out perfectly. I could store it in the little zipper pocket on my sleeping bag so it was right nearby if I got up in the dark. It worked fine for spotting the signs heading out of town before sunrise. If you walk in the fall, you can't really avoid walking before sunrise given how far west Spain is in the time zone. I have a small headlamp but decided against bringing it. I'm not sorry I made that decision. My keychain light has a low power setting, which is what I used in alburgues when it was dark.
I took a headlight and masked it with my palm in when I was indoors. Unfortunately some people didn't seem to care, it's not pleasant being woke by a light shining directly into your face as happened a few times with me. Please be considerate. Enjoy your Camino.Having read many of the topics there seems to be good reason to take a headlamp, it gets light late or dark early. A headlamp is hands free and a good walking light. However I have seen many complaints about headlamps shinning too brightly in the dark in alberques in the night or early mornings.
A tiny flash light would seem to be best for early risers or trips to the bathroom at night. The flash light would also be easier to find in the dark if clipped to something you have close.
Should I take both? We plan to begin in early Sept and finish up by late Oct.
Thank you.
Headlamps are great for walking but not in the Albergue when one goes to toilet, too bright. Just use your phone in the Albergue or a small penlight. Good luck and Buen CaminoHaving read many of the topics there seems to be good reason to take a headlamp, it gets light late or dark early. A headlamp is hands free and a good walking light. However I have seen many complaints about headlamps shinning too brightly in the dark in alberques in the night or early mornings.
A tiny flash light would seem to be best for early risers or trips to the bathroom at night. The flash light would also be easier to find in the dark if clipped to something you have close.
Should I take both? We plan to begin in early Sept and finish up by late Oct.
Thank you.
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