For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
I was interested to read the article, Sabine, but I can't download it. (It comes up overlaid by a blank screen). Can you tell us the gist of the circumstances?Only last week a pilgrim of 35 years had to call the emergencies.
I was interested to read the article, Sabine, but I can't download it. (It comes up overlaid by a blank screen). Can you tell us the gist of the circumstances?
A 35 year old Italian pilgrim, suffering from heat stroke, dehydrated and disorientated, was rescued by the authorities after he called the emergency services.I was interested to read the article, Sabine, but I can't download it. (It comes up overlaid by a blank screen). Can you tell us the gist of the circumstances?
Summary:
A dehydrated and desorientated, 35 year old Italian pilgrim had to be rescued near Almaden de la Plata by the Guardia Civil. He called 112 and was brought to the medical center in Real de la Jara where he is/was recuperating.
BC SY
Summary:
A dehydrated and desorientated, 35 year old ...
I had thought of starting then and stopped around noon to avoid the worst of the days heat.
Any thoughts?
Excellent idea. Please do. I walked the Southern most section of VDLP in April, and even with 3 liters of water and a silver umbrella there were difficult days, days I had to manage my water.I celebrated my 70th birthday a few weeks ago so I'm twice the age of that Italian pilgrim.
I think it might be sensible to put the Via de la Plata off until there's cooler weather.
I'll have a look at the Norte.
Unless you are used to exercising in the heat and able to carry at least 3l water (or more on some stretches) I would stay away from the Plata in summer! Have a look here: http://www.caminodesantiagotiempo.com/viaplata/index.htm for what to expect.
I know that is not what you wanted to hear, but several pilgrims had to be rescued last summer, and at least one of them sadly died, because of heat related problems.
Take care and Buen Camino what ever you decide, SY
I walked the VDLP in June/July but I have the advantage of being acclimatised to the Australian tropics so I am used to walking/cycling/exercising in high humidity and temps in the 30s. Before that I lived in the Red Centre so I know my limits in that dry desert heat. The summer conditions are like the desert. You don't see the sweat evaporate off your skin and that's where people get caught. The Almaden segment is hard and given the current conditions you really need to be out the door at daybreak. I am a fast walker so I know I would be there well before 1630h when this chap contacted emergency services. Because there is no guaranteed water on this stretch you need to carry a LOT of water. I tend to work on the presumption of needing a litre/hour. Which means 6 litres at my usual 5km/hr speed. Don't worry about the weight because you will use it soon enough. You need to preload before you are out the door eg drink a litre of water at least. I recommend practising drinking at least 3 litres daily in the weeks before you leave so that your body can handle maximal hydration. Carry sweet food because sugar breaks down to water. Electrolytes are worth considering. I had a 3 litre water bladder and I also carried Aquarius and juice poppers to alternate with. Your only hope of water in that park is the water trough in the park. And there is no guarantee that water is drinkable. If you are thirsty you are probably about 3% dehydrated.
I recommend a reflective umbrella to take down the temp around your head. And when you get to Almaden you need to start replacing your day's losses until your urine looks reasonably clear again.
The stretch between Merida and Alcuescar is another segment where people get caught. Stop for the night in Aljucen.
If you don't have experience of walking in hot conditions and don't have a good handle on what you are doing, it is best to avoid the VDLP at that time of year. And if you do walk, walk with someone in case you do get distressed.
The only places where it got obviously cold were Almaden where I found I needed the sleeping bag. However I am a person who cannot sleep well if the temp is under 20 deg-ish without a blanket or a sleeping bag. Compare that to my partner who will run the aircon...Hi, Donna,
I would like your advice about summer VdLA
First of all, have you experiences any real big temperature differences, such as really cold at night. We all know day time can be burning. If it was cold at night, do you suggest carrying a sleeping bag?
Although those things are great. Those Life Straws are wonderful inventions but it's more of a case of there is no water available rather than it being questionable on those really hot stages.Is it sufficient enough? That I have some safety measures: such as reflective umbrella used on the Camino de Frances in Italy in June/July, will bring electrolytes, water bladder and a Life Straw, which will enable me to drink from any water source. I am used to get up early and leaving the albergue around 6, and if I can 5:30am to beat the heat. I also have full body coverage if needed like in the dessert.
I don’t like heat and humidity, but when calls for it, I just deal with it. I was at India, and several Asian countries last summer very hot, but of course, not walk8ng with a pack.
The stretch to Almaden - the highway bit can be avoided with a taxi and that's about 17 km from memory. If the forecast is for a stinking hot day that may be a very sensible thing to do. I see one poor old pilgrim died at Calvary of heat stroke on a stinking hot day in 2017.Third, if it is needed to avoid those long stretches, is there a bus available or taxi only? Or no such option at all once started. I have 46 days to cover from Sellvia to Santiago via Sansabres, do want to break those 30+ days as much as I can.
Set off early at day break (I wouldn't bother with leaving in the dark as you gain very little unless the forecast is particularly ominous) and try to get to your destination by 2-3 pm at the latest. After this it gets stinking hot. Remember that Spain works on a quirky time zone (equivalent to Berlin when it probably should be the same as Ireland) so the midday heat actually happens mid afternoon.Any other suggestion do you have? By the way, I will train myself before leaving to keep in good shape. Hopefully to maintain 4km per hour on the road and get to my destinamtion no later than 4pm.
Also if a reservation can be made in advance, find a spot to rest from 2-4pm, and then walking, is it a good idea to avoid the mid day heat and to conserve energy?
Your help is greatly appreciated.
A fellow peregrina
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/my-vdlp-from-june-2015.32196/ is the thread that I wrote while on the camino during June and July. It mentions how much water I carried on some stages to give you an idea. However judging by the colour of my urine I was probably a little dehydrated on arrival most days so you really need to make a conscious effort to be well watered for the rest of the night.Hi Donna,
Thank you for your quick response. I am a person who gets cold easily. On my last camino on the French route, I brought a thin liner bag, and I had to wear all of my clothes at some nights and was envy those German pilgrims carrying good sleeping bags. The blanket was so thin in those public Albergues, I had used 2 or 3 blankets gathered from others who had adequate bag. I ended up bought a little blanket (thicker than the Albergues' one) at Lyon. I would never thought that I would be cold in the summer month in Spain and regretted. I feel like my cold tolerance is similar to yours. Maybe a 0.5 kg light fleece bag, temperature rating 10+ is worth taking? I also have a light down bag temperature rating 7+, weight may be a little more. That seems a overkill at the peak of the summer, isn't it?
No water source is a major concern, so carrying enough water, even extra water is crucial. This is important to know, thank you for pointing it out. By the way, did you bring a swimming wear?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?