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Hi - I've hiked up the Half Dome trail several times, as well as many others in Yosemite. The walk over the Pyrenees is on a one lane paved road for a lot of the way up. It is somewhat relentlessly steep up to Orisson, better after that. When you leave the road the path is well worn, you go up on paths for a ways, then it turns into a sort of gravel road, then back to paths. If you send your backpack like others have suggested you'll be tired but fine. Check out http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/crossing-the-pyrenees-hyperlapse.26568 for a speedy view of things. It should allay your fears. Above all, enjoy it. And I think I counted that I took over ten buses, planes and trains to get there, so know what you feel on that angle. But get there I did, and enjoyed it immensely - CherryThis is kind of an offshoot of another thread where someone mentioned that backpacks can be dangerous when going over the Pyrenees. I'm wondering just how dangerous the Pyrenees are. I assumed it was a fairly well established trail with minimal danger. I have some experience in hiking hills and mountains, such as the Half Dome at Yosemite and Harney Peak in South Dakota. Where would it rank in comparison to those? I am especially asking in regards to mid July travel. I know people can die on any high trail if they get lost or are in bad weather, but on a relatively nice weather day, how dangerous would it be? I'm taking my son, who is 16. Would it be too dangerous for him? I took my oldest son, who was 13 at the time to both the Half Dome and Harney Peak and had no major issues.
This response hits the nail on the head as to dangers. Perhaps dehydration leads to more of the other problems. Do your best to stay dry in wet weather; conserve sweat not water. That means drink more, slow down and try not to go like hell. The rule is drink BEFORE you get thirsty and then drink more. Remember there are 6 ways up any mountain: Drink, drink, drink. Eat, eat, eat... What we teach here to the kids is: If you find yourself lost, tie your shoe laces together and hug a tree.As is probably clear from the others posting on this thread the only threat on this track is typical unpredictable mountain weather. The hazard is disorientation in cloud and hypothermia, particularly at the end of the day when it gets dark and you are out of energy. There is also the potential for dehydration on a warm day ... there are only a couple of places with water. As indicated in other posts the wind can be quite forceful. The routefinding just below the col de Lepoeder where there is a junction with a GR trail and a road is somewhat confusing.
The trail itself ... You could drive a vehicle over nearly all of it and in fact a significant portion is paved road with light traffic on it. Most of the switchbacks have well defined short cuts.
This is kind of an offshoot of another thread where someone mentioned that backpacks can be dangerous when going over the Pyrenees. I'm wondering just how dangerous the Pyrenees are. I assumed it was a fairly well established trail with minimal danger. I have some experience in hiking hills and mountains, such as the Half Dome at Yosemite and Harney Peak in South Dakota. Where would it rank in comparison to those? I am especially asking in regards to mid July travel. I know people can die on any high trail if they get lost or are in bad weather, but on a relatively nice weather day, how dangerous would it be? I'm taking my son, who is 16. Would it be too dangerous for him? I took my oldest son, who was 13 at the time to both the Half Dome and Harney Peak and had no major issues.
I have some experience in hiking hills and mountains, such as the Half Dome at Yosemite and Harney Peak in South Dakota.
http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/movie-radio-buen-camino-a-r-r-i-v-a-l.12338
Gerry,
Have a look at this thread from GunnarW. The first video will let you see the Pyrenees Napoleon route, albeit on a beautiful day: the rest are really superb and the best I have seen on-line. Music is not too shabby either
Ultreia,
S.
If you don't fancy going over the mountain there's always the safer road route.
the main problem in wet weather is mud, it is very slippery going down the Spanish side (very slippery) and most people who didn't have two hiking poles or less were having BIG problems, some were breaking off branches to use, I heard of a woman who slipped and broke her leg, bone sticking out etc, air lifted by copter to hospital. I had two poles but got caught out just in veiw of Roncevalles, no problem though, just paddled into the stream and washed off. I wore sandals the whole way.
I wasn't planning on walking the Camino again for another 4 years but looking at the forum pages has made me seriously consider going again in 2016, it's so addictive. So I've started re reading J. Brierley's guide, 6th edition, that I used in 2010. Reading the 1st stage across the Pyrenees I noticed something I'd forgotten before. When I replied to your post last week I mentioned the little hut just inside the Spanish boarder, a true God send in the weather we endured that day. This hut is not mentioned either on the map or on the route notes but it may have been built just after the 6th edition was published; but it does mention a hut on the French side. I remember looking for this hut but I couldn't find it, though it may have been due to poor visibility and the fact the weather was attracting most of my attention. However, someone else said he did see a hut off the trail but it was locked. I don't know if Brierley's guide has been updated but I was wondering if the hut on the French side does exist and is the one on the Spanish side still there and is it as well equipped with fire making materials as it was, thankfully, four years ago? I was just wondering as if I do make the pilgrimage again in 2 years it will have to be in Mar/Apr again. I may not have stayed in that hut overnight but it still gets my vote for the most welcome sight on the entire Camino.
It's a hike, not a mountain climbing expedition. Japanese guy 85 years old with 79 year old wife both did it in late May carrying much bigger packs than my 12 kilo pack. Blind guy from Finland also made it with his wife who was pushing a baby carriage with two kids in it. Two young women also walked it while nursing babies less than 5 months old.
If Neil Armstrong could walk to the moon, you can walk over this hill.
I wasn't planning on walking the Camino again for another 4 years but looking at the forum pages has made me seriously consider going again in 2016, it's so addictive. So I've started re reading J. Brierley's guide, 6th edition, that I used in 2010. Reading the 1st stage across the Pyrenees I noticed something I'd forgotten before. When I replied to your post last week I mentioned the little hut just inside the Spanish boarder, a true God send in the weather we endured that day. This hut is not mentioned either on the map or on the route notes but it may have been built just after the 6th edition was published; but it does mention a hut on the French side. I remember looking for this hut but I couldn't find it, though it may have been due to poor visibility and the fact the weather was attracting most of my attention. However, someone else said he did see a hut off the trail but it was locked. I don't know if Brierley's guide has been updated but I was wondering if the hut on the French side does exist and is the one on the Spanish side still there and is it as well equipped with fire making materials as it was, thankfully, four years ago? I was just wondering as if I do make the pilgrimage again in 2 years it will have to be in Mar/Apr again. I may not have stayed in that hut overnight but it still gets my vote for the most welcome sight on the entire Camino.
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