how fit is fit? Route Napoleon or Road route...

[anne-marie valton]

We are starting off from SJPP on the 15th of august - (is that a public holiday?) and we cannot make up our minds which way to go. We are a little "frightened" by so many saying that the route Napoleon is very hard... We are not top athletes though..
Would anyone give us a good advice? We are two women - 57and 61 - the last couple of months we have been walking 20-23 km a week with 5 kg backpack, now almost everyday but shorter distances...
May be we should not decide until we are there..? Which road is taken by most peregrinos?
Anne-Marie :roll:

 

[Peter Robins]

15th of august - (is that a public holiday?)

yes, the Assumption is a public holiday in both France and Spain

 

[anne-marie valton]

Thank you Peter... Would there be a bus service from Pamplona on that day do you think?
Anne-Marie

 

[Ulysse]

I replied to you yesterday that there is no busses (as far as I was able to see) on the 15th.
Check my reply.

 

[Ulysse]

Without hesitation take the route Napoleon. If you are tired stop at the nice albergue Orisson and go on the following day.

It is worth doing, believe me. When you get to the top you can either take the road or the steep path through the forest to get to Roncevaux. Judge which road when you get there. If it rains the downhill path is slippery but you can do it ... especially at your age :lol:

 

[Hugh]

Advice from Ulysse is good. Follow it and you wont go wrong!

 

[anne-marie valton]

How fit is fit?

Thank you for your advice - now we have decided to take the route Napoleon - and only the weather can keep us from that...
We start our Camino on the 16th of August from SJPdP - hope to see some of you guys!!
Lots of love to all.
Anne-MArie

 

[rchardwiick]

Last week (25 July 2006) we walked the route Napoleon from Saint Jean le Vieux to Roncesvalles (29 km)

No physical difficulty, but clouds were low and it was good to have map (1mm = 200m), compass, and gps

See my site

My pack weighed 15kg
I will be 66 this month.
I am supremely unathletic

Richard H

 

[Hugh]

Your GPS must be very heavy! Are there any other items you think you could discard to lighten the load?

 

[rchardwiick]

My gps weighs 162 g (5.7 ounces)
Richard H

 

[Minkey]

The Route Napolean is alright in good weather, just seems to go up and up forever, then there's a nasty 45 degree slope to Roncesvalles, be warned....!

My eyes went funny in the clouds, but I think you'll be fine. Just pace yourselves!

I'm picking the camino up from Burgos in a week and a half and I'm itching to get back on it!

Buen Camino!

 

[anne-marie valton]

Thanks to all who have taken the time to answer me. We have now decided to take the Route Napoleon if weather permits - and to stay the first night(from the 16th to 17th august) in Orisson ( have already booked two beds!).
My backpack is ready now and weighs 9.1 kilos (without water that is) and I hope I will be all right. Just bought (again) a new backpack, the lighter one I had (1.5 kilos- takes 30litres))) was not good for my hips. I just bought a Fjallraven 50 l) and this one has good hip support and lots of adjustments to fit just me...I now have got some empty space and I will not fill it up! Just remember someone (in here?) saying that if you have the correct backpack it does not matter so much if it weighs 7 or 10 kilos.. trust that is right.
Now I cannot wait to get started! AM taking a flight to Barcelona from Copenhagen on monday 14th and then the night train to Pamplona - and maybe a taxi? from there to SJPdP. Time will show. God bless you all and "au revoir".
Anne-Marie :roll:

 

[Minkey]

Just a quick word of advice... Try to whittle down the weight of your pack. 9kg seems a little heavy to me. You'll only need three sets of clothes!

 

[rchardwiick]

"9kg seems a little heavy to me. "
? Ergonomics!! I'd rather 15 kg in my best pack (Deuter) than 9 kg in my Gregory, or 5 kg in my BB Yukon
And see eighty miles (130 km) in three days ...
the average weight was 60-70 lbs (27-32 kg)

 

[Minkey]

I'm not discounting fit etc, all I'm saying is that if you don't really need it, then why haul it over the Pyrenees!

and another thing, I don't really see the Camino as a "yomp". Why carry unnecessary kit?! Fit + less weight will surely make life easier...