Huntto/Orisson

[thruhiker]

If the weather looks good I should be in position to head out of St, Jean on March 26. Can someone confirm that Orisson will not be open at that time. I sent an email to the owner but have not heard a thing. I been thinking of staying a night in Bayonne, take the train in the morning to St. Jean, and maybe hike up to Huntto which I understand isn't too far away. Looks like the only stage you have to do a little planning is the first one so I am trying to check out the options. If I go this way it looks like I will have to pick up some snacks/candy bars in St. Jean since I assume there isn't much to buy in Huntto. When I fly into France I am not planning to take any food and will resupply in St. Jean.

Also it looks like there are no resupply options in Roncesvalles but there are towns a short way down the road. I have been checking the weather in St. Jean which has been good for hiking but who knows what it going to be like when I get there.

Last question is the ground snow covered at the top?

 

[geordie63]

Hi there,
I'm in almost exactly the same position as you. Me & my friend will be arriving in St. Jean on Monday, March 26th. I emailed Orisson to ask if they had availability however I received a reply from the owner who said he didn't know if he'd be open & it depended on the weather & I should phone him the day before.
I was thinking that if I arrive in St. Jean at a reasonable time I might start off straight away & head up to Huntto (assuming it's open) as it's only 5km away and shouldn't take too long to get to. It'll also make the next day's hike to Roncesvalles that bit shorter.
I've no idea about the snow but the weather for next week doesn't look too bad so hopefully I'll be able to get some idea of the weather for when I arrive later this week. I'd check with the Pilgrim's office in St. Jean first though.
May well catch up with you somewhere along the way.
Have a good one.
Regards,
Dave

 

[thruhiker]

Hi there,
I'm in almost exactly the same position as you. Me & my friend will be arriving in St. Jean on Monday, March 26th. I emailed Orisson to ask if they had availability however I received a reply from the owner who said he didn't know if he'd be open & it depended on the weather & I should phone him the day before.
I was thinking that if I arrive in St. Jean at a reasonable time I might start off straight away & head up to Huntto (assuming it's open) as it's only 5km away and shouldn't take too long to get to. It'll also make the next day's hike to Roncesvalles that bit shorter.
I've no idea about the snow but the weather for next week doesn't look too bad so hopefully I'll be able to get some idea of the weather for when I arrive later this week. I'd check with the Pilgrim's office in St. Jean first though.
May well catch up with you somewhere along the way.
Have a good one.
Regards,
Dave

Dave I get into the area late Sunday but I am going to take a zero or near zero day in St. Jean before starting up the mountain. But resting up and hiking up after a mid-day lunch in town to Huntto is sort of the way I leaning now. Looks like I may meet up with your party.

 

[geordie63]

Ok well after a short enough flight from Dublin I've a taxi booked from the airport to take me to St. Jean. Should get there about 5pm. After a visit to the pilgrim's office I think I might start walking upto Huntto straight away. A 5km walk to Huntto followed by a night's rest & then 20km to Roncesvalles the following day seems preferable to 25km of mountains in one day.

 

[thruhiker]

Ok well after a short enough flight from Dublin I've a taxi booked from the airport to take me to St. Jean. Should get there about 5pm. After a visit to the pilgrim's office I think I might start walking upto Huntto straight away. A 5km walk to Huntto followed by a night's rest & then 20km to Roncesvalles the following day seems preferable to 25km of mountains in one day.

I hope to see you along the way.

 

[geordie63]

Lol. Definitely not a lady to mess with by the sounds of it. I'm English but have lived here in The Emerald Isle for many years now so I'm used to the Irish humour. All good fun.
Hopefully catch up with you in Huntto in a couple of weeks or somewhere along the way.
Best wishes,
Dave