Hydrate in this heat!

[K Turner]

I know you've heard it before and I apologize. I just wanted to emphasize the heat wave the last couple days. I'm in Santo Domingo de la Calzada after a 20km day in 97F heat and no shade. Well, there were two trees within a few miles of each other, so more than a dozen of us would huddle in the little shady spot. I live in Arizona and many pilgrims figured I'd be used to the heat, but I have better sense than to hike in it. You know how it is though when the Camino calls!

Have plenty of water if you're about to walk out here. Stay safe.

 

[Rich1]

Ditto - we are just before Puente La Reina and the last 2 days have been extraordinarily hot. Personally, I am amazed how people are stopping for extended periods then arriving at allergies late afternoon - it is getting hotter and hotter until about 4pm

 

[t2andreo]

In Spain, peak temperatures (and sun intensity) occur between about 13:00 and 17:00. Elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere, peak temperatures occur between 10:00 and 14:00.

Those of us coming from outside Spain need to factor this into our daily plans. Personally, I recommend getting up just before first light, and starting to walk at sunrise, or shortly before.

If you get the free app, eltiempo.es+ these daylight times are provided for almost any named place in Spain, and most of Portugal too. In general, this means getting up at 06:00 and starting out by about 07:00. This works from April through September. Outside this date range, you may need to adjust the times a little.

Walking a pace of 4 km per hour, on average, gives you about 24 km of distance until 13:00. As noted above, this puts you at your destination just as the hottest time of the day arrives.

Of course, there are many variables that can affect this equation. Folks who walk longer distances may need more time. Those who walk slower will need more time. Hilly terrain will slow one down as well.

Hope this helps.

 

[Rich1]

And that is pretty much exactly what we are doing Uterga to Villatuerga today 24km, left at 06.45, in at 13.45. Happy days

 

[lt56ny]

In Spain, peak temperatures (and sun intensity) occur between about 13:00 and 17:00. Elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere, peak temperatures occur between 10:00 and 14:00.

Those who of us coming from outside Spain need to factor this into our daily plans. Personally, I recommend getting up just before first light, and starting to walk at sunrise, or shortly before.

If you get the free app, eltiempo.es+ these daylight times are provided for almost any named place in Spain, and most of Portugal too. In general, this means getting up at 06:00 and starting out by about 07:00. This works from April through September. Outside this date range, you may need to adjust the times a little.

Walking a pace of 4 km per hour, on average, gives you about 24 km of distance until 13:00. As noted above, this puts you at your destination just as the hottest time of the day arrives.

Of course, there are many variables that can affect this equation. Folks who walk longer distances may need more time. Those who walk slower will need more time. Hilly terrain will slow one down as well.

Hope this helps.

Just downloaded this app. I am definitely going to use this app when I walk in November. Thanks so much!!!!!!!

 

[K Turner]

Ditto - we are just before Puente La Reina and the last 2 days have been extraordinarily hot. Personally, I am amazed how people are stopping for extended periods then arriving at allergies late afternoon - it is getting hotter and hotter until about 4pm

We arrived in Santo Domingo today at 3:30. We left at 0615 but we stopped at both trees to get some shade.

And that is pretty much exactly what we are doing Uterga to Villatuerga today 24km, left at 06.45, in at 13.45. Happy days

We have been leaving by 0530. In Arizona, USA, our peak hits around 1600 and we typically do things early in the summer heat.

 

[willydp]

@t2andreo It's working in Belgium too, so universal App.
Thanks a lot

 

[KinkyOne]

Ditto - we are just before Puente La Reina and the last 2 days have been extraordinarily hot. Personally, I am amazed how people are stopping for extended periods then arriving at allergies late afternoon - it is getting hotter and hotter until about 4pm

I would say "allergies" is a typo and you meant "albergues"

If you are listening to your body there's absolutely nothing wrong with walking/coming to albergues in late afternoon. I always do my research (infrastructure, water sources etc.) and never ever had a before 8AM start and I rarely ended my daily stage before 3PM even in a 40C heat (2015 on Levante) without any shade and limited infrastructure. We are just different. And I like to make looong stops or as I say "I walk fast, but rest slowly"

 

[K Turner]

I would say "allergies" is a typo and you meant "albergues"

If you are listening to your body there's absolutely nothing wrong with walking/coming to albergues in late afternoon. I always do my research (infrastructure, water sources etc.) and never ever had a before 8AM start and I rarely ended my daily stage before 3PM even in a 40C heat (2015 on Levante) without any shade and limited infrastructure. We are just different. And I like to make looong stops or as I say "I walk fast, but rest slowly"

Agreed! Had I not stopped for rest in those rare shady spots and tried to just push through, I would have ended up in a bad way. Most of us those really hot couple days started out in the dark and still arrived at 1530 and beyond.