Ibaneta (Roncesvalles Pass)

camster · Sep 4, 2018

Anyone has ever taken the route instead of the forrest (or both and can compare) while descending into Roncesvalles from Orisson?
Apparently there is a chapel and a monolith for Roland? Is it worth it or the forrest offers more?
and if you have picture -- the better

mspath · Sep 4, 2018

camster said:
Anyone has ever taken the route instead of the forrest (or both and can compare) while descending into Roncesvalles from Orisson?
Apparently there is a chapel and a monolith for Roland? Is it worth it or the forrest offers more?
and if you have picture -- the better

The chapel, Ermita de San Salvador, is new and on the edge of the N135 road near where you leave France at
Arnéguy and enter Spain. Walking the verges of this road down to Roncesvalles is much easier than taking the forest trail especially in bad weather.

camster · Sep 4, 2018

Ah gorgeous little thing!
So I'm guessing then the infamous 'brigde' or grid in the path like in the photo is seen when walking through the forrest path or is it elsewhere?

MelissaKay · Sep 4, 2018

If I'm not mistaken, you'll cross the bridge/grid much earlier on. The choice to enter the forest or the alternate route is right before going in to Roncesvalles.

jdpiguet · Sep 4, 2018

No, the "cow blocking" bridge is before the pass itself.
But the way via the road offers very nice views, is less steep, and from my point of view much easier walking at the end of the day...
Buen Camino, Jacques-D.

KinkyOne · Sep 4, 2018

camster said:
Ah gorgeous little thing!
So I'm guessing then the infamous 'brigde' or grid in the path like in the photo is seen when walking through the forrest path or is it elsewhere?
View attachment 45993

This one is on the Napoleon route. It's a cattle grid not really a bridge.

To make it easier:

1.) Napoleon route (https://www.gronze.com/etapa/saint-jean-pied-port/roncesvalles) goes through Huntto and Orisson to Lapoeder Pass (highest point) and on descend you have two options; either go left through the forest (that's what @mspath mentioned not advisable in bad weather) or to the right to Ibaneta Pass. At this point again you have two options for short descend to Roncesvalles; left through the forest or right on the N-135.

2.) Valcarlos route (https://www.gronze.com/etapa/saint-jean-pied-port/valcarlos/roncesvalles) goes through Valcarlos of course And again you have two options. Either you stick to the marked Camino or walk on N-135. The Camino is very up&down but the road is very winding and takes more kilometers I think. When you come to the Ibaneta Pass again two options (see above).

Hope that helps!

Felipe · Sep 4, 2018

You can see a lot of maps, descriptions and comments about this stage -in this forum and other online sites.
Basically, from Saint Jean PP there are two possible routes: by the Valcarlos village (lower, by local roads and a forest) or the Napoleon way (by Orisson, more scenic and difficult). You can also walk the latter and at Lepoeder mountain pass take the paved road to Ibañeta and Roncesvalles (the other option, by the forest, is a beautiful but steep descent). At Lepoeder, the easier way is indicated in a signpost as "Alternativa suave" (literally, "soft option").
Buen camino.

domigee · Sep 4, 2018

camster said:
So I'm guessing then the infamous 'brigde' or grid in the path like in the photo is seen when walking through the forrest path or is it elsewhere?
View attachment 45993

The grid is just past the ‘fontaine de Roland’ - what the pilgrims are taking pics of on your photo.
When you cross the grid, you are in Spain.
I have taken the forest path twice, the first time by mistake . I loved it, didn’t find it difficult so chose it the second time and .... found it tedious! I thought it went on for ever...(There’s no pleasing some people )
The 3rd time it was raining so went by the road. It is a lovely path!
The 4th time, the Pilgrim office in St Jean was warning NOT to take the forest path and as there had been heavy flooding the previous weeks, I headed their advice.

Felipe · Sep 4, 2018

I agree with @domigee, the Lepoeder-Ibañeta section has some very nice views. I post two pics, with the perspective to the right, and to the left of the way (where you can actually see the abbey, in the background).

camster · Sep 4, 2018

domigee said:
The grid is just past the ‘fontaine de Roland’ - what the pilgrims are taking pics of on your photo.
When you cross the grid, you are in Spain.
I have taken the forest path twice, the first time by mistake . I loved it, didn’t find it difficult so chose it the second time and .... found it tedious! I thought it went on for ever...(There’s no pleasing some people )
The 3rd time it was raining so went by the road. It is a lovely path!
The 4th time, the Pilgrim office in St Jean was warning NOT to take the forest path and as there had been heavy flooding the previous weeks, I headed their advice.

That's funny how your impression changed from the first time. Apparently the route is a tad longer than the forrest, but I think I've made up my mind. The route sounds nice and avoiding a little bit of mud in the begining of my camino is a good thing, too.

camster · Sep 4, 2018

Felipe said:
You can see a lot of maps, descriptions and comments about this stage -in this forum and other online sites.
Basically, from Saint Jean PP there are two possible routes: by the Valcarlos village (lower, by local roads and a forest) or the Napoleon way (by Orisson, more scenic and difficult). You can also walk the latest and at Lepoeder mountain pass take the paved road to Ibañeta and Roncesvalles (the other option, by the forest, is a beautiful but steep descent). At Lepoeder, the easier way is indicated in a signpost as "Alternativa suave" (literally, "soft option").
Buen camino.

Thank you for the tip!

camster · Sep 4, 2018

Felipe said:
I agree with @domigee, the Lepoeder-Ibañeta section has some very nice views. I post two pics, with the perspective to the right, and to the left of the way (where you can actually see the abbey, in the background).

Wow, impressive! Thank you for the pictures!

domigee · Sep 4, 2018

camster said:
That's funny how your impression changed from the first time. Apparently the route is a tad longer than the forrest, but I think I've made up my mind. The route sounds nice and avoiding a little bit of mud in the begining of my camino is a good thing, too.

The first time, it was sheer elation , I was so pleased to have managed that first climb. Also the excitement to be so near Roncesvalles (in France you learn about Charlemagne and Roland and Roncevaux even before primary school I think). And the forest was lovely and cool as it had been a VERY hot day.
The second time I was more ‘blasé’, probably thinking on the lines of ‘are we nearly there?

camster · Sep 4, 2018

domigee said:
The first time, it was sheer elation , I was so pleased to have managed that first climb. Also the excitement to be so near Roncesvalles (in France you learn about Charlemagne and Roland and Roncevaux even before primary school I think). And the forest was lovely and cool as it had been a VERY hot day.
The second time I was more ‘blasé’, probably thinking on the lines of ‘are we nearly there?

lmao 'are we there yet'.. yes I imagine I could think that too
I hope to have enough time before leaving to learn about such characters. I want to really understand the meaning of what I will encounter and grasp it while on the Camino.

Rick of Rick and Peg · Sep 4, 2018

camster said:
Apparently there is a chapel and a monolith for Roland?

Yes; they are in sight of one another at the pass of Ibaneta, the high point of the Valcarlos variant of the camino. Don't confuse the monument with the fountain of Roland which is near that cattle grid on the Route Napoleon variant of the camino.

camster · Sep 4, 2018

Rick of Rick and Peg said:
Yes; they are in sight of one another at the pass of Ibaneta, the high point of the Valcarlos variant of the camino. Don't confuse the monument with the fountain of Roland which is near that cattle grid on the Route Napoleon variant of the camino.

Great, thanks for clearing that up!

Anamiri · Sep 5, 2018

camster said:
That's funny how your impression changed from the first time. Apparently the route is a tad longer than the forrest, but I think I've made up my mind. The route sounds nice and avoiding a little bit of mud in the begining of my camino is a good thing, too.

I didnt take the forest route so cant compare, but found the road pleasant, with a bonus of lots of wild horses.

camster · Sep 5, 2018

Anamiri said:
I didnt take the forest route so cant compare, but found the road pleasant, with a bonus of lots of wild horses.

Oh! That's it, I'm taking the route for sure. I love horses so much it's not funny.

Nonnieto9 · Sep 8, 2018

camster said:
Anyone has ever taken the route instead of the forrest (or both and can compare) while descending into Roncesvalles from Orisson?
Apparently there is a chapel and a monolith for Roland? Is it worth it or the forrest offers more?
and if you have picture -- the better

Are you talking about Puerto de Ibañeta? If so, it was lovely ... I am unable to post my photos of it...sorry

camster · Sep 8, 2018

Nonnieto9 said:
Are you talking about Puerto de Ibañeta? If so, it was lovely ... I am unable to post my photos of it...sorry

Yes, in the descent towards Roncesvalles

Davey Boyd · Sep 8, 2018

I always take the right fork down the road to Ibaneta, it is very beautiful indeed! A little longer, but easier, especially in wet weather.

Davey

Nonnieto9 · Sep 8, 2018

camster said:
Yes, in the descent towards Roncesvalles

If contact me on Facebook (Carrie Allen Chase DeSalvo) I'll pm you the photos

MoniRose · Sep 9, 2018

Somehow I ended up in the forest. Looking back, I’m proud of myself for doing it, but at the time was very frightened. Once I made the horrible descent I never saw another soul, and there were a couple spots where I saw no arrow. It seemed like all afternoon but was probably just a couple hours.
Don’t know if I would do it again alone, but glad I did it once (and made it out before dark!).

Nonnieto9 · Sep 9, 2018

MoniRose said:
Somehow I ended up in the forest. Looking back, I’m proud of myself for doing it, but at the time was very frightened. Once I made the horrible descent I never saw another soul, and there were a couple spots where I saw no arrow. It seemed like all afternoon but was probably just a couple hours.
Don’t know if I would do it again alone, but glad I did it once (and made it out before dark!).

I was with a girlfriend....we loved the solitude--especially while we huffed and puffed as we developed Camino legs.

trecile · Sep 9, 2018

I took the easier route to the right both times. I didn't want to mess up my knees at the beginning of my Camino!

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Got my answer. Thanks

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