July 2017

[Anna Young]

Hi all,

So I have just booked my flights! Officially walking the Camino Frances in July this year. Only 12 weeks away!

I know it will be hot - but does anyone have advice about how hot it can get? Also does this change along the route?

Other than, keeping hydrated, sunscreen and hat - any advice on walking in the heat?

Thanks,

Anna

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Long sleeves may help. Take a long sleeve T or look into sleeves that cool the arms.

 

[gracethepilgrim]

And a silk liner is lovely to sleep on (better to buy a double so it covers the mattress if you sleep on top)

 

[notion900]

You asked how hot can it get (click to enlarge):

That was 2 days last July, the 40 was in Lugo, Galicia.
Not normally that hot though, but often in the low 30s.

Some of my personal hot weather tips:
Sport sunglasses, not fashion ones. Glare alone can make you feel nauseous.
Pin a silk scarf to the back of your hat, to make it foreign legion style
Wear a long sleeved white top and cut holes for your thumbs to protect the backs of your hands
Dip your hat in a fountain
Wet your shirt as well if you get desperate, but don't use your precious drinking water to do that - only from a tap or fountain
Don't carry on walking if you feel ill. It's not worth it.
Kas Limón canned drink with a pinch of salt is a great rehydration mix - available in every bar!

 

[Former member 35551]

I'm seeing more and more people (still a very small group) talking about using an umbrella. At first I thought this sounded very cumbersome. However, it seems that most who do carry one, figure out a way to rig it so that they don't have to actually hold it and the reviews are overwhelming positive. I like to travel as light as possible and have made do with a Tilley hat and sunscreen but may consider a lightweight umbrella for my next trip.

 

[FeatherG]

'Listen to your body'! Best advice I ever got, from the owner of the albergue we stayed in SJPdP, @ dinner, night before our start day.
I heard his wise words many times that day (& later!) and was careful to heed his advice. Remember, it's not a race ... so,... take breaks and enjoy a cold drink and chats; visit the historic spots; take photos of the amazing scenery ... 'compare notes' in the evening (over a vino) with fellow caminoers! Stay hydrated. Keep your backpack as light as possible ... your back (shoulders, hips, feet ...!) will thank you. Your FEET are no. 1 ... comfortable footwear and socks ... and you'll be grand. Enjoy every minute .... the lead-up-to; the flight; the arrival ... it's an incredible journey. Buen Camino!

 

[domigee]

I'm seeing more and more people (still a very small group) talking about using an umbrella. At first I thought this sounded very cumbersome. However, it seems that most who do carry one, figure out a way to rig it so that they don't have to actually hold it and the reviews are overwhelming positive. I like to travel as light as possible and have made do with a Tilley hat and sunscreen but may consider a lightweight umbrella for my next trip.

I am one of the few who carry an umbrella and I've been called Mary Poppins I bought it for the Via de la Plata in June/July and indeed it proved wonderful in the heatwave.
I took it on the Camino francés last year and used it yet again.
I compensate the additional weight by not carrying a poncho (roughly same weight, about 300gr).
My reservations about light-weight umbrellas is that they're unlikely to withstand the wind. Walking to Boadilla last year the gusts were so fierce I thought I might take off, but my walking umbrella withstood it all.

Alternatively - and that is what I did on my 1st camino - start walking early. It was July 2012 and it was really hot, much hotter than it has been since.
No, it isn't a 'bed race' you just walk when it is most comfortable and stop when it gets too hot. I found that year that taking long breaks doesn't help as the heat does not decrease in the afternoon, quite the opposite....

But frankly, 2012 was the only year I found the heat too much on the camino frances, it isn't usually.... (Famous last words )

 

[notion900]

the heat does not decrease in the afternoon, quite the opposite....

That's very true. People often think that mid day is the hottest, but actually it is about 4 or 5pm.

 

[Mark Lee]

I've done the July-August Camino Frances (SJPdP-SDC) twice, and both times it was warm (quite warm some days) and dry. When I say dry I mean it never rained on me a single day. I could have left my rain gear at home.
I didn't need a sleeping bag either time, and a bag would have been too warm for me to sleep in (if I had brought one I probably would have left it on the donativo table in an albergue). I carried a faux silk liner instead. Worked great.
I really didn't observe much temperature change from one end of the Camino to the next. Sure, some slight differences, but nothing drastic.
I wore shorts everyday, and a hat. You definitely need a good hat and sunscreen and sunglasses. For me, at the most I only needed a light fleece to wear when it did occasionally get cooler, but I could have actually gotten away without one by layering up shirts. The days are very long.
Hydration is important as is carrying the lightest pack you can. In retrospect I could have carried a pack under 30L and around 5kg.
Check out this website for past years weather in Spain:
https://www.wunderground.com/
ultreia

 

[dougfitz]

For climatic extremes, the Spanish meteorological agency is another good resource. Start here: http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/efemerides_extremos and use the map to navigate. Its in Spanish, so you might want to open it in a browser that has a translate function.

 

[trecile]

I walked last year late August and September, and some days were very hot. Not 40C hot, but 35C was hot enough!
I survived it just fine by ending my walking day by 1:00pm, and I enjoyed the clear skies. I'll be walking in July this year, and my experience last year with hot weather made me realize that I can handle it.
I also brought a Euroschrim hands free umbrella, which was awesome for providing me shade on the Meseta. If I had set up a stand selling them just after Burgos I could have made a fortune.
At 389 grams it was the single heaviest item in my 7.5 kg backpack, but it was well worth it's weight. I especially liked not having to wear a hat, because they just make my head hot.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I'm seeing more and more people (still a very small group) talking about using an umbrella. At first I thought this sounded very cumbersome. However, it seems that most who do carry one, figure out a way to rig it so that they don't have to actually hold it and the reviews are overwhelming positive. I like to travel as light as possible and have made do with a Tilley hat and sunscreen but may consider a lightweight umbrella for my next trip.

The handless Eroschrim has a very long shaf, as well as clips you can use to attach it to a backpack. I just put the shaft through the backpack's staps and voila.

 

[Anna Young]

Thanks everyone! Great advice.

I have ordered a long sleeved shirt and I am going to looking in to umbrellaring.

 

[Kanga]

An umbrella has become part of my essential kit.

 

[freespirit]

Hi all,

So I have just booked my flights! Officially walking the Camino Frances in July this year. Only 12 weeks away!

I know it will be hot - but does anyone have advice about how hot it can get? Also does this change along the route?

Other than, keeping hydrated, sunscreen and hat - any advice on walking in the heat?

Thanks,

Anna

Hi Anna if you want to know how hot it can get Boiling hot, make sure you pack a hat and some sun cream ,I will be going back for my third Camino early July,on my last Camino in July 2015 it was sweating hot and take it easy, have a good Camino

 

[domigee]

Thanks everyone! Great advice.

I have ordered a long sleeved shirt and I am going to looking in to umbrellaring.

If you're thinking of buying an umbrella, Ivar now sells them it's the exact same one I have and they're brilliant.

 

[Gary May]

Hi all,

So I have just booked my flights! Officially walking the Camino Frances in July this year. Only 12 weeks away!

I know it will be hot - but does anyone have advice about how hot it can get? Also does this change along the route?

Other than, keeping hydrated, sunscreen and hat - any advice on walking in the heat?

Thanks,

Anna

I've just booked my return flight.....took a while to decide which one to settle on after factoring in several possibilities! What date are you flying out Anna? I'm arriving in SJPDP on 16th July. May see you out there!

 

[Anna Young]

I've just booked my return flight.....took a while to decide which one to settle on after factoring in several possibilities! What date are you flying out Anna? I'm arriving in SJPDP on 16th July. May see you out there!

I will be a bit ahead of you set off on the 1st July... getting very excited but also slightly nervous.

 

[Gary May]

I will be a bit ahead of you set off on the 1st July... getting very excited but also slightly nervous.

I don't think my pace will be that fast to catch you up! I'm sure the nervous will settle once you arrive and start your journey. I just want the time to speed up so I'll be there!!!

 

[freespirit]

Will look out for you Anna, I will be leaving St Jean on the 30th June,,good luck,,,, dont pack to much weight in your backpack

 

[cosan]

Hi all,

So I have just booked my flights! Officially walking the Camino Frances in July this year. Only 12 weeks away!

I know it will be hot - but does anyone have advice about how hot it can get? Also does this change along the route?

Other than, keeping hydrated, sunscreen and hat - any advice on walking in the heat?

Thanks,

Anna

I walked from SJDPP to Viana last July. It rained when we were crossing the mountains. We arrived wet and cold into Roncevalles and they didn't provide blankets! After that it was very warm and we coped by walking in the early mornings, starting at 6am so we were at our destination before midday. Buen camino