Le Puy route in January/February?

[Camino Nev]

Hi!

I'm walking from Prague to Finisterre soon and I will probably be close to the Le Puy stage around Jan/Feb. Does anyone have any tips for this time of year? Will it be uber cold (I plan to sleep out in a sleeping bag).

Thank you for any feedback!

Nev

 

[KiwiNomad06]

You might find it quite difficult to walk some of the Le Puy route at that time of year. In the first week or so there are several sections around 1000m- 1300m altitude which could be snowed in. Some years people find it difficult to leave Le Puy even early in April because of the amount of snow.
Margaret

 

[newfydog]

"Sur ce magnifique plateau granitique, entre burons et forêts, souffle l’esprit nordique : 200 km de pistes relient Brameloup, Nasbinals, Aubrac, Saint-Urcize et Laguiole.AUBRACCarrefour de toutes les stations du plateau, Aubrac est le lieu de départ idéal pour le ski de fond."

On this magnificent granite plateau between mountain huts and forests, breathes the Nordic spirit: 200 km of slopes connecting Brameloup, Nasbinals, Aubrac, Saint-Urcize Laguiole.AUBRACCarrefour and all stations of the plateau, Aubrac is the ideal starting point for cross-country skiing.

http://www.nordic-massif-central.fr/fr/les-sites/les-stations/espace-aubrac-54.html

 

[Camino Nev]

You might find it quite difficult to walk some of the Le Puy route at that time of year. In the first week or so there are several sections around 1000m- 1300m altitude which could be snowed in. Some years people find it difficult to leave Le Puy even early in April because of the amount of snow.
Margaret

Thank you Margaret. I'll make sure to bring with me a jumper then

 

[Camino Nev]

"Sur ce magnifique plateau granitique, entre burons et forêts, souffle l’esprit nordique : 200 km de pistes relient Brameloup, Nasbinals, Aubrac, Saint-Urcize et Laguiole.AUBRACCarrefour de toutes les stations du plateau, Aubrac est le lieu de départ idéal pour le ski de fond."

On this magnificent granite plateau between mountain huts and forests, breathes the Nordic spirit: 200 km of slopes connecting Brameloup, Nasbinals, Aubrac, Saint-Urcize Laguiole.AUBRACCarrefour and all stations of the plateau, Aubrac is the ideal starting point for cross-country skiing.

http://www.nordic-massif-central.fr/fr/les-sites/les-stations/espace-aubrac-54.html

Thank you newfydog. I might also then drag along with me the old pair of skis I have in my barn

 

[KiwiNomad06]

Thank you Margaret. I'll make sure to bring with me a jumper then

Put it this way Nev- first day on the Aubrac Plateau I was thoroughly saturated and cold just from the rain- fell into the gite at Rieutort d'Aubrac gratefully so I could change and shower to warm up. And that was mid April.
Margaret

 

[Camino Nev]

Put it this way Nev- first day on the Aubrac Plateau I was thoroughly saturated and cold just from the rain- fell into the gite at Rieutort d'Aubrac gratefully so I could change and shower to warm up. And that was mid April.
Margaret

I'm going to have to go that route Margaret. there's no other direct way from Prague. Thank you so much for this info. I now know I have an extremely tough section to get through. I'll manage it somehow...

 

[jirit]

Hi Nev

From one Nev to another, I suggest you check out Ann's blog

http://www.winterpilgrim.blogspot.ca

She has done a number of winter long distance pilgrimages including from Le Puy to Santiago which I believe she did from Aachen to Santiago in the winter of 2007/2008

Regards

 

[KiwiNomad06]

I just checked her blog jirit- and I see on her Santiago walk she cut across to go south via Orleans, Blois etc on the Loire. I seem to remember reading one post that dealt with a particular stretch of snowy, cold weather, but can't seem to find it.
Margaret

 

[Camino Nev]

Hi Nev

From one Nev to another, I suggest you check out Ann's blog

http://www.winterpilgrim.blogspot.ca

She has done a number of winter long distance pilgrimages including from Le Puy to Santiago which I believe she did from Aachen to Santiago in the winter of 2007/2008

Regards

Hi Nev! Cool name

Thank you very much. I'll take a read now!

Nev

 

[jirit]

And one more you

http://jo-camino.blogspot.ca

Her trip covers the Spanish section

 

[jirit]

I just checked her blog jirit- and I see on her Santiago walk she cut across to go south via Orleans, Blois etc on the Loire. I seem to remember reading one post that dealt with a particular stretch of snowy, cold weather, but can't seem to find it.
Margaret

Hi Margaret

You are correct.

Ann came down through France via the tours route bypassing Le Puy which makes perfect sense since she started her walk in Aachen the birth place and home of Charlemagne.

http://winterpilgrim.blogspot.ca/p/el-camino-to-santiago-de-compostela.html

 

[jirit]

Hi Nev

Which way do you plan to crisscross Germany ?

http://www.deutsche-jakobswege.de/wege-uebersicht.html

 

[Camino Nev]

And one more you

http://jo-camino.blogspot.ca

Her trip covers the Spanish section

Thank you so much Nev!

 

[Camino Nev]

Hi Nev

Which way do you plan to crisscross Germany ?

http://www.deutsche-jakobswege.de/wege-uebersicht.html

Hi Nev.

I plan to go through Nurnburg and then along to Rothenburg, then Rottenburg and out through Freiburg.

 

[jirit]

Hi Nev.

I plan to go through Nurnburg and then along to Rothenburg, then Rottenburg and out through Freiburg.

And from Freiburg ?

There is a route that goes south from Basel to connect with the Jakobsweg in Switzerland. From there you can continue west to Lausanne to Geneva to Le Puy and so on

 

[jirit]

And from Freiburg ?

There is a route that goes south from Basel to connect with the Jakobsweg in Switzerland. From there you can continue west to Lausanne to Geneva to Le Puy and so on

Come to think of it more, a more direct route and less expensive route is via Vezelay, which means you would bypass Le Puy

http://jakobswege-nach-burgund.de/Waldshut-Vezelay/

 

[Camino Nev]

Come to think of it more, a more direct route and less expensive route is via Vezelay, which means you would bypass Le Puy

http://jakobswege-nach-burgund.de/Waldshut-Vezelay/

Hi Nev.

Switzerland is out for me because in the summer I had my passport stolen on the Camino and I just didn't get round to renewing it and last week I checked and I need to apply through London because Prague doesn't issue them anymore. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I won't have it in time and will need to stick to the Schengen countries where there are no border checks. Thank you so much for the link to that site. Yes, Vezelay will make more sense because it won't involve such a high altitude.

 

[jl]

Hi Nev, you don't need to have a border check in Switzerland. As of about 18 months ago Switzerland is also a schengen state. When I went through Switzerland in May last year though the police were at the check point it was on other business and they were not a scrap interested in me or any one else going through the border crossing. As far as I recall Switzerland joined the Schengen states around Dec 2011. The Vezelay path is lovely (some road walking though) - great little refuges in 2009. The le Puy path has, on the aubrac plateau, the track signs on poles about 10 - 12' high - an indicator no doubt as to the depth of snow that is likely to be found there. Janet

 

[Kitsambler]

No border issues when I crossed at Konstanz in June 2013. The route through Rothenberg o.d.T would still be preferable for you, given the much lower elevation. The route from Konstanz at least as far as Einsiedeln (Via Jacobi) is quite rugged. In snow the footing could be fatally treacherous.

 

[Camino Nev]

Hi Nev, you don't need to have a border check in Switzerland. As of about 18 months ago Switzerland is also a schengen state. When I went through Switzerland in May last year though the police were at the check point it was on other business and they were not a scrap interested in me or any one else going through the border crossing. As far as I recall Switzerland joined the Schengen states around Dec 2011. The Vezelay path is lovely (some road walking though) - great little refuges in 2009. The le Puy path has, on the aubrac plateau, the track signs on poles about 10 - 12' high - an indicator no doubt as to the depth of snow that is likely to be found there. Janet

Thank you Janet. This is crucial information for me. I'll stick to the Vezelay path then

 

[Camino Nev]

Hi Nev, you don't need to have a border check in Switzerland. As of about 18 months ago Switzerland is also a schengen state. When I went through Switzerland in May last year though the police were at the check point it was on other business and they were not a scrap interested in me or any one else going through the border crossing. As far as I recall Switzerland joined the Schengen states around Dec 2011. The Vezelay path is lovely (some road walking though) - great little refuges in 2009. The le Puy path has, on the aubrac plateau, the track signs on poles about 10 - 12' high - an indicator no doubt as to the depth of snow that is likely to be found there. Janet

Thank you Janet. That's good to know. Still, I'll take the advice and go through Vezelay. Thanks so much! Nev

 

[Camino Nev]

No border issues when I crossed at Konstanz in June 2013. The route through Rothenberg o.d.T would still be preferable for you, given the much lower elevation. The route from Konstanz at least as far as Einsiedeln (Via Jacobi) is quite rugged. In snow the footing could be fatally treacherous.

Thank you Kitsambler for the info! Nev

 

[Harington]

Hi!

I'm walking from Prague to Finisterre soon and I will probably be close to the Le Puy stage around Jan/Feb. Does anyone have any tips for this time of year? Will it be uber cold (I plan to sleep out in a sleeping bag).

Thank you for any feedback!

Nev

The Massif Central will be under deep snow at that time of year. Unless you have Alpine/Arctic gear , you might want to rethink. Good luck! That's a terrific walk.

 

[Camino Nev]

The Massif Central will be under deep snow at that time of year. Unless you have Alpine/Arctic gear , you might want to rethink. Good luck! That's a terrific walk.

Hi! Yes, I have taken the advice to go instead via Vezelay. Thanks for the input! Nev