Logrono to Burgos in January

[Peligro]

Dear all:

I have made it from SJPP to Logrono and I'm working on Logrono to Burgos at the moment. My tentative plan is to go mid January - I have miles on American and a 4 day weekend for MLK day. I assume the weather will be brisk or colder. Any thoughts or comments to help my planning? If any of you have done Winter walking I would love your insight as to whether the Albergues are likely to be open, if I will be extremely bored by a lack of fellow travelers, and any other comments you can share with me. Thanks in advance,

Don

 

[nycwalking]

I walked Feb. 2014. Albergues are open. But, be prepared to walk at least 25kms or so to find them. Also, non albergue accommadation is thin on the ground. It is very quiet on camino in winter. However, I really enjoyed myself. You will meet a goodly number of pilgrims on the way. Be prepared weatherwise lots of mud and wind. I often prayed: "please God no more mud". You should have a terrific time. Oh, take a bag. Some albergues do not turn on heat.
Buen camino.

 

[mspath]

Since you plan to walk from Logrono to Burgos particular
difficult stretches after winter storms might be from Najera to Santo Domingo de la Calzada or across the Montes de Oca from Villafranca. Fog, snow and ice could make these areas treacherous.

Not all albergues will be open, but the welcome at those albergues which are is often most sincere. Most will usually be heated and/or have blankets. Generally the hospitaleros know who is open on the next stage. Use this handy list of open Winter Albergues which can be downloaded from the Resource section of the Forum.

In cold weather never choose a bunk placed against an exterior wall since old walls are often uninsulated and thus frigid. All night heating is not the norm hence make a cozy 'sandwich' for sleeping by folding a blanket in half the long way, place your sleeping bag on top of the bottom half and pull the top half over all. If there are no blankets put your dry poncho beneath the bag to block cold air from rising.

Runner's winter tights, a long sleeve runner's shirt and loose socks as well as a warm hat are great to wear to bunk/bed when it is really cold. Over the past years the coldest I have ever slept on the camino was late February 2006 in the then unheated Hornillos municipal albergue. Breath hung white in the frigid interior air and ice formed in the toilet bowl. Nevertheless dressed as above I was snug in my sleeping bag and liner.

Do plan to carry some food always will you for many summer-only shops and bar/restos will be closed. Hence my food basics include tea bags, packets which make a cup of soup (even including croutons), firm cheese, small sausage, simple cookies and some chocolate. Nothing heavy but enough to exist for 24 hours if need be. On past caminos especially during storms when I stopped in small and remote albergues far from any supply source novice pilgrims have often staggered in wet, cold and hungry. They may have had the best gear but carried no food.
Hence be prepared!

Happy planning, stay safe and Buen camino

 

[SYates]

Use this handy list of open Winter Albergues which can be downloaded from the Resource section of the Forum. ...

Even better, use this direct link http://www.aprinca.com/alberguesinvierno/ to the website in question as the website is regularly updates during he winter. Buen Camino, SY

 

[mspath]

SY,
Thanks for the above direct link. However when it is hit a further gmail address pops up. Need one then ask in a gmail for the list?

 

[SYates]

No, none at all, when I hit the link just the normal website pops up. The Email address is for sending them info and updates. The website will be updated with info as soon as the first albergues close down for winter, normally in November. As the albergue situation does change frequently, sometimes daily, in winter, it is very important not to rely on any print outs but to always check the website itself. Buen Camino, SY

 

[Deleted member 3000]

if I will be extremely bored by a lack of fellow travelers

I met a total of 14 pilgrims in three weeks of January last year. Expect lots of time to yourself!

 

[Peligro]

Thanks for the input. It seems funny how hot I was walking from Los Arcos to Logrono in August without a cloud in the sky and not a tree in sight and next time I'll be leaving Logrono worried about staying warm. The Aprinca site should make finding a bed a lot easier - thanks!

 

[Myra13]

I walked last februari-march from Burgos till Ponferrada. I was prepared for cold en wet weather, but it were quite warm days. On the meseta the mornings were quite cold, I needed a warm hat and gloves. But around ten those went off.
I had a few cold nights, but because it wasn't busy I could use a few blankets. One or two blankets on the matress then my sleeping bag and a blanket on top of that. I wear a long sleeved thermo shirt at nights, but only once long thermo pants.
Most off the times I walked alone. But in most of the alburgues there were more people, from just one till about 30.
Because I have been seriously ill, I couldn't walk long distances, but only 15-20 km a day. But it was no problem at finding a alburgue. At home I looked on the internet which alburgues were open and on that planned my stages.
Enjoy your camino!

 

[Peligro]

I couldn't walk long distances, but only 15-20 km a day

That is more than most people walk in a week or two! Thanks, this trip is starting to come together.

 

[Peligro]

Has anybody stayed in Navarette? I'm thinking I can arrive in Madrid in the morning, get to Logrono and walk the 12 or so kms to Navarette all the same day. If I do this, I may need to reserve and/or prepay an albergue to be safe if I am running late. Otherwise I could just spend the first night in Logrono (it has the best tapas bars after all) and do the whole trek to Najera the next morning.

 

[ChristopherX]

Since you plan to walk from Logrono to Burgos particular
difficult stretches after winter storms might be from Najera to Santo Domingo de la Calzada or across the Montes de Oca from Villafranca. Fog, snow and ice could make these areas treacherous.

Not all albergues will be open, but the welcome at those albergues which are is often most sincere. Most will usually be heated and/or have blankets. Generally the hospitaleros know who is open on the next stage. Use this handy list of open Winter Albergues which can be downloaded from the Resource section of the Forum.

In cold weather never choose a bunk placed against an exterior wall since old walls are often uninsulated and thus frigid. All night heating is not the norm hence make a cozy 'sandwich' for sleeping by folding a blanket in half the long way, place your sleeping bag on top of the bottom half and pull the top half over all. If there are no blankets put your dry poncho beneath the bag to block cold air from rising.

Runner's winter tights, a long sleeve runner's shirt and loose socks as well as a warm hat are great to wear to bunk/bed when it is really cold. Over the past years the coldest I have ever slept on the camino was late February 2006 in the then unheated Hornillos municipal albergue. Breath hung white in the frigid interior air and ice formed in the toilet bowl. Nevertheless dressed as above I was snug in my sleeping bag and liner.

Do plan to carry some food always will you for many summer-only shops and bar/restos will be closed. Hence my food basics include tea bags, packets which make a cup of soup (even including croutons), firm cheese, small sausage, simple cookies and some chocolate. Nothing heavy but enough to exist for 24 hours if need be. On past caminos especially during storms when I stopped in small and remote albergues far from any supply source novice pilgrims have often staggered in wet, cold and hungry. They may have had the best gear but carried no food.
Hence be prepared!

Happy planning, stay safe and Buen camino

What an excellent posting. Thank you so much. I am getting myself ready to walk the camino in January and am so grateful to you for this information. I am now considering if I can afford (weight-wise) to also take a small electric immersion heater or even a mini travel electric cooker.

 

[ChristopherX]

Since you plan to walk from Logrono to Burgos particular
difficult stretches after winter storms might be from Najera to Santo Domingo de la Calzada or across the Montes de Oca from Villafranca. Fog, snow and ice could make these areas treacherous.

Not all albergues will be open, but the welcome at those albergues which are is often most sincere. Most will usually be heated and/or have blankets. Generally the hospitaleros know who is open on the next stage. Use this handy list of open Winter Albergues which can be downloaded from the Resource section of the Forum.

In cold weather never choose a bunk placed against an exterior wall since old walls are often uninsulated and thus frigid. All night heating is not the norm hence make a cozy 'sandwich' for sleeping by folding a blanket in half the long way, place your sleeping bag on top of the bottom half and pull the top half over all. If there are no blankets put your dry poncho beneath the bag to block cold air from rising.

Runner's winter tights, a long sleeve runner's shirt and loose socks as well as a warm hat are great to wear to bunk/bed when it is really cold. Over the past years the coldest I have ever slept on the camino was late February 2006 in the then unheated Hornillos municipal albergue. Breath hung white in the frigid interior air and ice formed in the toilet bowl. Nevertheless dressed as above I was snug in my sleeping bag and liner.

Do plan to carry some food always will you for many summer-only shops and bar/restos will be closed. Hence my food basics include tea bags, packets which make a cup of soup (even including croutons), firm cheese, small sausage, simple cookies and some chocolate. Nothing heavy but enough to exist for 24 hours if need be. On past caminos especially during storms when I stopped in small and remote albergues far from any supply source novice pilgrims have often staggered in wet, cold and hungry. They may have had the best gear but carried no food.
Hence be prepared!

Happy planning, stay safe and Buen camino

I have now ammended my packing list to take account of your ideas. Could I ask whether you also packed a mini travel cooker or electric immersion heater for those time when albergues do not have cooking facilities?

 

[mspath]

I took an electric water boiler coil to make hot tea or instant cups of soup inside albergues when all cafes/restos were closed.

Do indeed consider an emersion coil water heater, a cup which will not burn your lip and at least a spoon. These can help make your journey so much more comfortable especially in winter when many seasonal restos/bars will be closed.

For many comments/posts from other users see this earlier thread
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...ric-coil-changed-my-life-on-the-camino.19167/