Madness In January??

[lullymore]

Hi, Is it crazy to try this? From Ireland at this time, flights do not go anywhere but Madrid. So having enquired a bit, if I took a train to Sahagun, what would the rest of the route be like? Peter

 

[brendan nolan]

Hi Peter,
Welcome to the Forum.
Regarding 'madness'; at least a little madness is needed by anyone doing the Pilgrimage to Santiago; January has different problems to July.
Starting at Sahagun you have about 365 km to walk but you are also at a height of 816 metres. The early part is flat, 1st day not many places to get food, (buy the night before) and fairly exposed but well worth going on the Calzada de los Peregrinos (older route) to Mansilla de las Mulas. After Astorga you climb into the Montes de Leon, rising, after Rabanal del Camino, to over 1500 metres at the Cruz de Ferro. The route drops to lower heights but rises again to approx 1300 metres at O Cebreiro.
The main point is that you should expect difficult winter conditions - walking through snow is much more tiring than a clear route; maybe mud is worse but probably you can expect that in winter. There are some photos, posted recently on the forum showing snow in April 2007 after Burgos - but the section you are walking will be more severe.
The other thing to take account of is that some hotels and refugios are closed in winter; The CSJ have a publication for Winter Pilgrims.
Enjoy your preparations, and if you think of more things to ask, feel free.
Buen Camino,
Brendan

 

[lullymore]

Brendan, thanks for all your information, lots to think about there, I appreciate your reply, kind regards, Peter

 

[Javier Martin]

Yes, Lullymore, problems in winter are the next:

- Any albergues may be closed. Ask in prior albergues about.
- Darkness begins quite early, not later than 17:30 - 18:00. In that conditions is more difficult to see the yellow arrows.
- ¿Cold? For me it's just a problem when I'm not walking. The exercise keep you warm.
- Nobody on the Caminos. For me it's not really a problem.

You will have all the hot water in the albergues for you.

Enjoy it!! As I have no holidays on winter, this year I only will walk "La Clásica" (Astorga-Ponferrada) any weekend in february.

Buen Camino,

Javier Martin
Madrid, Spain.

 

[jacobo]

I will be back on the camino in January. The weather can either be good or terrible. It will surely be cold in the morning. You just have to be lucky, and, like the other pilgrims already stated: not many services are open, so carry food and drinks in your backpack.

 

[Dilbin]

Hi, Is it crazy to try this? From Ireland at this time, flights do not go anywhere but Madrid. So having enquired a bit, if I took a train to Sahagun, what would the rest of the route be like? Peter

Peter. Would you not consider walking the Camino Mozarbe from Malaga or Almeria. You can fly to Malaga from Shannon or Dublin. Warmer temps right up as far as where you join the Via de la plata

 

[SabsP]

Peter. Would you not consider walking the Camino Mozarbe from Malaga or Almeria. You can fly to Malaga from Shannon or Dublin. Warmer temps right up as far as where you join the Via de la plata

The OP posted this in October 2007 and has not been on this forum since December 2007.
Your advice stays timeless of course...

 

[Dilbin]

The OP posted this in October 2007 and has not been on this forum since December 2007.
Your advice stays timeless of course...

Maybe he is still making up his mind.

 

[Turga]

Maybe he is still making up his mind.

Yes - haste makes waste!