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If you are walking the Valcarlos alternate route to Roncesvalles do be aware that
between Valcarlos and Roncesvalles there is no place to buy food nor is there potable water. Be prepared!
It will take you all day.I really have no idea how long it will take to walk from St. JPPP to Roncesvalles
I'm sure I can do without coffee that first morning as I expect the adrenaline to kick in.....
The difficult thing for me is that I really have no idea how long it will take to walk from St. JPPP to Roncesvalles due to the incline.
I remember that final climb on the Valcarlos way, puffing like a steam train, my pack felt like it weighed nothing, my thighs were burning and weighed 10 times more than my pack.Although I had walked throughout the summer hiking 20 k up the 1060 meter Ibaneta pass via the Valcarlos route the first time in autumn 2004 at 65 to the monastery at Roncesvalles was certainly the most physically exhausting day of my adult life then to date. I was pooped! Beneath a deep blue sky and brilliant sun I gasped and ached while my pack felt like bricks.
After about 5 hours I finally staggered over the pass into a picnic area filled with a munching mob; they had arrived by bus and cars! Never will I forget the look that one très correct French woman drinking champagne from a crystal flute, no plastic for her, gave me as I trudged past exhausted!
ET would have been better received....Nevertheless eventually I made it to Santiago walking slowly all the way.
Ever since for 10 more caminos via Valcarlos I always walked very easy. Daily distances cited in the guidebooks are not sacred; remember the fable of the tortoise and the hare.
Be prepared to pee behind a bush. Carry out your toilet paper!
Not at all true! There is one stop before Orisson at Hunto. Even accommodation possible there.Count on nothing after Orisson. There is nothing. There's nothing before Orisson either, so have coffee and breakfast in SJPDP.
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My info is not false. I have never seen this camper van, and it should not be relied on as a guaranteed source of food; if it's there, bonus. I've not seen Hunto open in my crossings. It is actually easy to walk past the fuente without noticing it, and I imagine in the mountain snow season it's turned off, but concede I may be wrong about that.Not at all true! There is one stop before Orisson at Hunto. Even accommodation possible there.
And as mentioned after Orisson there might be a camper van with snacks and drinks. Anyway from Orisson to Valcarlos there is one fuente (de Roland) and a very basic shelter (non-attended) further on.
Please do not post false info for the newbies!
You were saying there is nothing apart from Orisson and I replied that there are options.My info is not false. I have never seen this camper van, and it should not be relied on as a guaranteed source of food; if it's there, bonus. I've not seen Hunto open in my crossings. It is actually easy to walk past the fuente without noticing it, and I imagine in the mountain snow season it's turned off, but concede I may be wrong about that.
It is a mountain pass, please don't post information that will encourage newbies to treat it like a stroll.
I forget who said it, but was great advice- pack some energy bars to munch on. It is quite a first leg up to Orisson. Sunny and steep, with beautiful views of the valley. After a beer and filling my water jug, I took off a layer, which promptly went back on in the later foggy conditions. Of course, this was early April and conditions will be different now, however, as had been stated by others- don’t expect any food or cafe after Orisson! The leg after is beautiful and long. Take a breather every now and then, drink your water, have a bar to keep you going and you will have a nice dinner to lol forward to.Thank-you very much for all of your replies. Very much appreciated. Don't know why I am always thinking about food; perhaps that's something I'll figure out on my Camino! I'm sure I can do without coffee that first morning as I expect the adrenaline to kick in. Will stock up on some nuts and dried fruit the night before. Honto and/or Orisson will be good places to stop for coffee, water, toilet and maybe a sandwich or other food to put in the pack for later.
The difficult thing for me is that I really have no idea how long it will take to walk from St. JPPP to Roncesvalles due to the incline. I am probably a bit faster walker than "average" but do slow down going uphill and I have no plans to turn my Camino into a race.
As I said the van is there in the summer. I have never walked the Pass any other time of year. I wasn't suggesting it is always there. I always pack water, a sandwich and a banana when I walk out of SJPdP, Orrison, Carrion and....The OP says nothing about when they plan to walk. The van guy being there most summer days is meaningless for anyone not walking in summer. Just because the van was there today, does not mean someone should count on it being there tomorrow. If Hunto is closed, it might as well not be there.
Following your advice, some may set off without breakfast and without food, assuming those options would be there. They aren't options if they aren't reliable.
People ARE stupid, and irresponsible, and lazy, and a whole host of things that get them into trouble in the mountains. Our advice, IMHO, should be on the side of encouraging advance preparation for a long stretch in the mountains.
I have some nice pictures of the fountain too, but no horses were using it when I've been there.
You have a nice day too
Nope, that’s the overworked search and rescue teams...March on the Napoleon?As I said the van is there in the summer. I have never walked the Pass any other time of year. I wasn't suggesting it is always there. I always pack water, a sandwich and a banana when I walk out of SJPdP, Orrison, Carrion and....
The horses love the fountain in the summer, it is quite a sight to watch how docile and calm they are lining up for a drink. Sorry you have missed it.
Yes, people are stupid, irresponsible, lazy and a whole host of things in the mountians as well as on the Meseta, sleeping in albegues and a whole host of other places like cathedrals, taxis. But it not my job to look after fools.
Nice to hear from you! Well done for that first day and enjoy the rest of the Camino.Just to follow up.... we walked this stage on Wed. 8. The camper van was there. But so was the strong wind, hail, rain and thunder! What a dramatic day and food was the last thing on my mind! We had stopped in the Lidl in St. Jean the night before and bought food for sandwiches and snacks. We had our lunch in that little hut and were able to get out of the wind for a bit. To be honest, it was a great start--it was a challenge to move forward in that wind at some points, but we did it and it was very satisfying when we arrived in Roncesvalles. And has bonded us with others we have met on the Way who started their Camino the same day.
what is Lidi?Just to follow up.... we walked this stage on Wed. 8. The camper van was there. But so was the strong wind, hail, rain and thunder! What a dramatic day and food was the last thing on my mind! We had stopped in the Lidl in St. Jean the night before and bought food for sandwiches and snacks. We had our lunch in that little hut and were able to get out of the wind for a bit. To be honest, it was a great start--it was a challenge to move forward in that wind at some points, but we did it and it was very satisfying when we arrived in Roncesvalles. And has bonded us with others we have met on the Way who started their Camino the same day.
As far as I am aware, I think market day in St Jean is only on Mondays, from 8 till 13.00.It is a cheap supermarket. If you can go to the local market where they have home made bread , sausage etc that would be nicer
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