Napolean Route 2019

[Jen&Mike]

Howdy Pilgrims!

My wife and I will be walking the Camino Frances for the first time this spring. We are in the process of booking flights and such, but have a question about when the Napoleon Route opens. We know that April 1st is the first "official" day that the pass opens but that doesn't mean the weather will necessarily cooperate. April 1st is a few weeks off still, but is there a good place to check the forecast? Also, statistically speaking, how often does the pass actually open on or about April 1st? Do people end up sitting in St. JPP for days waiting on the weather?

Thanks,
Mike

P.S
This is our first post here and we absolutely love this forum. Thanks, Ivar, for hosting such an awesome space for virtual connections.

 

[RJM]

If the Napoleon is closed due to weather one simply walks the ValCarlos route. I suppose there are some with the time and resources to sit in Saint Jean for the Napoleon to open, but I would say most do not.
You may check out some of the web based weather sites and look at past year's weather at the first of April for that region, and as you get closer to April look at a ten or fourteen day predicted forecast they quite often post.

 

[Arctic_Alex]

I am in the same situation. I will start on April 3 ... and decide on the fly which route to take according to weather and advice

 

[wayfarer]

Welcome Jen&Mike and Alex. Check in at the Pilgrim Office in St. Jean and they will advise you on the latest conditions on the Napoleon, listen to that advise, they have your best interests at heart.
Stay safe and enjoy your Camino.

 

[Jen&Mike]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Looks like some others have posted similar questions. I guess there will be a few of us doing daily weather checks at the tourist office in SJPP this April. No matter what, I'm sure that whatever route we take will be the right one.

Buen Camino!

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Looks like some others have posted similar questions. I guess there will be a few of us doing daily weather checks at the tourist office in SJPP this April. No matter what, I'm sure that whatever route we take will be the right one.

Buen Camino!

April is twenty days away, and counting I hope things will look good for you all.

 

[sharpetravel]

There are no ‘wrong routes’ on the Camino. enjoy and buen Camino

 

[Kathar1na]

There are no ‘wrong routes’ on the Camino.

Well, perhaps for the record: as it turned out, the Route Napoleon was passable on 1 and 2 April 2019 while the pilgrims office advised against taking the Route Napoleon on 3 April and the following days because of snowfall.

The Route Napoleon would have been the wrong route on those days ...

 

[sharpetravel]

Well, perhaps for the record: as it turned out, the Route Napoleon was passable on 1 and 2 April 2019 while the pilgrims office advised against taking the Route Napoleon on 3 April and the following days because of snowfall.

The Route Napoleon would have been the wrong route on those days ...

As someone else said...follow the advice of the Pilgrim Office they won’t usually steer you wrong