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Napoleon Route weather in April

C

caminotony

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Santiago-Finisteree 2016; St Jean-Pamplona 2017
We are planning to take the Napoleon route from St Jean to Roncesvalles the first week in April.
Does anyone know what the weather is like at that time of the year?
Where is the best place to get accurate, up-to-the-minute information?
Secondly, walking poles. Yes or No?
 
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Hi @caminotony welcome to the forum. The Route Napoleon may or may not be closed at that time entirely depending on the weather and you should seek the advice of the Pilgrims Office in St Jean the day before or on the day of departure. http://www.aemet.es/es/eltiempo/prediccion/municipios/pamplona-iruna-id31201 is as reliable as any other predictor and also contains historic data. It is completely impossible to predict the prevailing weather in a mountain system 4-5 weeks in advance.

Please use the search facility (top right corner of the screen) to access hours and hours and hours of contradictory opinion on walking poles. And then be guided by your own experience, fitness and mobility
 
In 2015 I had snow , hail, fog and sun.
As already stated , it is almost impossible to predict the weather .
Your question about the walking poles, yes or no ? Thats the question !

Wish you well,Peter.
 
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Weather is like weather in the mountains anywhere. Beautiful one minute ... potentially lethal the next ... all shades of grey between at any given moment ... in short ... not predictable.

The best place to get accurate up-to-the-minute information is on the mountain.

What you need to read into this is you should have the gear to survive the worst of it and know how to use it ... because there is no where to go to get out of it.

Read up on hypothermia ... the stuff that happens at 50F if you don't know it already.

Walking poles: not needed on the journey.
 
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In 2015 we walked the Napolean in head winds measured up to 147 km an hour. Without poles we'd have been blown back to SJPdP rather than eventually reaching Roncesvalles. There were many many times when all we could do was plant our poles and hang tight.
In 2016 21 yo niece walked the Napolean around the same time of year; glorious day, fantastic views, got to Roncesvalles in time for late lunch and never used walking poles for her entire camino.
 
First week April 2014 snow, rain & it was closed when I arrived in Roncevalles big spring storm hit just as I started the down hill to Roncevalles
 
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It sounds like you might be in our "posse" who are leaving SJPdP the first week of April. . . I will add you to a conversation group that we started.
 
Wait for another 2 weeks too inquire. Google weather roncesvalles and bobs your uncle. Pilgrim office in sjpdep will have up to date information. Buen Camino
 
In order to lessen the stress of the 1st day route choice concern....if you plan to walk the Napoleon Route...make your plan and then relax.

But...in the event that weather prevents walking the Napoleon Route..
Have a researched plan to walk the Valcarlos route. The differences are much less than the myths often make them out to be. I have walked both several times.

If you do not plan to walk through to Roncesvalles, you can sleep in Valcarlos where there are both albergue and pensions available.

Just simply have a good plan to do either and then relax and see what the good folks at the Pilgrim office in St. Jean advise.
Enjoy your adventure...
 
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Day 1 - A sunny start along Napoleon Route



Day 2 Foggy, chilly and wet from Orisson to Roncesvalles


Poles. I brought lightweight carbon, collapsible poles, just to humour my wife who is a diehard pole hiker. I tried them out on Day 1, ended up using them all day, every day. They definitely redistribute weight from the knees and ankles. I got used to them very quickly, they didn't hinder my photography, snacking or any other activities.
Weather along the Napoleon Route? April 2016, the route was still closed while we were in transit to Europe. Prediction was that it would be closed for another week after our scheduled departure. We arrived in SJPP to learn it had opened the day before due to a warm spell that melted most of the snow. We enjoyed a beautiful sunny Day 1 to Orrison ; a rainy, foggy Day 2 to Roncesvalles.
Camino Lesson #1? Weather is totally unpredictable. It is what it is. Be flexible in your planning.
Buen Camino
 
The weather on the mountain can be unpredictable, even hour to hour. Last April I walked the Valcarlos route. It was spring in the valley, stunningly beautiful! From the Ibaneta pass there are glorious views if you are not caught in the mountain fog, rain and high wind. A few who walked the Napoleon route talked as though they had bragging rights to something better. The Napoleon route is not better, just different. Either way is a challenge.

While some do not use poles, everyone who walks with them appreciates having them.
 
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Caminotony:

No one can answer your first question.

Poles are a personal preference. You should try them out before you go and then make a decision. I do not use them.

Ultreya,
Joe
 
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