Out of SJPP on Sunday April 30

[Shston Girlfd]

Am currently on the Camino Frances with limited connectivity. I had a horrific day on the trail out of SJPP due to the windstorm. I heard from some Portuguese pilgrims that several people had to be rescued. Anyone have any links or knowledge?

 

[HighlandsHiker]

Am currently on the Camino Frances with limited connectivity. I had a horrific day on the trail out of SJPP due to the windstorm. I heard from some Portuguese pilgrims that several people had to be rescued. Anyone have any links or knowledge?

Shston, it's really alarming and difficult, I know. They had 146K/hr winds there a couple of days ago (the day you crossed), in February 2017 and again in March 2017 . Same when I crossed in September 2015 - people were injured and rescued, and the Napoleon route wasn't closed that day. The only indication not to go up was from Caroline at Bourricot Express. I live in the mountains, and still didn't know that in the Pyrenees at that elevation the winds would be so much worse than down below in town. The day in September 2015, people were sharing stories that they'd seen or heard about evacuations and injuries, but it was hard to get any comprehensive information and I saw nothing online afterwards. That day, many turned back at Hunto and most who tried to go up the hill just after Hunto had to come back down because nobody could move forward into the wind. Twenty of us at least were huddled against an embankment for almost an hour because it was so hard to stand. If I find anything, will post it. So far just seeing old posts about the more recent ones (in French) that aren't specifically about the route Napoleon from Sudouest.fr. I'm so sorry that you and others were in that situation.

 

[Shston Girlfd]

Shston, it's really alarming and difficult, I know. They had 146K/hr winds there a couple of days ago (the day you crossed), in February 2017 and again in March 2017 . Same when I crossed in September 2015 - people were injured and rescued, and the Napoleon route wasn't closed that day. The only indication not to go up was from Caroline at Bourricot Express. I live in the mountains, and still didn't know that in the Pyrenees at that elevation the winds would be so much worse than down below in town. The day in September 2015, people were sharing stories that they'd seen or heard about evacuations and injuries, but it was hard to get any comprehensive information and I saw nothing online afterwards. That day, many turned back at Hunto and most who tried to go up the hill just after Hunto had to come back down because nobody could move forward into the wind. Twenty of us at least were huddled against an embankment for almost an hour because it was so hard to stand. If I find anything, will post it. So far just seeing old posts about the more recent ones (in French) that aren't specifically about the route Napoleon from Sudouest.fr. I'm so sorry that you and others were in that situation.

I got picked up and blown several feet twice before the snow and rain began. I had visited the pilgrims office evening before and knew to expect rain and snow, but that wind! Thanks so very much!

 

[Gareth Griffith]

I started my Camino from SJPdP on the 13th April 2015 and the walk up to Orisson was beautiful. We overnighted at Orisson and continued on the next day. The weather was fine until we got a little bit higher and then the winds became horrendous. We saw trekking poles blown out of peoples hands, hats blown off heads, at some points people were unable to walk forward and were able to just lean into the wind and hold their position on the hillside. There was an American mother Carol walking with her grown-up son Tim that we had talked with and shared a drink in Orisson who were split up and seeing Tim on his own I enquired about his mother. "She's turned round and is getting a taxi to Roncevalles."
When I met up with her at Roncesvalles I ribbed her gently about being a bit of a softie. She said that she'd managed to get the cost of a taxi down a little bit by convincing a few others to turn round too and shared the cost of the taxi. Carol did the right thing. Instead of pushing on and failing, requiring others to come to her rescue, she realised that things were getting too tough and made her own way to safety.
Just goes to show that it ain't just the snow that you have to worry about crossing the Pyrenees.

 

[Rick M]

I started my Camino from SJPdP on the 13th April 2015 and the walk up to Orisson was beautiful. We overnighted at Orisson and continued on the next day. The weather was fine until we got a little bit higher and then the winds became horrendous. We saw trekking poles blown out of peoples hands, hats blown off heads, at some points people were unable to walk forward and were able to just lean into the wind and hold their position on the hillside. There was an American mother Carol walking with her grown-up son Tim that we had talked with and shared a drink in Orisson who were split up and seeing Tim on his own I enquired about his mother. "She's turned round and is getting a taxi to Roncevalles."
When I met up with her at Roncesvalles I ribbed her gently about being a bit of a softie. She said that she'd managed to get the cost of a taxi down a little bit by convincing a few others to turn round too and shared the cost of the taxi. Carol did the right thing. Instead of pushing on and failing, requiring others to come to her rescue, she realised that things were getting too tough and made her own way to safety.
Just goes to show that it ain't just the snow that you have to worry about crossing the Pyrenees.

I'll second that! I walked that day with you, and recall we all looked a little shell shocked in the bar at Roncesvalles from that breeze. Following my wife up the pass, I laughed at one point how silly she looked walking sidewise........until I realized that everybody including me was doing the same thing.

 

[Mary Jo]

I started my Camino from SJPdP on the 13th April 2015 and the walk up to Orisson was beautiful. We overnighted at Orisson and continued on the next day. The weather was fine until we got a little bit higher and then the winds became horrendous. We saw trekking poles blown out of peoples hands, hats blown off heads, at some points people were unable to walk forward and were able to just lean into the wind and hold their position on the hillside. There was an American mother Carol walking with her grown-up son Tim that we had talked with and shared a drink in Orisson who were split up and seeing Tim on his own I enquired about his mother. "She's turned round and is getting a taxi to Roncevalles."
When I met up with her at Roncesvalles I ribbed her gently about being a bit of a softie. She said that she'd managed to get the cost of a taxi down a little bit by convincing a few others to turn round too and shared the cost of the taxi. Carol did the right thing. Instead of pushing on and failing, requiring others to come to her rescue, she realised that things were getting too tough and made her own way to safety.
Just goes to show that it ain't just the snow that you have to worry about crossing the Pyrenees.

Hi - I am walking the camino for first time. Will arrive in SJPdP at noon on Tuesday May 16th. I have reservation at Orisson that evening - in order for me to make it there before 5ish what would be a reasonable time I should leave to walk there? Thanks for any advise!

 

[Rick M]

If you are in reasonably good shape walking up hills, you will make it easily. Stop in at the Pilgrim office and check the weather first. Get your passport stamped. Have a bite to eat. Head up the hill. Most people can do this in around two hours. If you are older, or have done little training, it might take three hours. Its a short walk, about 8 Km, but very steep, and most people find that its quite a climb. Its almost all road, with a couple of short "scrambles" up a rocky trail. Its also beautiful. We left at about 2:00 PM and got into Orisson a little after 4.....