alan janette
Raw Runners
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Paris-SDC 2015; Norte, SSalvador, Primitivo, Muxia, Finnisterre 2016; Vdl Plata, Portuguese 2018
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Hi Alan & Janette! Sounds like quite a trip! Just so it's clear: you're going to walk from Arles to Somport, then to Puente la Reina, and then back over the Pyrenees (via St Jean Pied de Port) to Le Puy?
The Le Puy is a GR route so it shouldn't be too difficult to walk it 'backwards' (it can be very difficult going in the opposite direction if you only have the camino arrows to rely on - although the path from Puente La Reina is so well-trodden I doubt there's much chance of getting lost).
I counted the Gronze stages and it seems it might take over 10 weeks (I got up to 73 stages), but you'll have a better idea of your capabilities. The only other major concern for me would be the weather: spring can be very wet in Europe (and there will probably be snow at the higher altitudes), and in early April you will have the Mistral to contend with. Also, you might be aware of this, but the Arles route can be very isolated in places. In the Haut-Languedoc, for example, you won't have much access to facilities or resources (including water) for 20-30km stretches. Anyway, I think it's doable, but you'll need to be prepared!
Hi Dan, thanks for your reply and the great photos! Thanks for the tips on the Arles route, so you did it in 6 weeks an average of 23km a day? That sounds great as we usually average 25-30km a day. We're not too concerned about the wind or possibility of snow as we have experienced it before, we lived in the region for a time and yes the Mistral and Autan can be interestingJanette & Alan - read your site - very impressed. We are on the Gold Coast (the one below you!) We did the Arles route last year: 22 March - April - 3 May. Crossed the Somport Pass on 26 April. Beautiful weather. Snow on the ground. But only over the track itself on the final approach to the crest of the Somport. Then had to abandon the track and did the last couple of twists on the road to the top (links to pics available - send a PM). Cold but clear until on the flat in Spain the next day - but as you know, cold is good with a pack.
The Mistral: yes, it hit us from Arles to St Gilles du Gard. Very stiff. Wide open country. But doable. An experience not to be missed really.
The Autan: had never heard of it until we reached Castres (6 April). Made the Mistral feel like a breeze. Google it. We had wind over 100kph (not kidding) on the way to Sante Scholastique (Dourgne). Very tough. But again, it's doable. Wouldn't have missed the experience. Nearly all over by the next day.
We did Le Puy from the north in 2014 - arrived in St Jean pdP on 3 June - beautiful walk. Good weather. We love a cold spring. Just checked the pics - we seem to have had quite a lot of sunny days.
Happy to expand on all this if you wish.
Dan (& Anne - you'll see her enquiring on the Arles route forum about a diversion to Lourdes - we are taking our oldest grandson (he's only 17) from Toulouse to Pamplona next year (avoiding Puente la Reina) - leaving Toulouse about end March. We thought he would find the country from Toulouse to the mountains very interesting, and he can boast to his mates about crossing the Somport in the snow. About 500km should be enough for his first effort. The country out of St Guilhem le desert can be a bit tough for a couple of days for a lad new to the game.
Oloron St M to Sarrance, about to climb to Sarrance
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Father Pierre at the monastery in Sarrance - don't miss it - very good pilgrim accomodation (it was my 70th birthday!)
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Fr. Pierre's monastery leaving Sarrance for Borce
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near top of Somport track
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where the snow stopped us - became too dangerous a few metres further on
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Hi Vacajoe, thanks for your tip, yes the weather can be unpredictable in Spring. It will be ineresting to see what it's like when we're there.We crossed the Somport Pass on May 4th, 2019 in freezing temperatures and snow flurries, but the ground snow and ice was patchy enough to traverse safely. Just goes to show you that you can never be sure of the weather, even in Springtime.
Will do, thanks.In addition to the weather schedule, do pull out the calendar for Holy Week/Easter, and the French holidays in May (May Day, V-E Day, Whitsunday) which become long weekends with many walkers on the Le Puy route.
Just saw this Janette - be in touch soon - kids here for the weekend.Hi Dan, thanks for your reply and the great photos! Thanks for the tips on the Arles route, so you did it in 6 weeks an average of 23km a day? That sounds great as we usually average 25-30km a day. We're not too concerned about the wind or possibility of snow as we have experienced it before, we lived in the region for a time and yes the Mistral and Autan can be interestingand we lived in Canada running and hiking in snow. We will be prepared for that, but it was more the idea of walking the Le Puy backwards we are thinking about. How long did it take you to do Le Puy and did you start there or further north on the Geneva Route? As we're planning to walk it backwards, we're also thinking of continuing on towards Geneva if we have the time. If you're on FB feel free to link through from our website and send a friend request and we can keep in touch through msgr if you're ever coming up to FNQ you're welcome to come and stay. Cheers, Janette
Hi, no, we'll be on the Arles Route, Aragones and Le Puy-Geneva.We walked Biarritz to SJPdP to Pamplona to Sanquesa to Somport to Lourdes. Is your plan to do the reverse of a lot of this? If so, I have plenty to share! Walked in April/May 2019.
How was the weekend? We've decided our route for 2020 (thx to all the tips and sharing from everyone). So we will start in Montpellier April 6/7 and walk the Arles Route and Aragonès, then Puenta la Reina back to STPdP and onto Le Puy/Geneva (in reverse). We have 81 days so 25km a day should do itJust saw this Janette - be in touch soon - kids here for the weekend.
Dan
Thanks for your input, we've decided to start in Montpellier as we've lived in the Arles-Montpellier region in a past life (loved it at the time especially the Camargue) but we have time restraints for what we want to do so shortening the Arles Route accordingly. Lots of people say that it's their favourite, we're really looking forward to itI'm reading this totally out of context, as I'm just surfing the website this evening, but I can say that the Arles-Somport-Aragones-Puente La Reina route was one of my very favorites. I did it between September and October last year, and other than the very beginning between Arles and Montpelier, it was a dream. I also walked over Somport the year before (deviating from the Le Puy at Navarrenx) and loved it (fortunately, I had great weather). Happy trails!
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