sabbott
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances (SJPP to Ponferrada) 2016
Camino Invierno 2016
I've been walking the Camino Frances for over a week, and thought I should report in, given all my asking for advice ahead of my Camino. In a nutshell, this is a wonderful experience, more than I hoped for, and different than I could have imagined.
A couple things that might help others preparing to leave soon (forgive any typos as I'm typing in the dark on my phone with one finger):
--I made up my mind at the last minute at St Jean to hike over the pass, and am so glad I did. It was exhilarating. I was very lucky with the weather the 2 days I hiked over (I stayed at Orrison, and would have had a very hard time doing it in a day). The next day there was snow, hail, sleet and vertical wind.
--it's been chilly especially in mornings and evenings here in Navarre. Not much rain but a cool wind. I'm very glad I brought my lined rain pants, and am wearing them for warmth until afternoons heat up. My down jacket or wool base layer which I didn't bring would have been nice in the evenings, but I probably would still leave them home as I'd be carrying them when walking. But it isn't warm here yet, so pack your layers.
--some pilgrims have complained that it's crowded, but I am walking alone most of the time, meaning I see no one ahead or behind me for long stretches. I'm comfortable with this, in fact prefer it--but if you are traveling solo, you will probably find yourself alone when walking unless you deliberately hook up with someone.
--on the other hand, albergues, some anyway in smaller towns, are booking up. I am figuring out how far I want to go each day, and booking ahead if I can for the next night. I'm slow, and arrive at 4:0o or 5:00 pm, so it's harder to be assured of a bed, and I like knowing I'll have one. But I'm also not worrying about it, no need for fear of scarcity here, that's a good Camino lesson.
--my running shoes are keeping my feet happy. No problems with sneakers in combination with mud or rocks. Plenty of both, including on downhill stretches, and I'm not sure I could have managed those safely without poles. Love my Pacer Poles....
--as the Old Camino Hands predicted, as soon as I started walking, I forgot about gear lists, fears, and assorted albergue anxieties. It's all good....
A couple things that might help others preparing to leave soon (forgive any typos as I'm typing in the dark on my phone with one finger):
--I made up my mind at the last minute at St Jean to hike over the pass, and am so glad I did. It was exhilarating. I was very lucky with the weather the 2 days I hiked over (I stayed at Orrison, and would have had a very hard time doing it in a day). The next day there was snow, hail, sleet and vertical wind.
--it's been chilly especially in mornings and evenings here in Navarre. Not much rain but a cool wind. I'm very glad I brought my lined rain pants, and am wearing them for warmth until afternoons heat up. My down jacket or wool base layer which I didn't bring would have been nice in the evenings, but I probably would still leave them home as I'd be carrying them when walking. But it isn't warm here yet, so pack your layers.
--some pilgrims have complained that it's crowded, but I am walking alone most of the time, meaning I see no one ahead or behind me for long stretches. I'm comfortable with this, in fact prefer it--but if you are traveling solo, you will probably find yourself alone when walking unless you deliberately hook up with someone.
--on the other hand, albergues, some anyway in smaller towns, are booking up. I am figuring out how far I want to go each day, and booking ahead if I can for the next night. I'm slow, and arrive at 4:0o or 5:00 pm, so it's harder to be assured of a bed, and I like knowing I'll have one. But I'm also not worrying about it, no need for fear of scarcity here, that's a good Camino lesson.
--my running shoes are keeping my feet happy. No problems with sneakers in combination with mud or rocks. Plenty of both, including on downhill stretches, and I'm not sure I could have managed those safely without poles. Love my Pacer Poles....
--as the Old Camino Hands predicted, as soon as I started walking, I forgot about gear lists, fears, and assorted albergue anxieties. It's all good....
Last edited:
