Route Napoleon winter closure reminder

[Bradypus]

A Navarra website has published a reminder that the high-level route from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles via the Col de Lepoeder is officially closed from 1 November to 31 March. This will be the fourth year in which the route has been closed over the winter months by local law for the safety of prospective pilgrims and the rescue teams who in the past have often been called out in severe weather to rescue those who have endangered themselves and their rescuers by ill-prepared attempts at the crossing.

https://www.diariodenavarra.es/noti...lado-lepoeder-camino-santiago-617284-300.html

 

[Former member 49149]

Rab, thanks! Forgive me, i just so love that character!

 

[SabsP]

A Navarra website has published a reminder that the high-level route from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles via the Col de Lepoeder is officially closed from 1 November to 31 March. This will be the fourth year in which the route has been closed over the winter months by local law for the safety of prospective pilgrims and the rescue teams who in the past have often been called out in severe weather to rescue those who have endangered themselves and their rescuers by ill-prepared attempts at the crossing.

https://www.diariodenavarra.es/noti...lado-lepoeder-camino-santiago-617284-300.html

I really really hope that next season we will not have to read about rescue actions!

 

[MsBeckyO]

Thanks for the reminder. I start on 3rd November. So nervous!!
I was originally looking forward to walking over the Pyranees but I looked at the Valcarlos route and it looks beautiful too.

 

[VNwalking]

I start on 3rd November. So nervous!!

The Valcarlos route will not disappoint, Becky. It is gorgeous. And it is the more authentic way as well. The primacy of the Napoleon is a recent development, helped along by the mythology of Hollywood, Shirley Maclaine, and Paulo Coelho. But your footsteps will be treading the older route.
May you have a very Buen Camino!

 

[Monasp]

From 1st of November 2018 Napoleon Road will be closed untill 31 March 2019 by Government of Navarra. You can see here the decret
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...&set=gm.2129595517071909&type=3&theater&ifg=1

 

[Pelegrin]

There will be snow in Roncesvalles and O Cebreiro this weekend.
Be careful

 

[Monasp]

The Valcarlos route will not disappoint, Becky. It is gorgeous. And it is the more authentic way as well. The primacy of the Napoleon is a recent development, helped along by the mythology of Hollywood, Shirley Maclaine, and Paulo Coelho. But your footsteps will be treading the older route.
May you have a very Buen Camino!

The first Camino starts at St Michel and don't go by Valcarlos

 

[Stivandrer]

I arrived on a Wednesday in SJPdP in late April last year, and the pass was closed due to snowing, Thursday, I chose to take the Valcarlos and it was quiet and beautiful, traffic stretches excepted and the sudden rise from 400 mtrs to 1000 after Valcarlos itself took my last reserves of air.
As soon as I entered the Roncevalles Monastery, it started to snow !
You have got to have a certain amount of respect for the Pyrenees...