Sanabres section of Vdlp in winter?

[Pierre Julian]

I'm walking the Via de la Plata from Seville on January 12/13.
I was going to do it for only two weeks, but now I'm thinking seriously of going all the way to Santiago via the Sanabres, and taking more time off work. What would the Sanabres be like in February? Doable or battling with rain cold and snow? Thanks.

 

[Momonne]

Quite a number of people walking the Invierno (relatively speaking) at the moment, and there is no sign of a single snow flake on the ground. Perhaps you’d be interested in the Invierno’s FB page. Since the Sanabres merges with the Invierno, it might give you a good idea of what you might expect.

 

[Pierre Julian]

Thanks Momonne, that's a great idea, I'll look now. I'm getting some of these different routes mixed up. I wish I could find a clear good map of the different Caminos. Best wishes,

 

[Momonne]

Thanks Momonne, that's a great idea, I'll look now. I'm getting some of these different routes mixed up. I wish I could find a clear good map of the different Caminos. Best wishes,

Pierre, here is a good map.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=mapa...8&hl=fr-ca&client=safari#imgrc=MgMyQlOU11qFjM:

The Invieno is the one that starts from Ponferrada (purple). The Sanabres is the teal one, starting in Granja.

 

[Pierre Julian]

Thanks for that, I found it.

 

[peregrina2000]

Quite a number of people walking the Invierno (relatively speaking) at the moment, and there is no sign of a single snow flake on the ground. Perhaps you’d be interested in the Invierno’s FB page. Since the Sanabres merges with the Invierno, it might give you a good idea of what you might expect.

Hi, Momonne, don't mean to derail this thread, but I wonder if you could post a link to the facebook page you are referring to. I have seen two different Invierno facebook pages but don't see any references to people walking there now.

As far as the OP's question about weather in February, I think it would be foolish to hazard a guess, because just about anything except summer-like temperatures seems to be possible. I would go prepared for everything from sunny and warm-ish to cold and rainy/snowy.

And for the map, I highly recommend the one you can buy from Ivar. It is a real map, not a schematic one, and it provides endless hours of camino dreaming. https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/this-map-is-great.51957/

And it seems to be available now, better grab it because it is always selling out! https://www.santiagodecompostela.me/collections/guide-books. (first item listed in this section of the store).

Buen camino, Laurie

 

[Momonne]

... don't mean to derail this thread, but I wonder if you could post a link to the facebook page you are referring to. I have seen two different Invierno facebook pages but don't see any references to people walking there now.

Buen camino, Laurie

It’s called Camino de Santiago de Invierno nd has 11k members. One person has been posting since leaving Ponferrada on Christmas Eve. Also posts from the owners of Bar Mar, last one December 29th, of pilgrim stopping there for a meal, a bed.

There is also the Camino de Invierno por Ribeira Sacra, with some 2500 members, and it just had a post from some walking into Santiago on Wednesday.

As for predicting weather, you are correct, not possible to predict, but I never claimed that. For climate information for anywhere in the world, good for planning, while knowing these are just trnds over many many years and do not take into account a passing storm or clouds, www.weatherspark.com is handy.

 

[Pierre Julian]

Thanks Peregrina, I really want to get that map now. I'm not sure it will arrive by Thursday though, I'm going to see if I can buy it in a regular shop here.

 

[peregrina2000]

Thanks Peregrina, I really want to get that map now. I'm not sure it will arrive by Thursday though, I'm going to see if I can buy it in a regular shop here.

Well, it's not, IMO, really a map that you can take on the camino and figure things out with. It's more of a 30,000 feet dreaming map. For navigating, I would use either a GPS or some more specific maps.

 

[Pierre Julian]

Then I think I'll order it when I come back then, something fun to use for planning and remembering.

 

[LTfit]

As Laurie mentioned, expect all kinds of weather. But this does not mean that your pack will be overloaded. I walked from Sevilla to Salamanca in February and am now on the Francés and my pack is about the same weight as in the summer. I am basically wearing everything I need!

This time around I expected a true "winter Camino" but except for O Cebreiro I haven't seen snow since leaving Burgos on December 27th and most days I could walk without gloves!

It will definitely get colder from Salamanca on but I would assume very doable.

Good luck planning!