Signage from SJPP to Orisson

The Pilgrim Office in SJPdP has available a simple but adequate sketch map showing both the Napoleon and Valcarlos caminos as well as important turns and landscape features.

If you're leaving St Jean in the summer, you will have about 200 of your 'new best friends' to help guide you ....

StFina said:

I am concerned because I won't start walking until around 10:30 in the morning. Not sure if there will be many pilgrims at that time. - Steve

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Fear not you will be surrounded by them.

mspath said:

The Pilgrim Office in SJPdP has available a simple but adequate sketch map showing both the Napoleon and Valcarlos caminos as well as important turns and landscape features.

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It will be easier to read than this copy:
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-svGxhA7_KV0/V8KZrku0VKI/AAAAAAAABVw/XGAaTyD2He8tIt9jE17LkW312QKSgpe_QCLcB/s640/img-a2aaf%5B1%5D.jpg

[The following was added by an edit done on March 23, 2017]

A bigger and clearer picture of the Pilgrims' Office handout map of the two routes from St. Jean Pied de Port to Roncevalles, "Les Ports de Cize" can be found at http://www.aucoeurduchemin.org/local/cache-vignettes/L600xH850/img-a2aaf.jpg

And for another plus, this map is on the Pilgrims' Office website, http://www.aucoeurduchemin.org/

For more information (in French) see
http://www.aucoeurduchemin.org/les-...commune,68/St-Jean-Pied-de-Port-Roncevaux,145

mspath said:

The Pilgrim Office in SJPdP has available a simple but adequate sketch map showing both the Napoleon and Valcarlos caminos as well as important turns and landscape features.

Click to expand...

Along these lines....just curious about the difference in the two routes. I am planning to take the Napoleon, but is there a reason to consider Valcarlos? I will be leaving in mid September. Recommendations?

March of the pinquinos, more or less!

Charlotte Helbig said:

Along these lines....just curious about the difference in the two routes. I am planning to take the Napoleon, but is there a reason to consider Valcarlos? I will be leaving in mid September. Recommendations?

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This thread will provide many reasons to choose the Valcarlos alternate.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/sjpp-to-roncesvalles-–-in-praise-of-the-lower-route.16075/

Furthermore the Valcarlos alternate is the only route open from 1 November until 1 April

It just occurred to me that one place along the Route Napolean (the high route) that people have complained of getting lost is at the Col de Lepoder when the climb is over and you head down to Roncevalles. The regular camino crosses the road and heads down into the woods. There are many who find it too steep and slippery and missed the sign pointing out the alternative (which is actually that road that is crossed.) It isn't that the sign is obscure, the problem is that you have to be able to read Spanish or Basque. @Felipe has a picture of the sign at this forum titled "Col de Lepoeder, Navarra, Spain."

The link to the picture is: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...riant-to-roncesvalles-by-ibañeta-chapel.5686/

His description is:

This link will pinpoint the approimate location of the sign:
https://mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=43.025937,-1.296043&z=17&t=h

On the map that is handed out at the Pilgrims Office in St. Jean there is a warning for this steep path and they wish to send you along the alternate. You can see a picture of the Col de Lepoeder sign to the left of their Danger sign at the top of the map. Also you can see their red route for the camino takes a sharp right here.

Here is the copy of their map that I posted earlier: Link

Here is another picture of the area (Sorry, links to this do not work. You have to cut and paste):

maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/streetview?size=640x450&heading=0&location=43.025385,-1.296521&fov=60

In that picture we are on the road and on the left we see a hiker in red on the camino. The camino is going downhill at that point and will cross the road to the sign on the pole and the upright stone marker. The trail to the alternative camino has already been passed by the walker in red. Not a problem. He can take a right when he gets to the road and he will meet with the alternative camino shortly.

StFina said:

I am walking solo this summer from SJPP to Burgos. Some people commented that the signage from SJPP through Roncesvalles is sometimes hard to find. Are there maps available at the Pilgrim Center in SJPP? Any comments on applicable signage? I did walk the CF from Burgos into Santiago, with no problems. - Thanks - Steve

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We walked from SJJP to Santiago with no maps, no phone, no anything, just a watch. You will have no problems and as some have mentioned there are always ... always those along the Way to help !!!

As you exit Saint Jean Pied de Port through the old arch, take the left fork in the road at the intersection and just walk UP!

Follow either the red over white stripe GR 65 postings, or the yellow arrows. If you come to a fork in the road, you generally take the one that goes UP...usually left..but this IS France...(sic)

At about 8 km you will come to Refuge Orisson. You cannot really miss it as it is the only substantial stone two-story building in sight. It is on the right about 1 km AFTER the Hunto albergue.

The typical walking time is about 2.5 - 3 hours from St. Jean. However, and as they assign even reserved bunks on a FIFO basis, arriving earlier rather than later is better.

Besides, on a clear day, the panoramic views from the deck across the road are stupendous! Admiring the view, while meeting new friends and sampling the local vin rouge (you are still in France), while working on your sun tan, is not at all a bad way to cap off your first day. If you arrive much after noon - 13:00, you might find yourself assigned to a less desirable bunk room or even the overflow tents out back.

Bear in mind that the climb from St. Jean to Orisson is the steepest incline over the ENTIRE Camino Frances. It is only 8 km, about 5 miles, but it IS quite steep. This said, there will be others walking, and huffing and puffing along side you.

Later on, after you are more acclimated, there will higher climbs and longer ascents, but none is as steep as that first bit.

To be truthful, there IS a 12% grade just as you cross into the province of Palencia, but that is a long, steady 1 km climb, and you have been walking for two to three weeks already, so you should not be daunted. Just keep this in its context and you will be fine.

I hope this helps.