SJPP start 2016 mid-August

[Calvin & Hobbes]

Hi folks, this is my first post, but I've been reading the forum for several months trying to prepare for my first pilgrimage. There is a wonderful amount of useful info, but there's one point I haven't been able to settle on - when should I begin my Frances pilgrimage?

Should I anticipate difficulty finding beds on the Frances with a mid-August 2016 start from SJPP? I've been searching various threads and have found pros & cons for August regarding crowds and weather.

Recently I saw a thread that mentioned something big going on in Roncesvalles which could mean a bed shortage. Also, I read that there may still be many pilgrims starting in August, which surprised me. I thought the rush would be over by then in SJPP.

From a weather standpoint, I'd rather put up with heat than to be wet & cold, thus my thoughts of starting mid-August (11th or 12th) and ending around the end of September. Would it make more sense to push my schedule back a week or two?

My only schedule limitation will by my airline ticket. Since I'm retired, I plan to allow a lot of time - something like 7 or 8 weeks, including flights. I'm not going to race at 65 years old. I anticipate averaging about 12 miles (20km)/day. I'm fairly fit for an old fogy and have started training, but a man's got ta know his limitations. If I have extra time and my body's up to it, I hope to continue on to Finesterre and then bum around the area and do a little more sight-seeing with any extra days.

Thanks for any advice and insights you may offer.

 

[whariwharangi]

Brierley's guide indicated July and August account for over half of pilgrims arriving in Santiago.

The rumours from Roncesvalles are rumours. There is not sufficient hard intelligence to make plans based on those rumours. Even anecdotal direct information must be taken with a grain of salt because it might be busy one day with corresponding swell downstream ... but that is no indicator of what will happen the next day.

This year was declared a holy year of mercy by the Pope ... so there is possibility of a higher level of traffic than is normal.

Statistics for April 2016 are 15000 and April 2015 are 17000 but March had 11000 2016 vice 5000 2015. Probably because Easter was in March this year. My Brierley guide shows statistics as 6000 for April 2011

You can see statistics and other useful information here: http://peregrinossantiago.es/eng/

If crowds are an issue there are several other caminos that will have less traffic. Consider starting in Le Puy en Velay or Seville for example.

 

[movinmaggie]

Welcome to the forum MDR. If you're not committed to mid Aug, moving it up a couple of weeks might see less people, as many locals are on the CF in Aug. Sept/Oct are lovely months to walk. It will get a bit chilly in the eves in Oct, so layering is always a good idea. Whatever time you leave, wish you Buen Camino.

 

[Calvin & Hobbes]

Thanks for the advice. I've settled on doing the Frances, so I'm not considering other routes. I'm beginning to look at starting the end of August. If I do that, I hope to finish before the cooler weather sets in. Also, during my training, I discovered I'm much more suited to hiking in the 60-70F temps than 80-90F temps.