thetravellingpen
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- June 2014
For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
Well if the mist rolls in, I'll just sit and wait, and not walk off a mountain... thanks for the advice.There is no place where you have a risk of falling. You could almost drive a car over the entire path. North America Class 2 hiking.
The risk between SJPdP and Roncesvalles is hypothermia due to cool wet weather. Another risk is disorientation due to low cloud. Its a long day and there is no place for shelter past Orisson. Thousands do it with no incident.
Well if the mist rolls in, I'll just sit and wait, and not walk off a mountain... thanks for the advice.
I have the same fear. just today I decided to start from Roncesvalles.I understand that this first stage is steep and challenging. I can do steep, and I can do challenging from a stamina point of view. What I'm not good at is handling hikes with sheer drop-offs (vertigo issue). So what I want to know is what is the actual path like? Are there any cliffs to negotiate with sheer drops? Or just steep mountain and country paths? I'd really like to start in SJPDP, but if this stage is hectic then may start further on.
Thank you in advance!
Well, with the replies I've received so far, I'm now happy to start in SJPDP, so perhaps you'll reconsider too.I have the same fear. just today I decided to start from Roncesvalles.
the weather is bad, I will, but I do like the mountains (just not the drop offs), so if the weather is OK, will tackle it! Thanks though.You could go via Valcarlos to Roncesvallees as we did - by choice but also by necessity in the very poor weather of March 2013.
Thanks Nancy, as long as the path isn't so narrow that you have to shuffle along... then I'll be fine! Perhaps I'll meet up with someone for that first leg. At this stage, travelling alone, but who knows!As others have said, the walk from SJPP to Roncesvalles offers no steep cliffs to fall off of directly on the trail. If you leave the trail, you can find some, but I suspect you won't go looking for them!
There are a couple of very short stretches down the way that have a bit of a drop-off. One is located between Zubiri and Iroz, and the other is the bridge going into Portomarin. Will it help if someone is walking with you on these parts? Just knowing they are up ahead, you can ask a pilgrim friend to walk with you, then.
Walked napoleon route 5 times no cliff sheer or otherwise, stick to path, most of which is road , gravel paths, a few cork screws but wide paths, the bridge into portmarin has high railing and is very safe, hold on to somebody walking the bridge if necessary , Buen caminoI understand that this first stage is steep and challenging. I can do steep, and I can do challenging from a stamina point of view. What I'm not good at is handling hikes with sheer drop-offs (vertigo issue). So what I want to know is what is the actual path like? Are there any cliffs to negotiate with sheer drops? Or just steep mountain and country paths? I'd really like to start in SJPDP, but if this stage is hectic then may start further on.
Thank you in advance!
I understand that this first stage is steep and challenging. I can do steep, and I can do challenging from a stamina point of view. What I'm not good at is handling hikes with sheer drop-offs (vertigo issue). So what I want to know is what is the actual path like? Are there any cliffs to negotiate with sheer drops? Or just steep mountain and country paths? I'd really like to start in SJPDP, but if this stage is hectic then may start further on.
Thank you in advance!
Glad that you made it thru the difficult part. Keep the faith and keep moving forward.....Hi there. I made the crossing just last week. I get really bad vertigo. It can stop me in my tracks for minutes.
That being said...their was only one place close to the cattle grate...that I felt a bit un easy...so I just moved to the left a bit more.
That being said I found the last 2km coming into Zubiri really hard. At one point I thought I was going to have to scoot down on my butt. I have gotten better and treking poles help a lot.
My vertigo is probably worse going down some of the stairs in the albergees I have stayed in than the Camino. I sometimes have to come down backwards it's that bad.
If I can do it with my vertigo...so will you
Great! Please post feedback...I am so glad you asked this question! Although I had made the decision to take this route, I must admit I was a little worried because, like you, I have a fear of drop-offs. My husband and I should find ourselves on this route in a little over one weeks time. We are booked in Orrison for the night of Sept. 7/13.
Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated! Wasn't planing on using poles, but maybe I will. Can't get anything here on my little island in Thailand, so maybe in SJPDP... but then I wouldn't have had chance to practice with them...Hi there. I made the crossing just last week. I get really bad vertigo. It can stop me in my tracks for minutes.
That being said...their was only one place close to the cattle grate...that I felt a bit un easy...so I just moved to the left a bit more.
That being said I found the last 2km coming into Zubiri really hard. At one point I thought I was going to have to scoot down on my butt. I have gotten better and treking poles help a lot.
My vertigo is probably worse going down some of the stairs in the albergees I have stayed in than the Camino. I sometimes have to come down backwards it's that bad.
If I can do it with my vertigo...so will you
My back sure does appreciate it when I use the poles.....Hi there.
There are heaps of poles in St Jean. I am using Pacer poles....but Leki (which are available in St J) are also good. You may just prefer a humble staff.
Just make sure you get some that have rubber feet you can swap over. You use the rubber on road, cobbles, in towns etc.. and without when you are on loose metal or un even surfaces.
You can You Tube...on how to use them correctly. They are pretty easy to master.
And a friendly pilgram can assist as well with technique. I wouldnt have made it up the mountain without them either.
Plus your knees, hips, back, ankles will love you for it.
Thanks Nancy, as long as the path isn't so narrow that you have to shuffle along... then I'll be fine!
You can You Tube...on how to use them correctly. They are pretty easy to master.
And a friendly pilgram can assist as well with technique.
... What I'm not good at is handling hikes with sheer drop-offs (vertigo issue). So what I want to know is what is the actual path like? Are there any cliffs to negotiate with sheer drops? ...
Thanks! But the bunks are no problem... it's cliffs that do it for me. I think I died by falling off a cliff in a past life... can't even drive around mountain passes in a car without freaking out. Fine on airplanes though, so odd!Nops, none of those around on the Camino Frances - thankfully as I also suffer from vertigo - can't even stand on a chair (much less a ladder) without feeling dizzy. Buen, vertigo free, camino, SY
PS Learn this sentence: ?Tengo vertigo, por favor, me puede dejar la cama baja?" meaning "I suffer from vertigo, can you please allow me to use the lower bunk bed?"
Well that was just nasty! ;-)Obviously you don't want to walk this particular trail !
Caution, please sit down before watching this video.
Obviously you don't want to walk this particular trail !
Caution, please sit down before watching this video.
Love to walk this trail, up till 3am watching it over and over, no fear of heights, walked on 3 inch ledge mid Pyrenees for 200 meters , sheer drop of 700 meters but a steel rope to keep you from falling.Obviously you don't want to walk this particular trail !
Caution, please sit down before watching this video.
Obviously you don't want to walk this particular trail !
Caution, please sit down before watching this video.
Once you are above a certain height the vertigo goes away. You may have found that when you were skydiving ... by the time you get to the point you feel the ground rush and want to panic, you are too busy preparing to land and then it's all over.Fine on airplanes though, so odd!
90% of what we worry about never happens the other 10%...oh well! I live in Chiang Rai, Thailand and just completed the walk it was the greatest experience in my life! That part is challenging, but you will be fine....just breath and we learned how to do that in Thailand!Thanks for the reply, feel much better now!
I'm South African, but live in Thailand. Recently went back to SA and did a mountain hike of only 14km, but it was hectic! Almost sheer vertical climb and at some points, the path was only half metre wide, with deathly drop off on the side. My 10 year old daughter came with us (4 ladies, 3 kids) and the kids were like mountain goats. I didn't realise how intense the walk was, and although I'm proud of how the kids handled the 'walk', in retrospect I feel like an irresponsible parent for taking them...
From what you describe, no problem. I've tried several things to try 'break my fear of heights', even sky-diving, para-gliding, and several zipline tours, but I can't get past that paralysing fear when I come across a sheer drop!
A lot of people who are also afraid of heights have responded to this post. The first thing I want to say is this is not crude advertising for anything. It is something I do for for free for the pilgrims of el camino. EFT, better known these days as tapping, is an incredibly effective technique for things like this. If any of you want to give it a shot just message me and we will setup a skype session.I understand that this first stage is steep and challenging. I can do steep, and I can do challenging from a stamina point of view. What I'm not good at is handling hikes with sheer drop-offs (vertigo issue). So what I want to know is what is the actual path like? Are there any cliffs to negotiate with sheer drops? Or just steep mountain and country paths? I'd really like to start in SJPDP, but if this stage is hectic then may start further on.
Thank you in advance!
I understand that this first stage is steep and challenging. I can do steep, and I can do challenging from a stamina point of view. What I'm not good at is handling hikes with sheer drop-offs (vertigo issue). So what I want to know is what is the actual path like? Are there any cliffs to negotiate with sheer drops? Or just steep mountain and country paths? I'd really like to start in SJPDP, but if this stage is hectic then may start further on.
Thank you in advance!
Take the other route. We were told that the weather wasn't good so we went around - and it was so lovely and green...little waterfalls everywhere and tiny natural grottos. We just had a spectacular day with incredible views, a picnic in the loveliest area I have ever spent time in - and then when we got to Roncevalles we heard how rotten things had been for those who went over the top. High winds and freezings temps.I understand that this first stage is steep and challenging. I can do steep, and I can do challenging from a stamina point of view. What I'm not good at is handling hikes with sheer drop-offs (vertigo issue). So what I want to know is what is the actual path like? Are there any cliffs to negotiate with sheer drops? Or just steep mountain and country paths? I'd really like to start in SJPDP, but if this stage is hectic then may start further on.
Thank you in advance!
From the looks on your picture - I say you are still young and full of energy - Pyrynees will be easy for you - do enjoy the walk up and down as you walk - rest when necessary - the main thing is to enjoy it - this could be a once in a lifetime - Johann Pretorius from South Africa - we walked it in Sept 2012I understand that this first stage is steep and challenging. I can do steep, and I can do challenging from a stamina point of view. What I'm not good at is handling hikes with sheer drop-offs (vertigo issue). So what I want to know is what is the actual path like? Are there any cliffs to negotiate with sheer drops? Or just steep mountain and country paths? I'd really like to start in SJPDP, but if this stage is hectic then may start further on.
Thank you in advance!
Thanks Johan, I'm nearly 41... and currently unfit, but healthy, so starting training now! As a fellow South African, was it hard to get the Shengen visa? I'll have to get mine from a consulate in Bangkok as I live in Thailand.From the looks on your picture - I say you are still young and full of energy - Pyrynees will be easy for you - do enjoy the walk up and down as you walk - rest when necessary - the main thing is to enjoy it - this could be a once in a lifetime - Johann Pretorius from South Africa - we walked it in Sept 2012
Thanks Margaret. I'm going July/Aug, so snow is unlikely, right?On all my caminos I have walked the Valcarlos alternative; it is the ONLY way open in snow. The new municipal albergue is VERY comfortable with good heat, blankets and showers. You can reserve in advance if you wish. For more info see http://www.luzaide-valcarlos.net/. On October 16 last year two other pilgrims and I spent the chilly night here before tediously climbing up to Ibaneta and continuing to Roncevalles the next day. That stretch is NEVER easy! Read this earlier Forum thread for additional positive comments on the Valcarlos alternative.
Margaret Meredith
Such mixed replies on this question! Maybe decide on the day...Take the other route. We were told that the weather wasn't good so we went around - and it was so lovely and green...little waterfalls everywhere and tiny natural grottos. We just had a spectacular day with incredible views, a picnic in the loveliest area I have ever spent time in - and then when we got to Roncevalles we heard how rotten things had been for those who went over the top. High winds and freezings temps.
Hey! so stick with the 'mai pen rai' attitude, and I'll be fine... Kapkhun ka!90% of what we worry about never happens the other 10%...oh well! I live in Chiang Rai, Thailand and just completed the walk it was the greatest experience in my life! That part is challenging, but you will be fine....just breath and we learned how to do that in Thailand!
Thanks Margaret. I'm going July/Aug, so snow is unlikely, right?
Hallo travellingpen - do you teach in Thailand? - we did our visas through our travel agent and it took the normal time,1 month - but you have to include lots of stuff - strange they did not ask the size of my underpants - haha - send me an email at: kogga@webmail.co.za - thanks - Johann PretoriusThanks Johan, I'm nearly 41... and currently unfit, but healthy, so starting training now! As a fellow South African, was it hard to get the Shengen visa? I'll have to get mine from a consulate in Bangkok as I live in Thailand.
Hi JohanHallo travellingpen - do you teach in Thailand? - we did our visas through our travel agent and it took the normal time,1 month - but you have to include lots of stuff - strange they did not ask the size of my underpants - haha - send me an email at: kogga@webmail.co.za - thanks - Johann Pretorius
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?