Richard Ward
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Future: April 2024; Past: Frances, Norte, Madrid.
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Hi Richard, last year I walked the Camino Frances from the 18th of April. In the Pyrenees I had sun, rain and at night a hail storm. And there was still snow laying around.is not just falling on the plain. Long term forecasts have high temperatures in the 50s (F), lows near freezing, and saturated air (rain/high humidity) pretty much until the end of April for at least the first half of the Camino Frances. Any thoughts/info on when/if it will warm up? I could move my flight about 2 weeks later (from April 21 to May 3rd or so), but don't want to go to the trouble if it won't help much. Thanks!
Any thoughts/info on when/if it will warm up
Doris Day, right?Que sera, sera .....?
is not just falling on the plain. Long term forecasts have high temperatures in the 50s (F), lows near freezing, and saturated air (rain/high humidity) pretty much until the end of April for at least the first half of the Camino Frances. Any thoughts/info on when/if it will warm up? I could move my flight about 2 weeks later (from April 21 to May 3rd or so), but don't want to go to the trouble if it won't help much. Thanks!
That's encouraging Peter, maybe things will clear up after a week or so (plan to walk from SJPP to Santiago). And I agree that 50 F can be too hot, especially with a backpack -- but again, 30s, rain/sleet, 15+ mph winds can be a recipe for "disaster" in some situations.
I agree. I'll take hot and dry any day over cold and wet.this year
Are you guys from Alaska?50 F is darn cold........... Only 10 C (in real temperature). We don't get that cold in mid Winter here (Sydney)
I departed St Jean last year on 28 April. By mid May it was mid to high 20s (C). A few days up as high as 28C..... But I think that was unusual.
I picked April this year, as my wife Pat doesn't like to walk in the heat, i.e. above 20C. I think I neglected to tell her it will probably rain most of the way
We are all different of course, but I think I'd rather be too warm, that cold and wet...
I smile because I walked with a trio from Melbourne, my Montana weather being colder than Spain. I think you wil be surprised how quickly it warms up over 20c during the day. Have a great CaminoI do not mind the cold but dislike walking in the rain on muddy trail. I was scheduled to leave for Spain this last Wednesday but cancelled my flight at the last minute after looking at the weather forecast of rain and more rain on CF. Will reschedule my flight when I see more sun in the weather forecast. I want to walk, enjoy the scenery and being outside and that is hard to do in the rain. Rain, rain please go away.
I agree that the key is little storms, thank goodness it is easy to track the weather for a year for folks to find their ideal temp. For me 0-30c is my Zone. My days in the sand boxes keep me from wanting July August, yet I still want to try every season.I agree. I'll take hot and dry any day over cold and wet.
Warm dry days on the Camino are way more easy to deal with.
Some pilgrims complain about the mud. Others complain about the dust. It is the same volcanic ash, sometimes red (hence the name Rioja) and sometimes grey/brown. It is all about the moisture content, not the ground!mud is enough to try and suck even high-top boots off! I found it somewhat challenging in May 2013. Then again I found it dry as a bone the next year at the same time.
is not just falling on the plain. Long term forecasts have high temperatures in the 50s (F), lows near freezing, and saturated air (rain/high humidity) pretty much until the end of April for at least the first half of the Camino Frances. Any thoughts/info on when/if it will warm up? I could move my flight about 2 weeks later (from April 21 to May 3rd or so), but don't want to go to the trouble if it won't help much. Thanks!
Take heart! If you're prepared, once you start walking, such things become a nuisance more than anything else. Other rewards compensate, especially the camaraderie. And, in time, the nuisance becomes part of the larger collection of stories and memories. . . like fish long ago released, they'll grow size and struggle with every telling.thanks Al!! Gotta say the closer I get to this trip the less/inspired/motivated I feel.. Normally I am a very resilient and game person. I lightweight backpacked solo for 12 months a few years ago and loved it all.. this year, after the last 6 months of crap- blah. No resilience at all for mud cold pain and struggle.
Ah well, it's all optional, if not refundable....
Thanks for your kind words, koilife and it is about going through the process and reading the signs. At the moment, I'm not prepared to walk in cold mud. Tonight I went for a little walk in my new 'proper' boots and actually fell over walking up up a dune I've walked a hundred times in my 'barefoot shoes'. Had a total meltdown, my feet cried, I cried, spoke to my dear daughter and realised that I just have to take all the pressure of myself to walk in this rainy cold season, to respect where I'm at. Forget 'breaking boots/feet in'. I'm a softie subtropical barefoot girl. (read= old lady with some strange health stuff going on).Take heart! If you're prepared, once you start walking,...
Thanks again for your kindness! I really appreciate your tips. Lacing techniques eh! Yes, the boots I'd bought were slip on leather/ elastic sided Aussie work boots that once upon a time I used to wear and were quite comfy, as I have always struggled with the pressure from lace up shoes across the top of my foot. But I might just need to go there in that direction this time to get something light/soft enough to be bearable that will stay on enough. I know shoe tech has come a long way (eg my barefoot darlings!), there's walkers around now without raised heels / distorting arch 'support' etc. There are some good athletic/hiking shops around my area and I will have a look in the next few days. I'm flying out in 4 days but I have time to practice on them while I'm with my son in UK for 10 days. (it's even bloody colder and just as wet there as Spain!!) and I am also getting Pacer Poles which will take some of the strain off.@newgabe, best wishes as you continue working all this out. In the end, no one can walk the Camino for you. (But there will always be plenty of offers if you're willing to pay our way!)
One thought to consider on the mud issue is that your footwear doesn't need to be "mudproof." It just needs to stay on, which in many cases is as much about your lacing technique as the shoe itself. .
Another nod to the umbrellas are all the rain gear you need crowd!It's raining so much today even the cows are carrying umbrellas in Madrid!
Don't let the fish stories on this forum about Asian style monsoon weather, Amazonian type mud, Sahara heat, Himalayan snow and mountains get you bummed. The Camino Frances is none of that. Sure, some people get in over their head trying to cross the Pyrenees in the snow from time to time, but otherwise it's all good.thanks Al!! Gotta say the closer I get to this trip the less/inspired/motivated I feel.. Normally I am a very resilient and game person. I lightweight backpacked solo for 12 months a few years ago and loved it all.. this year, after the last 6 months of crap- blah. No resilience at all for mud cold pain and struggle.
Ah well, it's all optional, if not refundable....
Haha. Good luck with knowing what the weather will be day to day on the Camino. You'd have to train in Hawaii one day and Akaska the next the way it's been going.This morning's 37.4 mile training bike ride in WA State USA started with temperatures in the low 40's F and ended with temps in the mid 60's F. The key is to dress for the weather that you are going to face. The other key is to train in the kinds of weather/conditions you are likely to encounter.
Now that is what I call serious training! I feel inspired to partake of a little training myself now!Training today was splitting a couple bottles of Spanish wine with friends, while they told us of their (somewhat short) journey on the Camino...
Que sera, sera .....?
Wait! Stop! In answer to your question, you should wait until mid June. The Accuweather 90 day forecast says you'll have different weather. . .Just finished the pass today in time to get a bed. Rain held off until 1400 hours, so was able to get good pictures up to the Spain Border. More later after I get decent wifi (and some sleep).
There are two sayings in the northern Spain:
En abril aguas mil
Hasta el 40 de mayo no te quites el sayo.
I love learning about things like this. It took me a while to figure out the second saying.
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