To visit La Cruz de Ferro

[MiriaBD]

I am almost ready for muy trip, and I will be in Pamplona on June 8, from USA. I have to make some last minute changes, I have to go to La Cruz de Hierro. I can not find in web sites transportation from Pamplona to the nearest town.
Our average daily walking is 25 K , so I think I can walk from closer place. I have 11 days, and I would like to start el Camino de Santiago in Sarria, 5 days will be enogh for us.
I have interest to visit several places, but very little time available.
I have a lot of questions, I feel lost now.
Any ideas or suggestions will be appreciated. Miria

 

[whariwharangi]

Re: To visit La Cruz de Hierro

Do you mean Cruz de Ferro?

Start point would be Astorga. Cruz de Ferro is at the highest point on the camino (1505m) midway between Astorga and Molinaseca, a two day walk.

Its possible to walk from Astorga to Santiago in 11 days using Brierley's stages.

The train runs (once per day?) from Pamplona to Astorga. It might work better if you make several connections.
http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/index.html

The train runs several times per day from Ponferrada (the next town after Molinaseca) to Sarria.

There is no direct bus. You have to connect via several routes. Check the map on the Alsa page to find the stages for buses. ie Pamplona to San Sebastien or Tudela and onward to Burgos and Leon before getting to Astorga.
http://www.alsa.es/en/buy-and-schedules ... pe=common#

 

[MiriaBD]

Re: To visit La Cruz de Hierro

Thanks whariwharangi, Yes Cruz de Ferro. This is the place where we leave a very special request with a stone. right ?

 

[whariwharangi]

Re: To visit La Cruz de Hierro

Cruz de Ferro is the highest point on the Camino. Its marked with a cairn of stones and a wooden pole topped with an cross made of iron.

I'm not sure where the tradition comes from for pilgrims to bring stones from far away places and how that developed into a tradition of leaving a very special request with a stone, but yes, this is the place.

Please don't leave any object other than a stone. Its a beautiful place and it is being marred by people leaving 'mementoes' that leave the place looking like a trash dump.

 

[MiriaBD]

Re: To visit La Cruz de Hierro

I will not do it. just a stone.
there a number of kilometers that I need to walk a day in order to have a stamp in my pilgrim's credencial , and/or be able to sleep in an albergue,

 

[mspath]

Re: To visit La Cruz de Hierro

MiriaBD,

There is no set rule on how many kilometers you must walk each day in order to get a stamp or to sleep in an albergue. The only requirement is to have your Credential stamped twice each day, ie morning and night, from Sarria to Santiago. If you wish to obtain a Compostela the double stamp provides proof to the Pilgrims' Office in Santiago that you have indeed walked the last 100 km.

For a useful Forum guide of all the pilgrim albergues on the Camino Frances see this handy list >> http://www.caminodesantiago.me/camino-frances/ . Just east of the Cruz de Ferro stop in Foncebadon at least for a mid morning break at the Albergue de Monte Irago which is one of my favorites. I spent 3 snowy days there in early March 2009 sitting out a true blizzard!

Buen Camino,

Margaret Meredith

 

[Sue M]

Presumably the two sellos are one at the place you sleep, and one at a coffee stop or church along the way? I hope they are easy to find from Sarria to Santiago as I didn't always get two per day between St. Jean and Burgos.

 

[piogaw]

hello future peregrinos,

you can get a stamp (sello) anywhere between the 2 stages - be it at the albergue, church, ayuntamiento (town hall), police station, guardia civil offices which are usually open 24/7, cafe-bar, restaurant, civil protection office which answers to the town hall.

as suggested it is better to get 2 stamps daily, especially the last 100 kms in order to obtain the compostela.