visual representations of ascents and descents

[CaminoKate0214]

Hi all,

For those like me who are visual learners, are there any good videos or blogs or photos of SJPdP to Roncesvalles, and the descent? I'd like to compare the Route Napoleon to the Valcarlos way, just to see. Thank you!

 

[C clearly]

The Brierley guide book has a profile diagram of every stage. It shows both routes for SJPP to Roncesvalles.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Routes and elevations (and accommodations):

http://www.gronze.com/guia-del-camino-frances/etapas/etapa-1-saint-jean-pied-de-port-roncesvalles

 

[dougfitz]

Hi all,

For those like me who are visual learners, are there any good videos or blogs or photos of SJPdP to Roncesvalles, and the descent? I'd like to compare the Route Napoleon to the Valcarlos way, just to see. Thank you!

You will find both routes and elevation profiles on the Gronze site. My rather old Brierley only shows the elevation profile for Route Napoleon. What is clear from the profiles is that:

• on Route Napoleon, by the 10 km point you have reached the half way point of the climb and already done 2/3 of the elevation gain. At the 20 km point you will be going downhill into Roncesvalles.
• in contrast, on Route Valcarlos, at the 10 km point you still have about 13 km more climb, and you've done only about 1/3 of the elevation gain. At the 20 km you have done 2/3 of the climb, and still have another 300 m or so to go over the next 3 km. That's a tough call if you have walked from SJPP.
  
• so while the elevation gain on Route Napoleon is greater, you are doing most of it early in the walk, when you might be somewhat fresher.