Walk Camino Frances in December

[Visan]

Hi everyone!

I have looked into different threads about Walking the Camino in December, and it seems like I should be allright, even though there will be both Cold and wet days !
I would just like to know if anyone has got more detailed information about which albergues that are open during the Winter months Nov-Dec?
And also, are there people Walking during these months?

I am doing a long walk, from my hometown Sigtuna just outside Stockholm, Sweden. I will soon take the ferry to Germany and continue my walk from there. It is an Amazing experience so far, but Swedes aren't really the hiking types, so I am looking forward to start the walk in Germany and to continue down to France.


Thanks for Reading!

Lovisa

 

[KinkyOne]

Hi, Visan,

that's really something, wow. For walking in wintertime there are plenty of threads on this forum to get information. As I could remember forum member mspath usually walk in autumn or winter and she has a lot to share. On behalf of albergues, which is also a budget related question, I wanted to post a link from this forum here, but couldn't find it, because the forum was under construction in last two days and we're all kind of catching up slower. But do check these two sites:
http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/
http://www.gronze.com/
for infos on municipal and other albergues during winter.

I also tried to find recent thread about winter Camino costs, but weren't sucessful, sorry

Take care and Ultreia!

 

[KinkyOne]

Huh, I've found it:
http://www.caminodesantiago.me/comm...e-compared-to-summer.19699/page-2#post-148574

Hope that helps!

Ultreia!

 

[mspath]

Lovisa,

At the risk of repeating myself here are my current thoughts on walking in winter.

The best advice is to BE PREPARED for extreme and varied weather. Nights can be bitter cold with freezing rain or snow; it is important to read the sky for possible storms. Regarding the state of the path and weather forecasts be sure to ask the locals and watch TV reports.

In bad weather many steep descents on the camino would be treacherous and following smaller parallel roads might be necessary. This past winter the Napoleon route from SJPdP to Roncevalles was been filled with several meters of snow and in effect closed to pilgrims thus necessitating the use of the Valcarlos alternate. You can read about this hazardous situation in the Forum topic. >> http://www.caminodesantiago.me/board/el-camino-frances/topic16961.html Other difficult stretches after storms might be from Najera to Santo Domingo de la Calzada or across the Montes de Oca from Villafranca as well as Monte Irago and, of course, O Cebreiro.

Sillydoll who is a Forum member has compiled encyclopedic information on Winter Walking at >> [URL='http://amawalker.blogspot.fr/...er.blogspot.fr/2009/10/walking-in-winter.html[/URL] Another good account of winter walking by a Forum member is the earlier 2013 blog http://agoodwalkunspoiled.blogspot.com/.

Twice during winter caminos I have sat out true blizzards; in Villafranca Montes de Oca, February 25, 26, 2006 and Foncebadón, March 5,6, 2009. Even late last November the climb up to O Cebreiro was packed with snow. You can see the snow and read my blog accounts of these three memorable storm-storms at >> http://mermore.blogspot.fr/2011/04/aavmo.html. Luckily open albergues offered welcoming shelter, heat and companionship.

However, not all albergues will be open after mid October but the hospitaleros usually know who is on the next stage. You will find the welcome at those albergues which are open to be most sincere; generally they will either be heated or have blankets.

Perhaps you would find my Kit list for walking in autumn and winter to be useful for your planning. See >> http://mermore.blogspot.fr/p/kit-and-tips.html

Happy planning, stay safe and Buen Camino,

Margaret Meredith

 

[Visan]

Thank you so much both of you. I am going to look more into this and my options. Buy first ferry to Germany tomorrow from Sweden !


Takr care!