Walking at night

[SeattleWoman]

Hi there-
I’m planning to walk the 500 miles of El Camino starting at the end of May 2018. I am wondering if the heat gets really bad towards the end of June if anyone walks during the night to avoid the heat.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

They do, but it is rare. There are parts that would be dangerous in the dark.

 

[Kent Davis]

If you are going to walk at night, it would be very helpful to have a head lamp and flashlight or your phone because it is entirely possible to miss the yellow markers especially in areas where the markers are on the streets or when the markers offer alternative paths or none come up for awhile. In the morning at night time there are often other people out walking at dark, so safety is not as much a concern. I never walked at night time but I think you would be close to alone.

 

[martin1ws]

Here are some ideas for walking at night (with checklist) :
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/night-walking.49373/

 

[SeattleWoman]

Thanks!!

 

[trecile]

If you are walking at night what are you going to do all day? Albergues don't open until about noon at the earliest, with many not opening until 1:00.
In June the sun rises around 6 am, and peak temperature probably isn't until 3 pm or so. If you start at 5 or 6 you'll have plenty of daylight to walk before it gets too hot.

 

[alexwalker]

After the climb from Castrojeriz, CF

 

[Deleted member 67185]

You miss a lot of scenary at night; bars and cafes are closed so you would need to carry food; points of interest, like museums and cathedrals will be closed. Finding a place to sleep during the day until alburgues open or hotels allow check-in will be trying. For me, walking during the heat of the day, where I can dress appropriately, keep myself hydrated, and to take more frequent breaks to cool off a bit are, to me, a much better choice if I were weighing the pros and cons of walking at night.

 

[vlogan]

If you are walking at night what are you going to do all day? Albergues don't open until about noon at the earliest, with many not opening until 1:00.
In June the sun rises around 6 am, and peak temperature probably isn't until 3 pm or so. If you start at 5 or 6 you'll have plenty of daylight to walk before it gets too hot.

I agree

 

[Kanga]

Hi there-
I’m planning to walk the 500 miles of El Camino starting at the end of May 2018. I am wondering if the heat gets really bad towards the end of June if anyone walks during the night to avoid the heat.

I've walked in June/July and it was fine. Always a breeze across the meseta in the morning. Walk from first light and you get in plenty of kilometres if you stop by 1pm.

 

[domigee]

I have walked early morning when it still was pitch black, on long etapas, to avoid the heat. (It has to be pretty hot for that, only happened on the Camino francés in the Summer 2012).
That means just one or maybe one hour and a half in the dark. That's enough for me! It is indeed beautiful in the moonlight, in the peace and quiet but....
You have to find your way... Best if you are on a straightforward path or a secondary road. In the woods it is much darker and you can trip on roots etc.... Make sure if you leave a town that you know the way out before you set off.
Buen camino

 

[Kanga]

On my last camino I set off in the dark one morning. Up a mountain path. Even with a head torch I would have been completely lost but for Wikilocs on my phone. But it was on one of the lesser known routes on a small path.

 

[Robo]

I think you would miss a lot at night. Though walking under the stars has some appeal.
Walking in the heat and the sun comes down to a couple of basics. Hydration and the right clothing.
I tend to walk totally covered up. I suspect there might be a reason that people who live in hot deserts don't wear shorts and T shirts

3rd video down on this link shows just how much I cover up! Also next year, we are taking trekking umbrellas. I would have loved one on those hot sunny days......

http://robscamino.com/7th-of-may-the-way-to-navarrete/

 

[AriJoaquin]

Hi!
I remember walking a few nights a couple of hours before the Sunrise when it was full moon. I loved it but I will say only do after Burgos when the path is more difficult to get confuse as you will be with short light. I am from the south of Spain and you should not walk during the hardest time. 12-4pm. It will be very taxing for your vitality and the joy of doing the camino. I used to walk until noon, have lunch and expend some time in a small town or resting and drawing, or meditating, or writing under a tree or so. Then walk for a couple of hours. you will get your rhythm according to what you need and what you are looking for. I use to have a few people that will make jokes of me resting while they were walking on the hot! Then I will find them in the same town I was going to sleep. They will be exhausted and I was just fine.

 

[HedaP]

I can’t even begin to think of a view that I didn’t want to see. I love walking but I love the views more.

 

[trecile]

I can’t even begin to think of a view that I didn’t want to see. I love walking but I love the views more.

That's one of the reasons that I don't mind the heat of the summer if it gives me clear days with beautiful views.

 

[Juspassinthru]

We walked this past May-June and many days ended quite hot. We left on the worst days about 0530 and were only in darkness for about 30 minutes but experienced many glorious sunrises. We were done before the heat of the day and had plenty of time to explore or whatever. It never got truly hot until well after noon but as a Texan, I may have a different definition of hot. Enjoy your Camino, for my two cents, don’t walk at night. Buen Camino.