Because of the heat of the day, wondering if anyone has advice on walking in early morning hours--2 AM to 11 AM--as well as on how visible the Camino signage is during darkness. Trying to anticipate for my hike beginning 16 August. Thank you. JMB
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Because of the heat of the day, wondering if anyone has advice on walking in early morning hours--2 AM to 11 AM--as well as on how visible the Camino signage is during darkness. Trying to anticipate for my hike beginning 16 August. Thank you. JMB
Hi JMB,
Which camino are you walking?
If you stay in an albergue, you will be sleeping in a dormitory, and thus this approach would involve expecting everyone to be quiet when you want to go to bed, and then waking them up when you get up.Someone wrote that it will be antisocial, which I do not quite understand
Frances, starting in Pamplona. I’m trying to train and hike in the DC heat, but find I shall need to be cautious. Thus my query. Someone wrote that it will be antisocial, which I do not quite understand. I am a young-spirited 72-year-old lady hoping to endure and feel the cool mornings might be best for me. Is it possible, and will the signage be visible.
I walked the Frances in June/July, started at 6am daily, and finished between 11-1pm. I never really found it too hot, especially with a hat and breathable clothing.
Monica
Hello JMB. My first thought (beyond heat/ waymark concerns) would be that you would miss so much, if you walked primarily in the dark. The landscapes, villages, people, cafe stops / blue skied, sunny days are a such a pleasurable part of the camino and (for me) add so much to the daily walk. I have walked three times in the summer and on days when the heat forecast was high, I would leave an hour or so before sunrise and try to finish by noon for the day. That being said there were a couple of days I would leave earlier to experience walking under the stars. I did have to be extra vigilant in watching the path for uneven ground and kept my flashlight ready to check for waymarks. Personally I wouldn't want to walk that way every day but we all have different reasons and needs for our walk don't we? So I would say...yes, it is possible if that is the journey you need to take. All of the reasons mentioned already by others re: albergues (consideration of others) / sleeping / dangers in the dark, are very valid though and should be considered.
Dear JMB,
I am just back home in the U.S. after walking from St. Jean Pied de Port to Fromista (walked from Ponferrada to Santiago in 2016). I can think of several areas where I have walked that I would not want to attempt to navigate during the early morning hours you have suggested. As well as the Camino Frances is marked, there are plenty of ways to miss the markers in broad daylight, much less at night. Also, you would miss some of the very things you probably hope to see on your journey, not to mention as others did, many of the people you might like to meet. I can also think of some dodgy terrain where being able to see where my feet were going was not only helpful, but critical for me.
Not accounting for what may be some unhappy bunk mates at your albergues, perhaps getting started around 6am would help? That's about an hour before sunrise at the time of year. You should be able to get six hours of walking before things heat up too much. As much as I can't imagine standing up on El Perdon in the darkness seeing almost nothing, I can imagine even less the very difficult walk down from there, where it is a fairly steep decent and large, loose rocks. Might you have enough days available to you to shorten your walking time on particularly hot days?
Okay, to offer my own particular answer your very direct question: yes, I would get lost if I were trying to walk the Camino Frances for hours on end in the darkness. I would also add substantially to the risk of injuring myself.
Here's hoping all works out well on your Camino.
.... That being said there were a couple of days I would leave earlier to experience walking under the stars. I did have to be extra vigilant in watching the path for uneven ground and kept my flashlight ready to check for waymarks ...
Hi, it's not wise to walk that early.Because of the heat of the day, wondering if anyone has advice on walking in early morning hours--2 AM to 11 AM--as well as on how visible the Camino signage is during darkness. Trying to anticipate for my hike beginning 16 August. Thank you. JMB
Hi - walking at 2am would mean missing out on meeting lots of people, both on the trail itself (you'd be walking pretty much alone) and at the other end of the day in the albergue (you'd need to be sleeping before most others). For me, these things are way too important a part of the camino experience. I would just walk shorter days - starting between 6-7am and finishing before 12-1pm. Walking between 7am and 12 noon would still leave you a good 5 hours on the trail. If you walk at a speed of between 3km/h and 5km/h, you'd cover 15 to 25km per day, entirely respectable distances which would allow you to complete a camino in a reasonable time frame, and at a pace which would let you make connections with lots of people, many of whom you might see again over multiple days, and who would contribute to your experience of the camino in lots of positive ways.
Also, as you may have already gathered, if you're in any type of shared accommodation, some people may get pretty hostile if you wake them in the early hours before setting out for the day...
Hi, it's not wise to walk that early.
It's dark and some parts can be dangerous to walk .
But at the end you and you alone have to make the decission what you want to do .
Wish you a wonderful time and a Buen Camino , Peter.
Because of the heat of the day, wondering if anyone has advice on walking in early morning hours--2 AM to 11 AM--as well as on how visible the Camino signage is during darkness. Trying to anticipate for my hike beginning 16 August. Thank you. JMB
I walked the Frances in June/July, started at 6am daily, and finished between 11-1pm. I never really found it too hot, especially with a hat and breathable clothing.
Monica
Because of the heat of the day, wondering if anyone has advice on walking in early morning hours--2 AM to 11 AM--as well as on how visible the Camino signage is during darkness. Trying to anticipate for my hike beginning 16 August. Thank you. JMB
JMB, I've completed 2 Caminos and will start my third on June 3. I start almost everyday at 5am. You will find several people starting at 5am, especially on the longer stages or forecasted hotter than average days. I have a few friends who have walked the Camino 7 times. They have a saying; "Walking before 10am is free for your body". They explained how walking in the morning is less taxing on your body because the cool air is filled with morning dew and your body isn't using all of its energy just to fight the heat. I've learned this to be the great advice. I have my headlamp (Black Diamond Spot) for the time from 5am-6am. After that you can see without additional light.Because of the heat of the day, wondering if anyone has advice on walking in early morning hours--2 AM to 11 AM--as well as on how visible the Camino signage is during darkness. Trying to anticipate for my hike beginning 16 August. Thank you. JMB
When I walked in 2012 there was a heat wave in Spain. Just eat lots of oranges and drink plenty of water!This is so reassuring because this is exactly my time frame and walking plan. I know temperatures vary from day to day, month to month and year to year, so I am not expecting a set temp range. However, I am used to a little heat and will have a hat and breathable clothing. Thanks for posting.
Exactly my schedule- between 6-1:00ish every day; sometime shorter, not often longer. I walked about 15-25km/day and made it from SJPdP to Santiago in 40 days that included three very short days (about 3-4 hours walking) and two rest days. As I got better at walking I went from 3km/hr to about 4-5km/hr, depending on the terrain.Hi - walking at 2am would mean missing out on meeting lots of people, both on the trail itself (you'd be walking pretty much alone) and at the other end of the day in the albergue (you'd need to be sleeping before most others). For me, these things are way too important a part of the camino experience. I would just walk shorter days - starting between 6-7am and finishing before 12-1pm. Walking between 7am and 12 noon would still leave you a good 5 hours on the trail. If you walk at a speed of between 3km/h and 5km/h, you'd cover 15 to 25km per day, entirely respectable distances which would allow you to complete a camino in a reasonable time frame, and at a pace which would let you make connections with lots of people, many of whom you might see again over multiple days, and who would contribute to your experience of the camino in lots of positive ways.
Also, as you may have already gathered, if you're in any type of shared accommodation, some people may get pretty hostile if you wake them in the early hours before setting out for the day...
No way walking in the dark is very dangerous. The chance of falling and damaging something is to bigBecause of the heat of the day, wondering if anyone has advice on walking in early morning hours--2 AM to 11 AM--as well as on how visible the Camino signage is during darkness. Trying to anticipate for my hike beginning 16 August. Thank you. JMB
I think you will disturb others who are sleeping at 2 am, . 6 or even 5:30 would be more considerate. Also, signage is hard to see before sunrises. I got lost twice, leaving before it was light enoughFrances, starting in Pamplona. I’m trying to train and hike in the DC heat, but find I shall need to be cautious. Thus my query. Someone wrote that it will be antisocial, which I do not quite understand. I am a young-spirited 72-year-old lady hoping to endure and feel the cool mornings might be best for me. Is it possible, and will the signage be visible.
JMB, I've completed 2 Caminos and will start my third on June 3. I start almost everyday at 5am. You will find several people starting at 5am, especially on the longer stages or forecasted hotter than average days. I have a few friends who have walked the Camino 7 times. They have a saying; "Walking before 10am is free for your body". They explained how walking in the morning is less taxing on your body because the cool air is filled with morning dew and your body isn't using all of its energy just to fight the heat. I've learned this to be the great advice. I have my headlamp (Black Diamond Spot) for the time from 5am-6am. After that you can see without additional light.
In summary, my ideal start time is 5am.
I asked the question because the heat differs depending on where you walk. Via de la Plata, Camino del Levante tend to be much hotter in Summer for instance than the camino del Norte...
To avoid the heat on the camino francés one year (2012), I did start walking very early, around 5 ish. It is pitch black of course so you need to take extra care not to trip, on stones or tree roots....I never got lost in the dark but I often checked the road to take the previous evening, how to walk out of a town for ex.
I have walked it three times, always in July/August, a pilgrim friend of mine has walked it 7 times and that year was the only time the temperatures were very high.
I personally wouldn't recommend starting as early as 2am, one hour of walking in the dark is demanding enough....You may not find the heat that bad although it's difficult to tell of course.
Have you thought of taking an umbrella? It does make a big difference.
I agree with above fellow walker...
In my humble experience early morning hours from 5 on are the best!! Birds go awal/hawock and singing just for you....horizon clears up and a new day awakens....
Pack the evening before to go absolute stealth-mode when leaving dorm....vibration only as alarm on smartphone....your little LED light in reach from getgo...also used to double check crossings.....
It will bee sweet and well worth it..
Go for it
Just awful idea...you see nothing so you may as well stay on your treadmill at home. Arrows are hard to find and footing will be a problem. I swollen st 6:30 and walked until 2pm each day. It can get hot but such a more visible and fulfilling walk. Many got up at 4 am and were nearly beaten to death by us who want our full sleep.Because of the heat of the day, wondering if anyone has advice on walking in early morning hours--2 AM to 11 AM--as well as on how visible the Camino signage is during darkness. Trying to anticipate for my hike beginning 16 August. Thank you. JMB
Ridiculous idea for so many reasons. If you walk from about 7-8am and walk for 4 hours you would have covered about 20kms by midday so even if you need to go 25kms you should finish about 1...not the hottest part of the day by far (usually 4 or5pm). I've walked all or part of the VDLP about 6 times,always in summer and didn't find the heat oppressive. At the start it was reaching 38 degrees by mid afternoon but in Galicia the Swedes I walked with all bought gloves because it was so cold....like I said many other reasons tooBecause of the heat of the day, wondering if anyone has advice on walking in early morning hours--2 AM to 11 AM--as well as on how visible the Camino signage is during darkness. Trying to anticipate for my hike beginning 16 August. Thank you. JMB
Yes, completely agree. You will lose your way in the dark and only alienate everyone in the albergue. If you start early at the break of dawn, take breakfast an hour or so later when you reach a town, the destination will be reached early to mid afternoon. This leaves plenty of time to socialize and explore!Just awful idea...you see nothing so you may as well stay on your treadmill at home. Arrows are hard to find and footing will be a problem. I swollen st 6:30 and walked until 2pm each day. It can get hot but such a more visible and fulfilling walk. Many got up at 4 am and were nearly beaten to death by us who want our full sleep.
It's Northern Spain...you are not crossing the SaharaBecause of the heat of the day, wondering if anyone has advice on walking in early morning hours--2 AM to 11 AM--as well as on how visible the Camino signage is during darkness. Trying to anticipate for my hike beginning 16 August. Thank you. JMB
When I'am not mistaking the OP has already walked the Camino last August.
The tread is from May last year .
Wish you all well , Peter.
Well, we'll probably never find out. The OP hasn't been back to the forum since August last year. I guess they got lost in the dark...And I'd love to know how it went !