Walking the Camino Francés alone in January as a young female

[chloewb]

I am a 22 year old female student planning to walk the Camino for the first time, starting in Leon and finishing in Santiago beginning in mid-January as I am writing my dissertation on the Camino pilgrim experience. I am a bit concerned that I will not meet many pilgrims along the way, as I would love to speak with fellow pilgrims about their experience. Also, I am concerned about my safety walking alone, in regard to physical attacks/getting lost etc. I know this is really unlikely, but I would be more comfortable walking where I can see others walking also. What are peoples experiences walking alone at this time of year? How many others did you meet along the Way? Also is it just a case of asking the staff at the albergue where you should walk to next in order to make sure you get a bed for the night?
Any help would me much appreciated,
Chloe

 

[SYates]

Welcome to the forum @chloewb

For open albergues during winter have a look at http://www.aprinca.com/alberguesinvierno/ which gets regularly updated.
As for connecting to other pilgrims, how are your foreign language skills? Most likely there will be 1-2 dozen pilgrims with you on the road during the same day, most likely also from many different countries.
The Camino is safer than many of our home towns, just use common sense and you will be fine.
Buen Camino, SY

 

[mspath]

For a general discussion with many informative links re walking the camino in winter see this earlier Forum thread.

Buen camino!

 

[Deleted member 43985]

I met a young women writing her thesis about the Camino as well. Her way was to meet some people and ask if she could walk with them for a bit and ask some questions. At the end of the day she'd usually spend an extra day at the Albergue (generally not a problem in the winter months) so others could catch up to her and she'd repeat the process that night and the following day. It presumably took her double the time to walk the Camino but since we were walking in January/February she didn't have any other opportunity to speak to a great number of Pilgrims otherwise.

Besides her, I met several other young women walking the Camino alone and none had any negative experiences. Since there are few Albergues open that time of the year, most Pilgrims ended up in the same Albergue at night giving everyone companionship and opportunity to share experiences. I'm hopeful it will be the same for you!

Buen Camino.

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

I am a 22 year old female student planning to walk the Camino for the first time, starting in Leon and finishing in Santiago beginning in mid-January as I am writing my dissertation on the Camino pilgrim experience. I am a bit concerned that I will not meet many pilgrims along the way, as I would love to speak with fellow pilgrims about their experience. Also, I am concerned about my safety walking alone, in regard to physical attacks/getting lost etc. I know this is really unlikely, but I would be more comfortable walking where I can see others walking also. What are peoples experiences walking alone at this time of year? How many others did you meet along the Way? Also is it just a case of asking the staff at the albergue where you should walk to next in order to make sure you get a bed for the night?
Any help would me much appreciated,
Chloe

You will be (mostly) alone, if you can, april would be a lot 'better, specially if it's for your dissertation and you need other pilgrims' contributions (and safety),
Good luck and Buen Camino
Jeff

 

[chloewb]

Thank you all for your replies. My dissertation is due on March so I am leaving it very late as it is. I will definitely stick with my plan, and if I can't find other pilgrims I may wait around one of the albergues until I find some.
Many thanks for your replies
Chloe

 

[SYates]

To increase your chances of meeting other pilgrims do what is normally not recommended during 'high season':

Do start on a weekend/Friday to catch the pilgrims wave.
Do follow the Brierley stages and do stay in those must stay places.
Also remember, a lot of the hospitaler@s you will meet are veteran pilgrims themselves ...

Buen Camino, SY

 

[Americanperegrino]

OK, you have my curiosity
Dissertation for?