Walking The Via de La Plata - Shall I take a sleeping bag liner or a normal sleeping bag?

[Raymond Aquilina]

Dear Forum Members,

I will be starting the via de La Plata from Seville next week on 5th October 2018 Planning to arrive in Santiago sometime during the first week of Novemeber.

I am very careful not to carry excessive weight. Recently I hiked the Tour de Mont Blank and carried only a sleeping bag liner which weighs only 150gms and this was enough for the early June period.

I am not sure if I will carry a sleeping bag liner this time as well as I will save 430 gms of weight. My sleeping bag weighs 580 gms.

Can anyone please give me an opinion about this. Are the Albergues warm enough on the Via Plata in October and early November? Do they offer blankets?

I would appreciate your opinion.

While thanking you in advance I appreciate any suggestions andf advice.

Regards,
Ray Aquilina,
Malta

 

[Albertagirl]

@Raymond Aquilina
I walked the VdlP from Seville to Santiago, via the Sanabres, last fall, beginning on Oct. 3. I took a light weight sleeping bag, but I think I could have managed with only a liner as far as Salamanca, as it was hot, average daytime high in the mid 30s. I did not see blankets anywhere, and it was certainly cool enough to need the warmth by the time I reached the Sanabres. Salamanca is halfway to Santiago (500 km from Seville). You might lighten your load to there, or to Zamora, by purchasing a sleeping bag in either city, as sporting goods are available. But if you want to stay in albergues, you will need a sleeping bag for warmth on the northern part of the route and you could not be confident to be able to find one in a northern village. You might search Decathlon on line for listings of stores further north on the route and the weight and cost of sleeping bags bought there. Buen camino.

 

[Deleted member 73526]

I think you'll need it for the second half of the journey.
My experience is based on a Camino slightly later in the season (I passed through Merida on 31/October). But the weather can vary from year to year, so you can take my advice with that in mind.

TEMPERATURES:
You're going to have some cold nights at elevation. The legendary albergue at Fuenterroble de Salvatierra (wonderful - highly recommended) is at 1,100 meters altitude. The wood burning stove in the dormitory will die down overnight and you'll be grateful for every layer you have.

HEATING IN ALBERGUES:
The albergues between Fuenterroble de Salvatierra and Salamanca have no heating. Several albergues after Zamora have no heating (or hospitaleros who refuse to turn it on). Some are nicknamed "The ice box" and so on.

AVAILABILITY OF BLANKETS:
I think every place I stayed on VDLP had blankets. But on the Camino Sanabres, I encountered several places that didn't have them after entering Galicia. The first was Lubian in Galicia. My Spanish roommates were upset about that. (I suspect that the blankets might have been eliminated a few years ago when there were bedbugs in these albergues. They were bug free and clean when I went through last year).

 

[Raymond Aquilina]

@Raymond Aquilina
I walked the VdlP from Seville to Santiago, via the Sanabres, last fall, beginning on Oct. 3. I took a light weight sleeping bag, but I think I could have managed with only a liner as far as Salamanca, as it was hot, average daytime high in the mid 30s. I did not see blankets anywhere, and it was certainly cool enough to need the warmth by the time I reached the Sanabres. Salamanca is halfway to Santiago (500 km from Seville). You might lighten your load to there, or to Zamora, by purchasing a sleeping bag in either city, as sporting goods are available. But if you want to stay in albergues, you will need a sleeping bag for warmth on the northern part of the route and you could not be confident to be able to find one in a northern village. You might search Decathlon on line for listings of stores further north on the route and the weight and cost of sleeping bags bought there. Buen camino.

Thank you for your responce. I might post my down sleeping bag to Salamanca hostel. Your is a very good advise.
Thanks

 

[MeandIan]

It has been very hot on the Camino this past week and we’ve only used our liners. Last night and tonight, however, has been quite cool and I am using my sleeping bag. Ian is still only using the liner. I do get cold, though I expect it to get colder as time passes. Last night we were in ventosa

 

[Martyduc]

Thank you for your responce. I might post my down sleeping bag to Salamanca hostel. Your is a very good advise.
Thanks

No blankets in the municipal albergue in Zamora !! So from Salamanca on is a good idea IMO,,,