Creativeguy
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- Time of past OR future Camino
- SJPP France to Santiago 2020
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I walked May-June in 2017. It ranged from cool-cold-freezing in the mornings, and then most days warmed up to warm-hot-unbearable. I take 3 layers, short sleeved top, long sleeve lightweight fleece, and very lightweight puffer jacket.I am getting my gear organized and walking a LOT in preparation for my experience this May. One question I don't have an answer for is about how much warm clothing to bring???
My options are a 150 weight base layer long sleeve wool shirt, the same type of shirt but 250 weight and a light and compact puffy jacket. Initially, I was considering bringing all three along. However, I'm not clear on how much really cold weather to anticipate?
Assuming the Pyrenes are windy and cold, I'll be happy to have the jacket for warmth and wind protection. Are their other sections of the trail that would require more than me bringing the light 150 weight long sleeve shirt and the puffy jacket? I tested the gear last week hiking to the Monarch butterfly reserve in Michoacan, Mexico at over 3,000 meters. Walking uphill, all three were too much. Standing around outside watching the butterflies, I needed all three.
Any advice on "normally" how much cold weather to expect in May on other parts of the Camino?
Thank you!!
Yea totally agree. I would not bring a puffy jacket, it's liable to take up masses of room when you are not wearing it. Rick M mentions a rain jacket as opposed to a poncho, and that I think is key. With a jacket, you only need a modest warm layer underneath cos you'll tend to heat up in the jacket and it will keep the wind off. A poncho on the other hand, the wind could whip under it.Dave's right. Until weather forecasts improve dramatically, we have to guess a lot. Look at it this way: If you were wearing everything in your pack, would you be comfortable in a moderate wind at 0 C? The answer should be YES, but that does not mean taking a parka. Between a base layer, a long sleeve merino, my fleece, and my rain jacket, I'm fine. I know, because that is what we had walking out of Burgos one year on the first of May. Layers.....think layers.
Buen Camino
I see this question coming up often both here and on FB groups. Unfortunately, there is no answer. I walked 2015 starting in early April. Mid to late April, it got very warm which was unseasonable. Walking out of Carrion in May, suddenly got very cold and I had to dig out Pyrenees gloves and buffs. Unfortunately, because of the very hot weather in April, I had sent my jacket home. But then it got warm again and I thought that was the end of the cold weather. Coming out of restaurant after breakfast in O Cebreiro, the temperature dropped suddenly from very pleasant to very cold. I literally ran down the hill trying to keep warm. Then it got warm again from 16th May to end of Camino on 23rd May. 2013, I started on St Patricks day and although there was still some snow on high ground, by the time I got to end of March, the weather was fine, not great, still needed fleece in early morning, but never anywhere near as cold as 2015. 2016, although in September, the weather was warmer than it had been in July. I throw this in to point out that the weather is unpredictable. What happens one year does not necessarily happen the next. Maybe do as I did and if the weather turns really good, send your warmer clothes home although that back fired on meI am getting my gear organized and walking a LOT in preparation for my experience this May. One question I don't have an answer for is about how much warm clothing to bring???
My options are a 150 weight base layer long sleeve wool shirt, the same type of shirt but 250 weight and a light and compact puffy jacket. Initially, I was considering bringing all three along. However, I'm not clear on how much really cold weather to anticipate?
Assuming the Pyrenes are windy and cold, I'll be happy to have the jacket for warmth and wind protection. Are their other sections of the trail that would require more than me bringing the light 150 weight long sleeve shirt and the puffy jacket? I tested the gear last week hiking to the Monarch butterfly reserve in Michoacan, Mexico at over 3,000 meters. Walking uphill, all three were too much. Standing around outside watching the butterflies, I needed all three.
Any advice on "normally" how much cold weather to expect in May on other parts of the Camino?
Thank you!!
I did the Camino in July/Aug and was glad I brought some warm clothes....the mornings were chilly at times. I had on a fleece jacket, long sleeve shirt, short sleeve shirt, and my poncho on at times....and was still cold (it wasn’t raining, I just used the poncho for extra warmth)....I’m bringing a small pair of gloves this year as wellI am getting my gear organized and walking a LOT in preparation for my experience this May. One question I don't have an answer for is about how much warm clothing to bring???
My options are a 150 weight base layer long sleeve wool shirt, the same type of shirt but 250 weight and a light and compact puffy jacket. Initially, I was considering bringing all three along. However, I'm not clear on how much really cold weather to anticipate?
Assuming the Pyrenes are windy and cold, I'll be happy to have the jacket for warmth and wind protection. Are their other sections of the trail that would require more than me bringing the light 150 weight long sleeve shirt and the puffy jacket? I tested the gear last week hiking to the Monarch butterfly reserve in Michoacan, Mexico at over 3,000 meters. Walking uphill, all three were too much. Standing around outside watching the butterflies, I needed all three.
Any advice on "normally" how much cold weather to expect in May on other parts of the Camino?
Thank you!!
Hi, Creativeguy,
Maybe this will give you an idea of what might work during your time on Camino. Below is a list of my "closet" that I carry in my pack. Besides it being used during the Fall on the Camino last year, it is about the same as what I used to thru hike the Pacific Crest Trail and the Colorado Trail (most of which sits above 9,000 feet / 2743 meters in elevation. And for the thousands of other backpacking miles I have done.
The total weight is around 3.4 pounds.
- Pants -- Running shorts with liner
- Baselayer Top -- Smartwool, Lightweight, Long-Sleeve x 1
- Baselayer Bottom - Smartwool, Lightweight
- Hat - wool beanie
- Windshell Jacket - Patagonia, Houdini
- Insulating Layer -- Mountain Hardwear, Ghost Whisperer Vest
- Socks -- Smartwool Phd, Crew, Light Padding x 2
- Extra insoles x 1
- Poncho --- Zpacks, Cuben Fiber / or Frogg Toggs Ultralite Poncho
- Gloves -- North Face, polartec
The clothing that I wear usually consists of running shorts and a long sleeved synthetic and lightweight shirt. All of the clothing can be used in various layering configurations to provide a comfort range from 30 f / -1 C to very hot. This is just an example of how a layering system can be flexible and cover a wide temperature range which is more than sufficient for the time of year you are going over the Pyrenees and Galicia.
Dave's right. Until weather forecasts improve dramatically, we have to guess a lot. Look at it this way: If you were wearing everything in your pack, would you be comfortable in a moderate wind at 0 C? The answer should be YES, but that does not mean taking a parka. Between a base layer, a long sleeve merino, my fleece, and my rain jacket, I'm fine. I know, because that is what we had walking out of Burgos one year on the first of May. Layers.....think layers.
Buen Camino
On my first Camino, the first week from SJPdP was very cold and rainy (highs were 4 C - 8 C). I wore a 150 weight merino tee shirt with a long-sleeve Columbia hiking shirt, and a Patagonia Houdini wind jacket. Bottoms were just 8" leg merino "boxer-briefs" and a pair of convertible Columbia hiking pants. I wore a merino stocking cap. Rain protection was an umbrella. As long as I was moving, I was fine. If I had needed to stop for an extended period outside, or if the temp had stayed under 0 C, I would have needed to put on another layer. This being said, I am relatively unbothered by the cold and didn't find those temps particularly uncomfortable. Coming from Michoacan, you might not be as tolerant of the cold.
My only regret with the system was not bringing lightweight gloves (my hands were very cold in that cold, rainy weather).
However, the next time I walked, we were in temps well over 40 C each day, and I thought I was going to die of heat stroke.
You described 3 layers that you would take, but didn't say if you would have other items, for example for evenings and sleeping, or if you would have a rain jacket or poncho. It is your total collection of clothes that has to be evaluated together. You should be prepared for an occasional very cold day/night, when you will pile everything on. You don't need extras in your backpack on those occasions. However, you do need to have dry clothes for the evening, but fortunately, the coldest days are not likely to be the wettest days in May.
Oh...cool idea!Take along an old sweatshirt or fleece for the first few days. Once you enter the gates of Pamplona look for the first albergue on the left a short way down the street (on the camino). Donate the clothing. I was there this last autumn and saw donated clothing being washed to be given to charity.
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I walked May-June in 2017. It ranged from cool-cold-freezing in the mornings, and then most days warmed up to warm-hot-unbearable. I take 3 layers, short sleeved top, long sleeve lightweight fleece, and very lightweight puffer jacket.
Many days I started off wearing everything, and took off layers as I walked.
By the time we got to Santiago it was 43 degrees, so expect the days to get hotter as you go.
I remember a cold snap in Leon, a freak squall in the afternoon had me wearing everything and huddling in bed. Two hours later, I was back in a short sleeves buying an icecream.
Last September when we walked, we expected but just missed the heatwave that finished the week before. September is usually a pretty warm/hot month.
Whilst I remember overall that days were warm or hot- when I look back on my photos, I'm wearing my puffer jacket most mornings. Rolled up it also makes a pillow. And mine is very lightweight. And it has great pockets for warming up cold hands.
Layers are your friend.
Colorado is home for me too. Gotta love the Rocky Mountains for a back yard.I'm coming from Colorado and generally not too bothered by cold. Cheers!
Colorado is home for me too. Gotta love the Rocky Mountains for a back yard.
I just layer and don't really take anything heavy.
I walked crossed the Pyrenees on May 1 one year in snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Temps were a degree or two below 0 C at the top. Multiple light layers of synthetics and merino long sleeve tee shirts, and a light Patagonia pullover under a waterproof shell with hood worked fine for me that day. I also had light wool gloves, a buff and a light weight merino watch cap. Everything but the gloves and watch cap was used later in the Camino in hotter weather. Total weight of the “cold weather gear” was less than 100 grams.I am getting my gear organized and walking a LOT in preparation for my experience this May. One question I don't have an answer for is about how much warm clothing to bring???
My options are a 150 weight base layer long sleeve wool shirt, the same type of shirt but 250 weight and a light and compact puffy jacket. Initially, I was considering bringing all three along. However, I'm not clear on how much really cold weather to anticipate?
Assuming the Pyrenes are windy and cold, I'll be happy to have the jacket for warmth and wind protection. Are their other sections of the trail that would require more than me bringing the light 150 weight long sleeve shirt and the puffy jacket? I tested the gear last week hiking to the Monarch butterfly reserve in Michoacan, Mexico at over 3,000 meters. Walking uphill, all three were too much. Standing around outside watching the butterflies, I needed all three.
Any advice on "normally" how much cold weather to expect in May on other parts of the Camino?
Thank you!!
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