LIVE from the Camino we plan to walk starting the beginning of November.

[nlew]

Does anyone have any advice for us? We heard that most of the auberges are closed during this time, and we're not opposed to camping along the way, but is this a feasible alternative when there are so many people and close towns nearby?

thanks!
nlew

 

[mspath]

niew,

Autumn can be a wonderful time to walk, but by November you MUST be prepared for varied weather. Nights can be extremely cold with freezing rain or even snow in the mountains. Learn to read the sky for possible storms and take every precaution.

Be prepared with various lightweight clothing layers for warmth. Gaiters are also useful. You can read my personal late autumn/winter kit list here >> http://mermore.blogspot.fr/p/kit-and-tips.html

Not all albergues will be open, but the welcome at those albergues which are is often most sincere. Most will usually be heated and/or have blankets. Generally the hospitaleros know who is open on the next stage.

See this Forum thread for a discussion of camping on the camino >> http://www.caminodesantiago.me/board/el-camino-frances/topic12990.html

Happy planning and Buen Camino,

Margaret

 

[gb]

Worry not! Sure, it'll be cool even cold but have layers of clothes, but without too much weight to carry.

Albergues could be closed but there are hotels in some villages and, of course, towns. When I did the Camino and was in Galicia I did have, once or twice, to walk on to the next village to find accommodation.

Buen camino!

 

[sag10]

R we plan to walk starting the beginning of November.

I think you will not need to camp along the Camino Francés. You could get to know in advance which shelters are opened next november. If someone understanding spanish language could help you, in the website http://www.caminodesantiago.consumer.es , it is possible to check the the file "ver todos los albergues" of every stage, whith theirs season times on display.

Santi

 

[mikevasey]

Hi nlew, you have very little to worry about. There is enough albergues open in November, so you will not have to camp. The longest I had to walk to get a open hostel was Logrono to Najera, the one in Ventoasa was shut, it may have been possible to stay in Naverette but i did not check.

There is a very intimate feel to walking at that time of year, there is usually a small group of you walking, around 30 of us set of from the SJPDP at the same time and more or less the same people bumped into each other at the morning mass in Santiago on the day of arrival then we went out as big group for a meal that night. We did our own thing in between, all taking turns to walk with each other, dropping back or surging ahead depending on what you felt like.

What has been suggested of taking layers is the best option. I did that and it worked for me. The only thing I would change is that I took technical winter walking trousers and autumn type walking trousers,next time I would have the latter be able to double up as shorts(with the zip offs), it got very warm some days(towards the end of November) and the option of just wearing shorts and T-shirt would have been nice.

Mike

 

[alansykes]

I did the VdlP in November 2 years ago and none of the albuergues were closed. Once I got a fright when I arrived in Aldeanueva del Camino at 7.30pm (after a very long day) to find it shut, but fortunately somebody passing in the street took me to the alcaide who opened up the town hall, stamped my credencial, gave me a camino tee-shirt and gave me the key to the tiny albuergue, and I dropped the key off in a cafe the following morning.

Buen camino.

Alan