Alert Weather alert on Napoleon Road

[Monasp]

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[trecile]

https://www.facebook.com/albergueroncesvalles/posts/7324146837628005

 

[Tincatinker]

Looks like a rough few days from Friday onward along much of the Frances & Norte: http://www.aemet.es/en/eltiempo/prediccion/avisos

 

[Former member 49149]

Yes, my friend in Pamplona warned me of same...not that I am about to step out on any camino at this moment!

 

[theclaireperson]

I may spend a few nights in SJPP depending. I also heard valcarlos has had landslide so is mostly road walking now. Any camino is a good camino

 

[lt56ny]

The website of the pilgrim office has this link for weather:

MÉTÉO - AUCOEURDUCHEMIN

www.aucoeurduchemin.org

I would assume that Port de Cize is the pass going over to Roncesvalles past Orisson but I am sure someone knows alot better than me and can clarify if my assumption is right.

​

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

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This is why the Napoleon Route is rarely open before April 1.

 

[C clearly]

This is why the Napoleon Route is rarely open before April 1.

To clarify - as of a few years ago, it is never open before April 1.

 

[Tincatinker]

The website of the pilgrim office has this link for weather:

MÉTÉO - AUCOEURDUCHEMIN

www.aucoeurduchemin.org

I would assume that Port de Cize is the pass going over to Roncesvalles past Orisson but I am sure someone knows alot better than me and can clarify if my assumption is right.

​

The forecast is for the Col de Bentarte / Collado de Bentartea at 1337m the lower of the two passes on the R Napoleon. Lapoeder is higher at 1430m. Looks rough till at least Monday 4 April and the snow will take a while to clear. Anyone planning to start from St J in the next week - enjoy Valcarlos!

 

[SabsP]

Extra information about roads and safety can also be found in El Diario de Navarra.

Diario de Navarra - Noticias de Navarra, Pamplona, Osasuna, Deportes

Actualidad Navarra, Pamplona, Tudela,Estella, Osasuna, Deportes, Gobierno de Navarra, Ayuntamiento de Pamplona, Política,Economía, Trabajo, Sociedad.

www.diariodenavarra.es

 

[lt56ny]

The forecast is for the Col de Bentarte / Collado de Bentartea at 1337m the lower of the two passes on the R Napoleon. Lapoeder is higher at 1430m. Looks rough till at least Monday 4 April and the snow will take a while to clear. Anyone planning to start from St J in the next week - enjoy Valcarlos!

I knew you would know, thanks

 

[Marbe2]

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Thank you very much for this alert!

 

[vintormo]

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Just walked the Valcarlos route over last 2 days - all was open/passable & safe. Napoleon route closed due to weather conditions - even if one were foolish enough to disregard warnings not to take Napoleon route, you still wouldn’t see anything due to fog & rain. Buen Camino all!!

 

[trecile]

Napoleon route closed due to weather conditions

Not just due to weather conditions. The Napoleon route is closed regardless of weather until April 1st.

 

[Icacos]

Not just due to weather conditions. The Napoleon route is closed regardless of weather until April 1st.

Anyone planning to start from St J in the next week - enjoy Valcarlos!

Here's a picture taken the first week of April, when the Napoleon had been opened then closed again - due to weather conditions higher up - and we were directed to go via Valcarlos. (This was just when we exited the woods and continued on the road, when the real blizzard started with the snow coming in sideways. Yes, enjoy it Tinker, we did!)

 

[theclaireperson]

I am currently in SJPP. I see that valcarlos only has 24 beds, lots of pilgrims arrived today so hopefully everybody will safely get a bed somewhere tomorrow!

 

[mspath]

I am currently in SJPP. I see that valcarlos only has 24 beds, lots of pilgrims arrived today so hopefully everybody will safely get a bed somewhere tomorrow!

The Valcarlos albergue has 24 beds. However there are other places to stay in Valcarlos. See this list in Gronze. Many pilgrims walk directly from SJPdP through Valcarlos (without staying overnight ) to Roncesvalles where they stay.

There are no shops nor potabile water after Valcarlos until Roncesvalles; be prepared.

However you go
good luck and Buen camino.

 

[Former member 98118]

Hola,
Why is the Napoleon Route closed but nobody closed Primitivo mountain passes?
I'm here in Hotel Nueva Allandesa in Pola de Allande and I am facing foot deep snow at Puerto de Palo tomorrow. ..
Hopefully it will be a penguin's foot deep snow!
There is a cold and wet front coming to Primitivo and the locals are warning about snow up there at Puerto de Palo (1146 m) and El Acebo (1110 m, border with Galicia)
I will probably walk mostly on the road towards Puerto de Palo and then from Montefurado down. I hope to get some nice winter scenery pictures!

Actually I wanted to say that Albergue Municipal in Pola de Allande is open again. I am in my private room at Nueva Allandesa, which also is worth recomending, good quality/price ratio.

It's like April Fools Day forecast. Am I still in Spain?

 

[Tincatinker]

Hola,
Why is the Napoleon Route closed but nobody closed Primitivo mountain passes?
I'm here in Hotel Nueva Allandesa in Pola de Allande and I am facing foot deep snow at Puerto de Palo tomorrow. ..
Hopefully it will be a penguin's foot deep snow!
There is a cold and wet front coming to Primitivo and the locals are warning about snow up there at Puerto de Palo (1146 m) and El Acebo (1110 m, border with Galicia)
I will probably walk mostly on the road towards Puerto de Palo and then from Montefurado down. I hope to get some nice winter scenery pictures!

Actually I wanted to say that Albergue Municipal in Pola de Allande is open again. I am in my private room at Nueva Allandesa, which also is worth recomending, good quality/price ratio.

It's like April Fools Day forecast. Am I still in Spain?

View attachment 121664

I would recommend following the Camino path at least up as far as the Puerto. It’s remarkably wooded and sheltered. The road winds a lot which will stretch your distance and is pretty exposed at times.

 

[Former member 98118]

Not too bad at Puerto del Palo! Easy to get here. There is mobile coverage at Puerto del Palo.



btw: footsteps in the snow are mine



Update:
Descent to Montefurado. Time consuming but doable



Montefurado below snow line



Update 3rd of April 2022:
Puerto del Acebo at 1100 m on the Camino Primitivo at the border between Asturias and Galicia is snow free.

 

[wisepilgrim]

Wow. With all that snow the recently announced road works on that route are going to last much longer than November. It may stay closed all year!

 

[Former member 49149]

Wow. With all that snow the recently announced road works on that route are going to last much longer than November. It may stay closed all year!

Are you on the same route as Happy Penguin? By the way, it is past twelve o'clock where the Queen of England has her dinner.

 

[cathal Ferris]

The Valcarlos albergue has 24 beds. However there are other places to stay in Valcarlos. See this list in Gronze. Many pilgrims walk directly from SJPdP through Valcarlos (without staying overnight ) to Roncesvalles where they stay.

There are no shops nor potabile water after Valcarlos until Roncesvalles; be prepared.

However you go
good luck and Buen camino.

Yes i went through the Napoleon Route in April the year i did it and the snow was covering the roads the word in the albergue the night previous the Napoleaon was closed however before setting off from St JPDP i was giving the all clear setting off early that morning had my porridge up at the mountain top and the horses with bells around thier neck came to join me what an experience but care needed Chinese guy was lost and the clay on the boulders dscending into Roncesvalle another guy ripped his thigh after a fall and was taken to hospital most enjoyable part of my camino that year but take care

 

[Ianinam]

The route Napoleon is closed now since November 1st and will stay closed until April 1st or later, in case the circumstances are bad (snow on the mountain).

If you walk over the route Napoleon when it is closed and the police finds you there you will be fined for € 1.500,-- .

If you come into trouble on the Route Napoleon and have to be rescued by the bomberos the costs can be € 10.000,-- up to € 25.000,-- in case the helicopter has to fly out to save you. They will have to risk their liives to save you! So be prepared and take under all circumstances the route via Valcarlos.