Weather in April-May

[srvmup]

I would like to do the Camino from Roncevalles mid-April to mid-May. Anyone know what the weather is like in the mountains then?

Larry L

 

[brendan nolan]

Hi Larry,
Welcome to the Forum and I hope you get plenty of help.
Your question regarding weather in the mountains starting from Roncesvalles. Note that the Pyrenees are not the only mountains you will be in, nor are they the highest - the highest point is in the Montes de Leon after Astorga.
Regarding the Pyrenees in mid April I think you can get sunshine, rain, rain and low cloud or any combination plus cold wind. I think you will appreciate that in mountainous areas the weather can be very unpredictable and changeable. In the Montes de Leon which you should reach approx. 10 days before Santiago you could experience similar conditions to the Pyrenees - in the 2nd half of may this year there were days when pilgrims could get together and eat their meals outside in comfort, other days were cold and pilgrims were lashed by wind and rain all day. Whatever the weather in the mountains, even as you approach Santiago through Galicia you can get heavy rain at any time among periods of sunshine. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst.
Buen Camino,
Brendan

 

[ivanzu]

Hi!

I Start my Camino In SJPP on 26.April 2007 and finished on 26.May in Compostela. Weather was different all the way, but I have only 2 rainy days. Cold in the morning, sometimes nights, a lot of sunshine days. I think it is very good time of the year to do Camino, with a little luck you will have a good weather. This year was a lot of pilgrims on the road, but it was not a problem to find a place to sleep. Now I´ll try to do half of Camino in October.

Ivan

 

[Dale]

Before you read my reply let me preface it by saying that I have not yet walked the Camino and that I plan to start a few days walk before SJPDP April 1st, 2008 and weather permitting cross the Napoleon Pass in early April. I'm not giving this information to try to scare anyone but rather to make sure that it is well understood that you must pay close attention to the weather in the mountains and respect the warnings given by the local Camino office.

This past April 11th a man died from exposure on the Napoleon Pass this is a link to a newspaper article about this tragic event.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jh ... lgrm10.xml

 

[spursfan]

I'd say that the first day's walk is the one to be very cautious about - partly because it's a long climb and mainly because there is little help along the way and it's more easy to get lost - take advice from the pilgrim office in SJPP and don't be ashamed if you take the road route (that's still a pretty tough day)

On the other hand, apart from protection from the elements, the two other high points are less risky since you can take the road then path after Ruitelan to O'Cebreiro and it's also road over the Croix de Fer - less likely to get lost and easier to get help

 

[brendan nolan]

Hi Larry,
Dale's warning is a good one. The Scot who died was one of two last April in the Pyrenees and they were not the first over recent years in that area. Basically, as he says, respect the mountains and local advice. Starting at Roncesvalles is probably less hazardous since more pilgrims will be leaving from there and the route over the following days is relatively sheltered. But be prepared for difficult weather.
Cheers,
Brendan

 

[Javier Martin]

So, you possibly will have a good weather but ... you have to be prepared to ... who knows?

Any years ago was snowing a lot in Manjarin on May, 26th ... it's not normal, of course, but possible.

And three years ago I walked the portuguese on winter, dressing a t-shirt.

Weather is crazy!!

 

[Deleted member 397]

I think its pointless asking what weather will be like at a certain time of year.Climate,in many parts of the world,vary from year to year. This year I was in the UK in 'summer'-which was one of the wettest on record. From late june to late august I walked from Le Puy to Santiago. The weather in France was very varied-from cold and wet to hot. Roncesvalles was gloomy,misty,drizzly and cold and that was in high summer.My point is that you cannot predict what weather will be like in 6-8 months time. Be prepared for wet and cold weather at that time of year-especially in Galicia

 

[fiddletree]

Ivan- did I meet you this year on the camino??? I did my walk at exactly the same time (and my boyfriend started walking on April 26 as well!).

The weather that time of year is unpredictable. This year, there was a blizzard in beginning/mid April, but by the time I started (April 23) it was perfectly clear, just a bit of snow at the tops of the mountains.

There was a fair amount of rain along the camino, though, and when it rained it got really really cold.