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I would always look at a detailed locally focused weather forecast myself and then decide while taking warnings from other sources into consideration. In the situation that you describe I would do what you write above, i.e. wait until Friday.My current thinking is to wait in SJPP until Friday and set off for Orisson on that day (as the weather is apparently easing), and then to complete onto Roncesvalles on Saturday when the weather is expected to be much clearer. What would you do if you were in this situation?
Do you have a reservation for Orisson and can you change it? Otherwise take the Valcarlos. Enjoy the historic pilgrim road. Rest in the Valcarlos Albergue and, on the following day, be careful at the Puerto de Ibañeta. It's elevation is not much below the Col de Bentarte and it can be a pretty rough hike in bad weather even though you have the kerb to guide you.potentially stopping at Orisson for the night.
Rubbish. There is some road walking, but mostly on quiet country roads- except for a short stretch after Valcarlos. Then the path goes away from the road altogether. It's gorgeous.road route is much more dangerous because of the large vehicles at fast speeds (I’m also not too keen on the idea of this route).
Walk via Valcarlos, so long as I didn't have a paid booking at Orisson - and maybe even then.What would you do if you were in this situation?
@tommycamino, check with the SJPP pilgrim office. I would think that the volunteers will have been briefed by their local bosses and if it is one thing they know well then it is the current or likely condition of the trail and how pilgrims in general are likely to cope with it. Most of the Route Napoleon trail is on tarmac anyway. Buen Camino!Or is there a problem with the wet ground from the days before?
Probably too late @Readey, but I walked over Route Napoleon this morning from Orisson. It was cold, wet, windy...but I did it, and without any rain gear due to my jacket disappearing overnight at Orisson. To paraphrase John Brierley...Trust in God, but tether your expensive new raincoatHello fellow pilgrims,
I’ve just arrived in SJPP and my plan was to set off for Roncesvalles tomorrow morning via the Napoleon route, potentially stopping at Orisson for the night.
However, the people at the pilgrim office have told me it is too dangerous to do the napoleon route until Sunday due to bad weather, and that the lower route is safer in the meantime.
BUT, having since spoken with my hospitalera, she has said that the people at the office are being too cautious and that the road route is much more dangerous because of the large vehicles at fast speeds (I’m also not too keen on the idea of this route).
I am therefore at a loss of what to do.
My current thinking is to wait in SJPP until Friday and set off for Orisson on that day (as the weather is apparently easing), and then to complete onto Roncesvalles on Saturday when the weather is expected to be much clearer.
Is anyone else in the same predicament?
What would you do if you were in this situation?
Thank you, as always! A x
What we did; we took their advice.What would you do if you were in this situation?
@Enigma. Oh no! Are you serious?! Your raincoat was stolen? I’m glad to hear you made it nonetheless. And, @Enigma, were you in the shuttle bus yesterday afterall ?Probably too late @Readey, but I walked over Route Napoleon this morning from Orisson. It was cold, wet, windy...but I did it, and without any rain gear due to my jacket disappearing overnight at Orisson. To paraphrase John Brierley...Trust in God, but teather your expensive new raincoat
Do you have a reservation at Orisson? If not, an overnight stop there may not be possible.
Walk via Valcarlos, so long as I didn't have a paid booking at Orisson - and maybe even then.
My current thinking is to wait in SJPP until Friday and set off for Orisson on that day
Do you have a reservation for Orisson and can you change it? Otherwise take the Valcarlos.
We just walked from SJPDP (Tue 9/27) to Borda, 1 km past Orisson, and it was continuously raining and windy all the way up. On the way to Roncesvalles from Borda, it was heavy horizontal rain with winds gusting to 80 kph. I could almost swear we got hit with sleet. It was really horrible and scary until we were in the forests just before Col Lepoeder. We were soaked, freezing, and really miserable. Take the word of caution, be safe, have a very good raincoat, layer up, wear waterproof socks and waterproof shoes, and use walking sticks. Buen Camino.Hello fellow pilgrims,
I’ve just arrived in SJPP and my plan was to set off for Roncesvalles tomorrow morning via the Napoleon route, potentially stopping at Orisson for the night.
However, the people at the pilgrim office have told me it is too dangerous to do the napoleon route until Sunday due to bad weather, and that the lower route is safer in the meantime.
BUT, having since spoken with my hospitalera, she has said that the people at the office are being too cautious and that the road route is much more dangerous because of the large vehicles at fast speeds (I’m also not too keen on the idea of this route).
I am therefore at a loss of what to do.
My current thinking is to wait in SJPP until Friday and set off for Orisson on that day (as the weather is apparently easing), and then to complete onto Roncesvalles on Saturday when the weather is expected to be much clearer.
Is anyone else in the same predicament?
What would you do if you were in this situation?
Thank you, as always! A x
I am travelling from Ireland with my son to Barittz and then to SJPP and our flight was delayed twice and then cancelled until tomorrow morning . We had two beds booked at Orisson for tonight which J have cancelled but they wouldn’t give a refund inspite of the circumstances. Is anyone else effected by thus cancelled flight from Dublin?Do you have a reservation at Orisson? If not, an overnight stop there may not be possible.
What a bummer that some low life decided your raincoat was better than theirs or that they forget theirs. You should be able to get a suitable replacement in Pamplona. Buen Camino,.Probably too late @Readey, but I walked over Route Napoleon this morning from Orisson. It was cold, wet, windy...but I did it, and without any rain gear due to my jacket disappearing overnight at Orisson. To paraphrase John Brierley...Trust in God, but tether your expensive new raincoat
Yes its a little known fact that they do not give refunds or rainchecks. You pays your money and you takes your chances. CheersI am travelling from Ireland with my son to Barittz and then to SJPP and our flight was delayed twice and then cancelled until tomorrow morning . We had two beds booked at Orisson for tonight which J have cancelled but they wouldn’t give a refund inspite of the circumstances. Is anyone else effected by thus cancelled flight from Dublin?
I thought that it was quite well known that Orisson does not issue refunds. It's right on their home page.Yes its a little known fact that they do not give refunds or rainchecks
Because it's there.If visibility is poor, there’s no good reason (in my opinion) to take the Napoleon route.
True, but fewer can say they walked the Valcarlos route … roads less travelled and all that.Because it's there.
I missed the yellow wood yesterday, and...unlike Mr Frost, I'm sure the OP will be back again.True, but fewer can say they walked the Valcarlos route … roads less travelled and all that.
I was in a similar situation in April 2019. The Pilgrim Office put out a strongly worded warning. I decided to wait in SJPP two more days. On the day I had originally planned to start, they had to rescue 50 people off the mountain because of dense fog, zero visibility, and freezing conditions. Several were hospitalized. I waited 2 days and conditions then were perfect.Hello fellow pilgrims,
I’ve just arrived in SJPP and my plan was to set off for Roncesvalles tomorrow morning via the Napoleon route, potentially stopping at Orisson for the night.
However, the people at the pilgrim office have told me it is too dangerous to do the napoleon route until Sunday due to bad weather, and that the lower route is safer in the meantime.
BUT, having since spoken with my hospitalera, she has said that the people at the office are being too cautious and that the road route is much more dangerous because of the large vehicles at fast speeds (I’m also not too keen on the idea of this route).
I am therefore at a loss of what to do.
My current thinking is to wait in SJPP until Friday and set off for Orisson on that day (as the weather is apparently easing), and then to complete onto Roncesvalles on Saturday when the weather is expected to be much clearer.
Is anyone else in the same predicament?
What would you do if you were in this situation?
Thank you, as always! A x
That's a reason. Not the best one.Because it's there
Absolutely.Those who say that the Valcarlos is dangerous and mainly road walking probably have never walked it or have for some reason missed all the signs leading off the main road and onto the nice hiking paths.
We were there too and fortunately had a booking at Orisson. Everyone else had to walk or taxi back down to SJPP by police order! Even next day was treacherous cold and windy— not pleasant!I was in a similar situation in April 2019. The Pilgrim Office put out a strongly worded warning. I decided to wait in SJPP two more days. On the day I had originally planned to start, they had to rescue 50 people off the mountain because of dense fog, zero visibility, and freezing conditions. Several were hospitalized. I waited 2 days and conditions then were perfect.
Do you refer to last Thursday or to how you remember events from three years ago, on 24 April 2019, when a group of about 20-25 pilgrims from Ireland (not 50) called for help and were transported by the local rescue team from the Lepoeder shelter in adverse weather conditions for which they were apparently neither equipped nor fit enough - low temperatures, snow, very strong wind gusts and blizzard like conditions? I don't think that the weather was quite like that yesterday and the day before.We were there too and fortunately had a booking at Orisson. Everyone else had to walk or taxi back down to SJPP by police order! Even next day was treacherous cold and windy— not pleasant!
Trecile offers really sound advice. In May 2018 I crossed the Col in snow, sleet and rain. I couldn't locate the road route and so descended the trail through the forest which I had taken the year before without difficulty. But, this time the trail was wet and muddy. Not 50 meters from the top I slipped and took a tumble. I did a complete roll or two before I stopped. I wasn't injured badly -- just a cut on my knee from scraping the rocks, but I was lucky. Very lucky. The fall could have ended my Camino. If it's wet, take the road to Roncesvalles.If you take the Napoleon route take the safer alternative for the descent into Roncesvalles at Col de Lepoeder
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Dangerous might be a better word. But I assume you're speaking with tongue firmly in cheek, @aralgate.not pleasant!
The Valcarlos Route is lovely and there is only a very short stretch of road which wasn't busy when we left at dawn from Valcarlos. We stayed overnight in Valcarlos and found it a good warm-up day. It is mostly along lovely wooded trails and past some pretty villages. It was hot weather when we left and we appreciated the shaded walk. Those who walked the Napoleon that day didn't enjoy it as it was very windy and exposed.Hello fellow pilgrims,
I’ve just arrived in SJPP and my plan was to set off for Roncesvalles tomorrow morning via the Napoleon route, potentially stopping at Orisson for the night.
However, the people at the pilgrim office have told me it is too dangerous to do the napoleon route until Sunday due to bad weather, and that the lower route is safer in the meantime.
BUT, having since spoken with my hospitalera, she has said that the people at the office are being too cautious and that the road route is much more dangerous because of the large vehicles at fast speeds (I’m also not too keen on the idea of this route).
I am therefore at a loss of what to do.
My current thinking is to wait in SJPP until Friday and set off for Orisson on that day (as the weather is apparently easing), and then to complete onto Roncesvalles on Saturday when the weather is expected to be much clearer.
Is anyone else in the same predicament?
What would you do if you were in this situation?
Thank you, as always! A x
Sounds a lot like my hike up from Triacastela to Fonfría a few days ago, which I did in jeans, t-shirt, army boots, and woollen cape.We just walked from SJPDP (Tue 9/27) to Borda, 1 km past Orisson, and it was continuously raining and windy all the way up. On the way to Roncesvalles from Borda, it was heavy horizontal rain with winds gusting to 80 kph. I could almost swear we got hit with sleet. It was really horrible and scary until we were in the forests just before Col Lepoeder. We were soaked, freezing, and really miserable. Take the word of caution, be safe, have a very good raincoat, layer up, wear waterproof socks and waterproof shoes, and use walking sticks. Buen Camino.
The same thing happened me last year travelling with my son travelling from Dublin. We were delayed one & 1/2 days. We also had accomodation booked in Orisson I contacted them and explained we hadn’t left Ireland they also cancelled the booking but would not refund the room! When we did eventually arrive in Barittz we couldn’t get a bus and ended up getting a taxi to Roncevalles at a cost of €200 we didn’t have a choice as we missed one days walking.I am travelling from Ireland with my son to Barittz and then to SJPP and our flight was delayed twice and then cancelled until tomorrow morning . We had two beds booked at Orisson for tonight which J have cancelled but they wouldn’t give a refund inspite of the circumstances. Is anyone else effected by thus cancelled flight from Dublin?
Valcarlos is a wonderful walkWhat would you do if you were in this situation?
A nearby mountain is at about the same latitude as the Route Napoleon and its peak isn't that much higher at 1,900 meters. Sunday saw three rescues. The wind chill was just below freezing with wind speeds at 90 kph and there was heavy rain. Ya gotta be careful in the mountains.I could barely believe my eyes: The temperature is expected to peak between 12:00 and 15:00 with expected values of 30-32 ºC. What??? At 1314 metres above sea level in the Western Pyrenees???
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