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I leave in 4 weeks. Your blog is inspiring!I'm six days into the Camino. Here's what I've learned so far;
1. The Pyrenees route is steep and hard. Especially if you're in your 60s-70s. If you are in your 20s, not so much. But if you are not in good physical condition with a backpack, it can be a tough go. Best to overnight at Orrison. The uphill is hard, but the downhill afterwards is a killer. And if the weather's bad or raining, the downhill can be downright treacherous. But if the weather is good, the views can be stunning.
2. There seems to be plenty of rooms available.
3. There are numerous very steep ascents and descents for several days after the Pryenees that the guidebooks seem to gloss over.
4. A lot of advice has been given about the kind of shoes to wear, but I've not seen anything about the kind of soles you should have. Read the spec sheet on the boot and be sure that the sole is good in wet conditions--many are not. You do not want boots with soles that are slippery--especially in those down hill descents. Just because it says Vibram doesn't mean anything--Vibram makes all types of soles. I have s pair of Merrill's with Vibram that I wouldn't wear on wet pavement to take out the trash--and I have a I pair of Merrill's with Vibram soles I'm wearing on the Camino now.
5. Wear thin liner socks under mid-weight to heavy Smartwool socks. The liner is the key to prevent blisters.
6. Be prepared: it's not a leisurely walk from village to village. Most so far has been across steep hills ranging some 20km apart.
For more. See my blog:
Caminojoe.com
Spain is beautiful, your fellow pilgrims can become friends for life and the experience can be amazing. And I'm just a few days into it!
Bien Camino!
It was good point you maid out about going through the mountain.I'm six days into the Camino. Here's what I've learned so far;
1. The Pyrenees route is steep and hard. Especially if you're in your 60s-70s. If you are in your 20s, not so much. But if you are not in good physical condition with a backpack, it can be a tough go. Best to overnight at Orrison. The uphill is hard, but the downhill afterwards is a killer. And if the weather's bad or raining, the downhill can be downright treacherous. But if the weather is good, the views can be stunning.
2. There seems to be plenty of rooms available.
3. There are numerous very steep ascents and descents for several days after the Pryenees that the guidebooks seem to gloss over.
4. A lot of advice has been given about the kind of shoes to wear, but I've not seen anything about the kind of soles you should have. Read the spec sheet on the boot and be sure that the sole is good in wet conditions--many are not. You do not want boots with soles that are slippery--especially in those down hill descents. Just because it says Vibram doesn't mean anything--Vibram makes all types of soles. I have s pair of Merrill's with Vibram that I wouldn't wear on wet pavement to take out the trash--and I have a I pair of Merrill's with Vibram soles I'm wearing on the Camino now.
5. Wear thin liner socks under mid-weight to heavy Smartwool socks. The liner is the key to prevent blisters.
6. Be prepared: it's not a leisurely walk from village to village. Most so far has been across steep hills ranging some 20km apart.
For more. See my blog:
Caminojoe.com
Spain is beautiful, your fellow pilgrims can become friends for life and the experience can be amazing. And I'm just a few days into it!
Bien Camino!
Just read your blog. Nice job! I can't wait to be on the trail again. I'm leaving June 9th YAYFor more. See my blog:
I was there in April. We were the first group over the Napoleon Route. We had great weather for days. Pilgrims 1 day behind us didn't have it so good. You have a great walk into, through, and out of Pamplona then a very steep climb up to the wind farm. Then a horrid 2 kilometers of a steep river rock covered trail that only gets marginally better. Walk carefully and if you have poles use them. They saved my butt more than once.I'm six days into the Camino. Here's what I've learned so far;
1. The Pyrenees route is steep and hard. Especially if you're in your 60s-70s. If you are in your 20s, not so much. But if you are not in good physical condition with a backpack, it can be a tough go. Best to overnight at Orrison. The uphill is hard, but the downhill afterwards is a killer. And if the weather's bad or raining, the downhill can be downright treacherous. But if the weather is good, the views can be stunning.
2. There seems to be plenty of rooms available.
3. There are numerous very steep ascents and descents for several days after the Pryenees that the guidebooks seem to gloss over.
4. A lot of advice has been given about the kind of shoes to wear, but I've not seen anything about the kind of soles you should have. Read the spec sheet on the boot and be sure that the sole is good in wet conditions--many are not. You do not want boots with soles that are slippery--especially in those down hill descents. Just because it says Vibram doesn't mean anything--Vibram makes all types of soles. I have s pair of Merrill's with Vibram that I wouldn't wear on wet pavement to take out the trash--and I have a I pair of Merrill's with Vibram soles I'm wearing on the Camino now.
5. Wear thin liner socks under mid-weight to heavy Smartwool socks. The liner is the key to prevent blisters.
6. Be prepared: it's not a leisurely walk from village to village. Most so far has been across steep hills ranging some 20km apart.
For more. See my blog:
Caminojoe.com
Spain is beautiful, your fellow pilgrims can become friends for life and the experience can be amazing. And I'm just a few days into it!
Bien Camino!
There are numerous very steep ascents and descents for several days after the Pryenees
Not looking forward to the uphills and downhills
That was me....the one in Florida.....and no hills at all here to do some training onHow people look at the mountains and hills on the Camino is similar to how we view the weather. I mentioned a heat wave of 75 degrees, and someone from Florida said that is a cold front to her. I trained on a road in Toronto - about an hour drive from my house. The huge hill I found was 84 metres high. I would walk up and down 5 times. You can't train on a 700 m ascent, if the landscape is flat!
You can't train on a 700 m ascent, if the landscape is flat!
How people look at the mountains and hills on the Camino is similar to how we view the weather. I mentioned a heat wave of 75 degrees, and someone from Florida said that is a cold front to her. I trained on a road in Toronto - about an hour drive from my house. The huge hill I found was 84 metres high. I would walk up and down 5 times. You can't train on a 700 m ascent, if the landscape is flat!
I'm six days into the Camino. Here's what I've learned so far;
1. The Pyrenees route is steep and hard. Especially if you're in your 60s-70s. If you are in your 20s, not so much. But if you are not in good physical condition with a backpack, it can be a tough go. Best to overnight at Orrison. The uphill is hard, but the downhill afterwards is a killer. And if the weather's bad or raining, the downhill can be downright treacherous. But if the weather is good, the views can be stunning.
2. There seems to be plenty of rooms available.
3. There are numerous very steep ascents and descents for several days after the Pryenees that the guidebooks seem to gloss over.
4. A lot of advice has been given about the kind of shoes to wear, but I've not seen anything about the kind of soles you should have. Read the spec sheet on the boot and be sure that the sole is good in wet conditions--many are not. You do not want boots with soles that are slippery--especially in those down hill descents. Just because it says Vibram doesn't mean anything--Vibram makes all types of soles. I have s pair of Merrill's with Vibram that I wouldn't wear on wet pavement to take out the trash--and I have a I pair of Merrill's with Vibram soles I'm wearing on the Camino now.
5. Wear thin liner socks under mid-weight to heavy Smartwool socks. The liner is the key to prevent blisters.
6. Be prepared: it's not a leisurely walk from village to village. Most so far has been across steep hills ranging some 20km apart.
For more. See my blog:
Caminojoe.com
Spain is beautiful, your fellow pilgrims can become friends for life and the experience can be amazing. And I'm just a few days into it!
Bien Camino!
Just finished the camino and instead of poncho which I found to be a pain in the windy weather I would recommend water proof jacket and trousers. Buen camino.irish JulieThanks CowboyJoe.
Nice info, will keep following up your blog
I agree 100% about the vibram, I too have bought a pair of (JackWolfskin) boots and in wet conditions they are slippery.
Lessons learned too.
They will certainly not go on the Camino next year.
And yes same experience with goretex jackets. If you have one with armpit opening then you can regulate the heat, you are pumping is out.
Even goretex isn't goretex, different layers and different behavier.
I will take a poncho, one that goes over the backpack and under that a merino wool tshirt.
And layering when needed.
And don't forget to drink, sweating is loosing liquid.
Buen Camino!
Hi joe Thanks for your great advise,say it how it is.I'm six days into the Camino. Here's what I've learned so far;
1. The Pyrenees route is steep and hard. Especially if you're in your 60s-70s. If you are in your 20s, not so much. But if you are not in good physical condition with a backpack, it can be a tough go. Best to overnight at Orrison. The uphill is hard, but the downhill afterwards is a killer. And if the weather's bad or raining, the downhill can be downright treacherous. But if the weather is good, the views can be stunning.
2. There seems to be plenty of rooms available.
3. There are numerous very steep ascents and descents for several days after the Pryenees that the guidebooks seem to gloss over.
4. A lot of advice has been given about the kind of shoes to wear, but I've not seen anything about the kind of soles you should have. Read the spec sheet on the boot and be sure that the sole is good in wet conditions--many are not. You do not want boots with soles that are slippery--especially in those down hill descents. Just because it says Vibram doesn't mean anything--Vibram makes all types of soles. I have s pair of Merrill's with Vibram that I wouldn't wear on wet pavement to take out the trash--and I have a I pair of Merrill's with Vibram soles I'm wearing on the Camino now.
5. Wear thin liner socks under mid-weight to heavy Smartwool socks. The liner is the key to prevent blisters.
6. Be prepared: it's not a leisurely walk from village to village. Most so far has been across steep hills ranging some 20km apart.
For more. See my blog:
Caminojoe.com
Spain is beautiful, your fellow pilgrims can become friends for life and the experience can be amazing. And I'm just a few days into it!
Bien Camino!
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