- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances, April 2023
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Buen Camino!Hello to All,
My Son and I will be starting out first Camino (Frances) on April 1, 2023. I am curious about the rain along the Camino, based on past pilgrims experiences does it rain for long periods of time or does it come in short bursts. The reason I ask is to determine if a bivvy tent might be something to consider vs walking in heavy rain for an extended period of time. Like more than two hours in heavy showers, any help and guiadance is greatly appreciated.
Hope to see, meet and get to know many Pilgrims along the Camino real soon.
Regards,
Epic and Tristan
American Pilgrims
Southern California
Hi and welcome Just to help us, at what point will you start the Camino Frances?Hello to All,
My Son and I will be starting out first Camino (Frances) on April 1, 2023. I am curious about the rain along the Camino, based on past pilgrims experiences does it rain for long periods of time or does it come in short bursts. The reason I ask is to determine if a bivvy tent might be something to consider vs walking in heavy rain for an extended period of time. Like more than two hours in heavy showers, any help and guiadance is greatly appreciated.
Hope to see, meet and get to know many Pilgrims along the Camino real soon.
Regards,
Epic and Tristan
American Pilgrims
Southern California
Thank you for the quick response. We certainly do appreciate it.Buen Camino!
I walked the Camino Frances last year in April and May. I experienced both types of rainfall. And snow. My regret is not having rain pants. That and a good rain jacket will do more good than a bivy tent. Avoid extra weight.
Blessings on your pilgrimage
Ahh yes, we will begin our Camino in St. Jean Pied-d-Port.Hi and welcome Just to help us, at what point will you start the Camino Frances?
Ahh yes, we will begin our Camino in St. Jean Pied-d-Port.
Listen to @dick bird. You are rarely more than a couple of hours from a town where you can find shelter.I don't know if you have spent two hours sheltering in a bivvy tent. Personally, I would rather spend two hours sheltering in a nice warm café. Fortunately, there are enough of these along the way to make a bivvy tent an unnecessary extra weight.
Thank you for the insight and advice. We will walk on in our rain gear, and make the best of the experience.
I agree with James' advice here. While I have met a few people walking with bivvy gear, it is not necessary in my opinion.
I always bring a good rain jacket, my wife brings good rain trousers also. I dislike the latter, but hey, all walking is personal...
You are starting April 1st.
Make sure to visit the Pilgrim Office in SJPP to check weather status of route. Valcarlos route may be the better option, but all depend on the weather at the time.
Nothing to worry about, just take prevailing advice...
I will nix the idea of a bivvy and make the best of the rain. Thank you so much.Listen to @dick bird. You are rarely more than a couple of hours from a town where you can find shelter.
Since you are starting in SJPdP you can reserve an Altus "poncho" (really an oversized raincoat with room for your backpack) at Boutique du Pelerín.
Pilgrim's shop - Shop for the pilgrims of St Jacques de Compostela
Shop for the pilgrims of St Jacques de Compostelawww.boutique-du-pelerin.com
Thank you for the quick reply. I will leave our bivvys at home and walk on. And on and on.I don't know if you have spent two hours sheltering in a bivvy tent. Personally, I would rather spend two hours sheltering in a nice warm café. Fortunately, there are enough of these along the way to make a bivvy tent an unnecessary extra weight. Nix on the bivvy. Good waterproof outer layers is the go. Buen camino (it might even get quite hot by the time you reach Santiago, it will be May by then).
I think you are making a wise choice. I carry a bivvy bag on most of my Camino walks but I only use it to break up long stages on less-travelled routes like the Mozarabe or Via de la Plata. And only in dry weather! Trying to wait out a Galician monsoon in a bivvy bag on the CF would be much less fun than drying out gradually with a stiff drink or two in a bar a few km further down the line.I will nix the idea of a bivvy and make the best of the rain. Thank you so much.
Your idea sounds soo much better. Cheers!!I think you are making a wise choice. I carry a bivvy bag on most of my Camino walks but I only use it to break up long stages on less-travelled routes like the Mozarabe or Via de la Plata. And only in dry weather! Trying to wait out a Galician monsoon in a bivvy bag on the CF would be much less fun than drying out gradually with a stiff drink or two in a bar a few km further down the line.
Hi did you experience snow in May or just April? Thanks for the tips blessingsBuen Camino!
I walked the Camino Frances last year in April and May. I experienced both types of rainfall. And snow. My regret is not having rain pants. That and a good rain jacket will do more good than a bivy tent. Avoid extra weight.
Blessings on your pilgrimage
Yes, I did. Especially on the higher parts of the Camino frances (e.g. Cruz de ferro, O‘ Cebreiro).Hi did you experience snow in May or just April? Thanks for the tips blessings
This wearing a poncho and shorts in the rain is what I do - legs are easier to dry than pants - and I have very short but super lightweight gaiters to reduce the rain pouring in the top of my trail runners that I got at MEC....I walked from LePuy and experienced about 30 days of rain from LePuy to SJPP....then both sunshine and freezing rain over the pass to Roncevalles. Another time on the Frances we did not get a day of rain from SJPP to Santiago. Yet another time (Jan & Feb) we had wind and rain for many days in a row and then nice weather from about Leon into Santiago.
There just is no way to predict...even from week to week.
I might add that I know several pilgrims that take good rain jackets and just wear shorts in the rain. I have tried this and it is very workable as you do not have the pants legs to get soaked.
I might further add.....I walked the Via de la Plata in August (most days over 110f) and never saw a day of rain....spent time under sprinklers in corn fields as I walked by.
see you there - I start 1st April too! I am bringing rain trousers and a Paramo jacket (as near waterproof as they get I believe) - I am layering up too as there could be snow...but others who have done it i am sure will give you better info as its my 1st timeHello to All,
My Son and I will be starting out first Camino (Frances) on April 1, 2023. I am curious about the rain along the Camino, based on past pilgrims experiences does it rain for long periods of time or does it come in short bursts. The reason I ask is to determine if a bivvy tent might be something to consider vs walking in heavy rain for an extended period of time. Like more than two hours in heavy showers, any help and guiadance is greatly appreciated.
Hope to see, meet and get to know many Pilgrims along the Camino real soon.
Regards,
Epic and Tristan
American Pilgrims
Southern California
The rain in Spain is not mainly on the plain. It pours in Galicia and can rain all day.Hello to All,
My Son and I will be starting out first Camino (Frances) on April 1, 2023. I am curious about the rain along the Camino, based on past pilgrims experiences does it rain for long periods of time or does it come in short bursts. The reason I ask is to determine if a bivvy tent might be something to consider vs walking in heavy rain for an extended period of time. Like more than two hours in heavy showers, any help and guiadance is greatly appreciated.
Hope to see, meet and get to know many Pilgrims along the Camino real soon.
Regards,
Epic and Tristan
American Pilgrims
Southern California
My experience is that the rain in Spain falls mainly, not on the plains, but on Galicia. When I last walked the Frances, the rain mostly fell in short bursts rather than long periods of time. But it may be different in April. That said, I think carrying the extra weight and bulk of a bivvy tent is unlikely to be worth it. Remember that on most days, villages will not be spread far apart (especially in Galicia). If you want to shelter from the rain for a while, a bar in a nearby village is likely to provide much superior shelter.Hello to All,
My Son and I will be starting out first Camino (Frances) on April 1, 2023. I am curious about the rain along the Camino, based on past pilgrims experiences does it rain for long periods of time or does it come in short bursts. The reason I ask is to determine if a bivvy tent might be something to consider vs walking in heavy rain for an extended period of time. Like more than two hours in heavy showers, any help and guiadance is greatly appreciated.
Hope to see, meet and get to know many Pilgrims along the Camino real soon.
Regards,
Epic and Tristan
American Pilgrims
Southern California
I walked in winter a fee years back now. You can expect any kinds of weather. For me it snowed, sleeted, hailed, rained and blew all the way except for some glorious weather through the meseta. I would suggest a good poncho, but several people I saw had their ponchos completely shredded in the rain. I was soaked to the skin every day, a bit dangerous in colder weather. The problem was my goretex jacket. All three I’ve owned have leaked like sieves. Also the inner layers tend to wear through under the shoulder straps of your pack. Hence my guarded suggestion to look for a good poncho, but with a drawstring around the waist area.Hello to All,
My Son and I will be starting out first Camino (Frances) on April 1, 2023. I am curious about the rain along the Camino, based on past pilgrims experiences does it rain for long periods of time or does it come in short bursts. The reason I ask is to determine if a bivvy tent might be something to consider vs walking in heavy rain for an extended period of time. Like more than two hours in heavy showers, any help and guiadance is greatly appreciated.
Hope to see, meet and get to know many Pilgrims along the Camino real soon.
Regards,
Epic and Tristan
American Pilgrims
Southern California
Since the Altus is really more of a rain coat than a poncho I think that it is a good solution.Hence my guarded suggestion to look for a good poncho, but with a drawstring around the waist area.
A good poncho, a smile and a song in your heart. It is the Camino rain, sun, wind and snow all part of the fun. My only guidance is not to worry about it just go with No Expectations and you will have no disappointments.Hello to All,
My Son and I will be starting out first Camino (Frances) on April 1, 2023. I am curious about the rain along the Camino, based on past pilgrims experiences does it rain for long periods of time or does it come in short bursts. The reason I ask is to determine if a bivvy tent might be something to consider vs walking in heavy rain for an extended period of time. Like more than two hours in heavy showers, any help and guiadance is greatly appreciated.
Hope to see, meet and get to know many Pilgrims along the Camino real soon.
Regards,
Epic and Tristan
American Pilgrims
Southern California
I carry a rain poncho that covers me and pack , I’ll walk in light rain , but if it’s rough I’ll sit in a cafe , it’s not a raceHello to All,
My Son and I will be starting out first Camino (Frances) on April 1, 2023. I am curious about the rain along the Camino, based on past pilgrims experiences does it rain for long periods of time or does it come in short bursts. The reason I ask is to determine if a bivvy tent might be something to consider vs walking in heavy rain for an extended period of time. Like more than two hours in heavy showers, any help and guiadance is greatly appreciated.
Hope to see, meet and get to know many Pilgrims along the Camino real soon.
Regards,
Epic and Tristan
American Pilgrims
Southern California
On the Frances, no problema. On the del Norte in late October and November, you might sit there for weeks. Buen CaminoI carry a rain poncho that covers me and pack , I’ll walk in light rain , but if it’s rough I’ll sit in a cafe , it’s not a race
You make it sound like a chore rather than the delight that it is. But I guess that you did say that you were from Southern CaliforniaThank you for the insight and advice. We will walk on in our rain gear, and make the best of the experience.
A poncho that cover backpack and body with 5000 watercoloumn protection is sufficient 98% of time on path. In other words, exellent protection level. For me…?… in my experience as a repetetive peregrino…?…this norm has become aHello to All,
My Son and I will be starting out first Camino (Frances) on April 1, 2023. I am curious about the rain along the Camino, based on past pilgrims experiences does it rain for long periods of time or does it come in short bursts. The reason I ask is to determine if a bivvy tent might be something to consider vs walking in heavy rain for an extended period of time. Like more than two hours in heavy showers, any help and guiadance is greatly appreciated.
Hope to see, meet and get to know many Pilgrims along the Camino real soon.
Regards,
Epic and Tristan
American Pilgrims
Southern California
Thanks. I think we have the layers covered. Do you think I should forego the rain jacket and take my gortex instead due to temps in early April?. The gortex is a bit heavier material.For a May/June hike in 2019, I used rain pants from REI. They were light weight and worked well. I splurged on a gortex rain jacket. It came i very handy on cold mornings in addition to its rain duties. Mt MVP for clothing was a Patagonia better sweater. I wore it more than half the mornings and frequently on evenings when the temp was in the low 60’s according to the weater app, but a cold wind coming off the snow covered mountains made it feel like the 40’s. In a pinch it even made a decent pillow..
Oh. No way man. I’ve been around the world in the worst of weather and situations. Just trying to get some clarity from this who have the experience. Thanks for the reply.You make it sound like a chore rather than the delight that it is. But I guess that you did say that you were from Southern California
I was able to get the Caminoteca site to load. Here's their "contact us" page.I tried Caminoteca in Pamplona but their website does not load and google says that they are closed.
@Walkalong - Decathlon sells a "poncho" similar to the Altus, but it is heavier.
Poncho impermeable de montaña y trekking máx. 75 litros Adulto Quechua 900
Compra en Decathlon Poncho impermeable de montaña y trekking máx. 75 litros Adulto Quechua 900 Diseñado y probado en los Alpes franceses, este poncho de manga larga está provisto de cremallera entera para ponerlo fácilmente.www.decathlon.es
The Caminoteca site lists the sizes and weights. You'll have to view each size to see its weight
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