When to pick an alternate route

[Nanc]

i am scheduled early September SJPdP. Flight reservations thru Bayonne are set ( I couldn't afford a refundable ticket). All this talk of bed races stress etc describes a Camino that wouldn't have attracted me.
I've considered not reading posts till right before I leave because I don't want the prejudice or anxiety.
I will look at alternative routes and am attracted to dropping onto the Invierno off the CF.
I'd like to see what September brings since I have the comfort of my reservations at Orisson and Roncesvalles.
(Is it narcissistic to ask those who are talking about switching their dates to NOT pick September. He He He)
But what routes could I access once I am at Roncesvalles. I do have a firm end date as work is mandatory (5 weeks in country available )
Nanc - thanks for helping all us fretters figure this out

 

[Davey Boyd]

As far as I can see there are many Camino's that feed INTO the CF after Roncesvalles, but no alternatives FROM the CF until the Camino Invierno at Ponferrada, or the Camino's San Salvador/Primitivo which turns off at Leon. (I do recommend this route). I hope someone with more experience can help you.

Davey

 

[SYates]

Ok, you have a lot time until September and things just might have quietened down a bit by then. I would just lean back and see how things develop, in the worst case scenario there is always Pamplona where you can take public transport to another camino. Buen Camino, SY

 

[Tincatinker]

@Nanc , plenty of time for the world to change and plenty of time to research alternatives and make plans. Perhaps the Camino Viejo http://www.gronze.com/camino-viejo-santiago. Gronze says 'currently updating' but there is additional resource here www.caminodesantiago.me/community/forums/viejo-camino-camino-de-la-montaña-camino-olvidado.104/ or a bus up to the Norte as SY suggests.

If current accounts of three to a bunk and pilgrims held in pens at StJdP awaiting immigration clearance ever turn out to be true you could always take an inflatable mattress with you and rent it out to cover your flight costs.

 

[SYates]

@Nanc ... you could always take an inflatable mattress with you and rent it out to cover your flight costs.

Now there is a business model! Why haven't I thought about that? Buen Camino, SY

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I would not advise anyone who is attracted tomthe social, short walks, history and relative comfort of the Frances to try much else unless they are used to long solo walks and ready to accept not so clean places, few stops during the day, etc.

 

[Rajy62]

It does seem unusually high volume this summer. I am not sure when in Sept you are leaving. I started Sept 26th. Never faced any accommodation issues. Except few private alb were closed towards the end of October. I would not worry about alternate routes just for finding beds. If you start having difficulty, start booking 1-2 days ahead. If you don't know enough Spanish, ask someone at the alberque to book a room for you. I know it takes the dynamism away but it is manageable. I always prefer a pre-determined distance to walk each day depending on how i feel that day. 5 weeks is plenty.

 

[Nanc]

Thanks all. I have read other posts along this line and realized that this was all fear driven. A bit of "the sky is falling". It was easy to get sucked in as one of my default modes is to over plan in an attempt to over control and feel safe.
My Camino lessons had already started when I no longer had control of my body or the rehab-ing speed of my ankle issues. But for a moment (ok 2 moments) I forgot the lessons

This conversation has opened my eyes to flexibility and alternatives rather than a set traditional CF ( which I also chose in an effort to have a "predictable " Camino- see control again)
I am breathing deeper, and letting go. I am ready for MY Camino to unfold, as I will NOT be stepping into the river that is the Camino today.

But knowing that all this is a possibility will help me to let go of expectations and not be disappointed, and be prepared for alternatives. So thank you to those on the Camino for sharing your experience, and thank you to those who reminded me that their path is not mine: MY path is yet to told
nanc

 

[Castilian]

As far as I can see there are many Camino's that feed INTO the CF after Roncesvalles, but no alternatives FROM the CF until the Camino Invierno at Ponferrada, or the Camino's San Salvador/Primitivo which turns off at Leon. (I do recommend this route).

You have the Viejo Camino (aka the Pamplona branch of the Camino Olvidado) out of Pamplona. There isn't a lot of info about it though. @caminka walked it years ago. This thread will be useful to get some info about that route: www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/developments-on-the-camino-olvidado-or-viejo-camino.19303 The Pamplona branch (virtually no pilgrims) meets the Bilbao branch (barely any pilgrim) in Aguilar de Campoo. The Camino Olvidado ends in Columbrianos, on the outskirts of Ponferrada, so you could continue to Santiago de Compostela on the Camino de Invierno. The Camino Olvidado passes through La Robla, where you can leave the Olvidado and continue on the Camino del Salvador to Oviedo (from Oviedo you can continue on the Camino Primitivo but that one ends in the Camino Francés for roughly the last 50-55 kms).

 

[Nanc]

thanks

 

[nathanael]

i am scheduled early September SJPdP. Flight reservations thru Bayonne are set ( I couldn't afford a refundable ticket). All this talk of bed races stress etc describes a Camino that wouldn't have attracted me.
I've considered not reading posts till right before I leave because I don't want the prejudice or anxiety.
I will look at alternative routes and am attracted to dropping onto the Invierno off the CF.
I'd like to see what September brings since I have the comfort of my reservations at Orisson and Roncesvalles.
(Is it narcissistic to ask those who are talking about switching their dates to NOT pick September. He He He)
But what routes could I access once I am at Roncesvalles. I do have a firm end date as work is mandatory (5 weeks in country available )
Nanc - thanks for helping all us fretters figure this out

is there an alternate route leaving Castrojeriz to avoid the steep mountain?

 

[VNwalking]

is there an alternate route leaving Castrojeriz to avoid the steep mountain?

You can cobble one together with a decent map and a few minutes:

 

[Tincatinker]

is there an alternate route leaving Castrojeriz to avoid the steep mountain?

Steep Mountain? It is a total climb of approximately 120 metres / 400ft over a distance of 4km / 2.5 miles.

If you take a rubbish sack with you and pick some litter you'll scarcely notice the climb but do pause from time to time to enjoy the views.

You could follow the road to Castrillo Mota de Judíos and rejoin the route at Ermita de San Nicolas, or follow @VNwalking 's suggestion above but really, it really is just a hill. A steepish vehicle track, easy to follow.

 

[VNwalking]

If you take a rubbish sack with you and pick some litter you'll scarcely notice the climb but do pause from time to time to enjoy the views.

Absolutely. Good idea!

 

[Tincatinker]

Absolutely. Good idea!

I've used that technique twice on that hill. It's amazing how the hill disappears while you are concentrating on the ground 2 metres in front of you looking for the next bit of "treasure".

 

[VNwalking]

I've used that technique twice on that hill

This is definitely to be recommended as an effort-eraser. It got me effortlessly up and down Alto del Perdon last time. Sooo much easier than without the trash bag: it worked like magic.

 

[Kirkie]

Steep Mountain? It is a total climb of approximately 120 metres / 400ft over a distance of 4km / 2.5 miles.

If you take a rubbish sack with you and pick some litter you'll scarcely notice the climb but do pause from time to time to enjoy the views.

You could follow the road to Castrillo Mota de Judíos and rejoin the route at Ermita de San Nicolas, or follow @VNwalking 's suggestion above but really, it really is just a hill. A steepish vehicle track, easy to follow.

I learned something on that climb. Two breaths in, two breaths out, You get there in the end.
Sorry, I was not as civic minded as yourself... I just noted the time it took me and I was ridiculously pleased.
Hills are not my pals.

 

[markie6]

Wonderful view at the top , that's what makes the climb easy for me


for the OP , dont stress about bed races or such stuff. While it may be busy for a stretch I have walked 3 times in September and while St Jean to Pamplona and from Saria to Santiago may have more pilgrims than the other stretches I wouldn't do anything other than perhaps book the first 2 nights

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Steep Mountain? It is a total climb of approximately 120 metres / 400ft over a distance of 4km / 2.5 miles.

I used Wikiloc to get an approximation of 1 mile of steepish uphill climb of about 500 feet. Tinc's values give a slope of 3%, mine a 7.5% slope. At any rate there is an approximately equivalent distance on either route to Roncesvalles of 15% so you may have already done something 5 to 2 times steeper when not as fit.

 

[Kirkie]

Oh dear! I don't do equivalents. I just know if it is hard to breathe...

 

[NomadBoomer]

Early September is a big wave coming out of sjpdp. In my first walk in 2017 quite a few towns in the early stages (including sjpdp) got totally booked out. I now walk a little earlier than that peak which has worked out good so far till saria. But the Camino provides.
I think sjpdp opened up a gym with mattresses for people arriving without bookings that year. Roncesvalles and other towns, people got taxis to accomodation. I've been in albergues where they have put mattresses on the floor for overflow. I've not met anyone who has had to sleep rough. You might have to pay more than you expected but you will be fine.
On that 2017 Camino I found staying in the non traditional stage points made a big difference.
I would suggest going with the CF regular route for now. You have the first 2 important nights booked so play it by ear from then. I think people don't often realize that you start to build a 'Camino family' pretty quickly and walking with those friends becomes more important than other considerations. Once again I'll suggest don't worry and enjoy the adventure

 

[C clearly]

The OP was walking in 2016 and hasn't been back on the forum since 2019. The crowd situation has changed in those years and there are many newer threads that address the options. I will close this thread.