Which camino is suited to a winter hike?

[FrancesK]

Hi everyone,

I had planned an Autumn hike along the Le Puy route but having returned to University as part of a career change i'm locked into certain times of the year where I am now free to hike.

I'm wondering if any of the camino's would be suited to a hike over Winter? I have previously completed the Frances, so I'm specifically interested in other Camino's. Coming from Western Australia I know nothing about snow (apart from what I experienced last year in the Pyranees) so that also needs to be considered.

Cheers in advance for your suggestions

 

[mspath]

Frances,

How exciting it must be to plan another camino!
However, winter walking can be VERY challenging .

For recent informative Forum threads on Walking in Winter see

el-camino-frances/topic16636.html
and
el-camino-frances/topic16716.html

Forum member Sillydoll has compiled comprehensive information regarding Walking in Winter. See http://amawalker.blogspot.fr/2009/10/wa ... inter.html.

Whichever route you do choose you MUST be prepared for varied weather. Nights can be extremely cold with freezing rain or snow. Learn to read the sky for possible storms and take every precaution.

Not all albergues will be open, but the welcome at those albergues which are is often most sincere. Most will usually be heated and/or have blankets. Generally the hospitaleros know who is open on the next stage.

Three times during winter caminos on the Camino Frances I have sat out heavy snows; in Villafranca Montes de Oca, February 25, 26, 2006 , Foncebadón, March 5,6, 2009, and O Cebreiro, late last November. You can see the snow and read my blog accounts at >> http://mermore.blogspot.fr/2011/04/aavmo.html , http://mermore.blogspot.fr/2011/04/aafon.html., and http://mermore.blogspot.fr/2011/04/aaoc.html. Luckily during these storms open albergues offered welcoming shelter and HEAT.

Happy planning!

Margaret Meredith