Which route to take

[Nelsa walker]

hola,

Now our trip is getting closer we are not sure which route to take Valcarlos or Napoleon route. Any suggestions please. Gracias

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Please tell us more. When do you start? How many of you are there? Ages? How well have you trained? Do you want to do the trip in one day or two? At what time of the day will you be starting? That sort of stuff.

 

[Nelsa walker]

Please tell us more. When do you start? How many of you are there? Ages? How well have you trained? Do you want to do the trip in one day or two? At what time of the day will you be starting? That sort of stuff.

Hi Rick, we are two people, my husband and I. Our starting point is St Jean Pied de Port 12th April and walk as far as we could for about a week, due to work Commitments. I'm 49 and my husband is 62. I do run three times a week 15 miles so I think it's ok, though I thought it's not fitness what matters here? My husband is a great walker as our names suggest gracias

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Hi Nelsa , before you leave SSPdP make a visit to the pilgrims office .
They will give you info about the weather and witch route to take.

Wish you a wonderful time and a Buen Camino, Peter.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Check this new thread on April weather: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/napoleon-route-weather-in-april.46218/

We would have liked to do the Napolean but the Pilgrims' Office said there was a good chance of lightening. The weather up high might be foggy too in which case you are doing a lot of extra work for nothing.

You may be in shape for the high route but I hope you have some uphill training or else the muscles you need for that will likely scream for attention. Slopes will add to the chance of getting blisters too.

 

[Nelsa walker]

Hi Nelsa , before you leave SSPdP make a visit to the pilgrims office .
They will give you info about the weather and witch route to take.

Wish you a wonderful time and a Buen Camino, Peter.

Thank you Peter, definitely will do!

 

[Nelsa walker]

Check this new thread on April weather: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/napoleon-route-weather-in-april.46218/

We would have liked to do the Napolean but the Pilgrims' Office said there was a good chance of lightening. The weather up high might be foggy too in which case you are doing a lot of extra work for nothing.

You may be in shape for the high route but I hope you have some uphill training or else the muscles you need for that will likely scream for attention. Slopes will add to the chance of getting blisters too.

Thank you Rick, will go to the pilgrims office

 

[John Finn]

Hi Rick, we are two people, my husband and I. Our starting point is St Jean Pied de Port 12th April and walk as far as we could for about a week, due to work Commitments. I'm 49 and my husband is 62. I do run three times a week 15 miles so I think it's ok, though I thought it's not fitness what matters here? My husband is a great walker as our names suggest gracias

Take the Napoleon Route if the weather permits. There's a surfaced road and an easy enough incline most of the way to the top and then a pleasant walk down through the forest to Roncesvalles. "Going over the Pyrenees" often conjures up images of very difficult mountain terrain - it's not like that at all. It's well within the capabilities of reasonably fit people. For you guys it will be a walk in the park.

 

[Charlotte Helbig]

Take the Napoleon Route if the weather permits. There's a surfaced road and an easy enough incline most of the way to the top and then a pleasant walk down through the forest to Roncesvalles. "Going over the Pyrenees" often conjures up images of very difficult mountain terrain - it's not like that at all. It's well within the capabilities of reasonably fit people. For you guys it will be a walk in the park.

Check out this video of the Napoleon route that was posted recently on this forum (sorry can't remember which thread). I found it helpful see some video of the route and not just pictures.

 

[MartinZ]

Take the Napoleon Route if the weather permits. There's a surfaced road and an easy enough incline most of the way to the top and then a pleasant walk down through the forest to Roncesvalles. "Going over the Pyrenees" often conjures up images of very difficult mountain terrain - it's not like that at all. It's well within the capabilities of reasonably fit people. For you guys it will be a walk in the park.

Please, Nelsa Walker, when you take the Napoleon route and get to Roncesvalles let us directly know if it was a walk in the park or if you encountered any pleasant walks down through a forest.

Most people I know get a grin on their face when talking about the Napoleon route and not because it's a walk in the park ending in a pleasant walk down through a forest.
It's a notoriously difficult stretch! Not because of hard to trot mountain terrain but the sheer distance uphill with everything you've got strapped on your back ending in a steep, long, often slippery way downhill when you already had quite a beating. The entire camino, including that first day, is not about fitness. It's about willpower, how well your joints, your feet, your back and everything else can take a beating and how good you are in taking care of your body.

The Napoleon route is not a walk, it's a climb and a steep downhill stretch, 28Km long.

I will take the Valcarlos route or stop at Orisson any day, except when the weather is almost perfect and I feel really daring to take a risk.
I'm 44 , have a desk job but run 10Km 4 times a week.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

And to see the low route you can search youtube for: Jean-Pie-de-Port +Valcarlos Roncevalles

 

[willydp]

I was wondering the same thing for a couple of months because I only have time to do some preparations in the weekend (even then, no way).
So, I decided to do the Napoleon route with a stopover in Orisson (+communal meal) due to lack of enough preparation.
I have the time to do a slow walk (retirement 01/04=plenty of time), but in your case you are limited in time...
I took that decision for the views (when lucky) and that there is a possibilty that I won't do the same route again.
What ever you decide good luck
Buen Camino

 

[Tincatinker]

I will always take the Valcarlos route these days. I remember the Benta Ardandegia with much affection.

 

[Nelsa walker]

Take the Napoleon Route if the weather permits. There's a surfaced road and an easy enough incline most of the way to the top and then a pleasant walk down through the forest to Roncesvalles. "Going over the Pyrenees" often conjures up images of very difficult mountain terrain - it's not like that at all. It's well within the capabilities of reasonably fit people. For you guys it will be a walk in the park.

Thanks for your comment, really appreciated it. This is to celebrate our wedding anniversary, I don't think he remember's the exact day But I know he's going to love it

 

[Nelsa walker]

I will always take the Valcarlos route these days. I remember the Benta Ardandegia with much affection.

Hi Tincatinker, thanks as always for your help, I'm already feeling so good about it all, so much support from this forum that I have not words to thank you enough, will keep in touch for certain

 

[Nelsa walker]

I was wondering the same thing for a couple of months because I only have time to do some preparations in the weekend (even then, no way).
So, I decided to do the Napoleon route with a stopover in Orisson (+communal meal) due to lack of enough preparation.
I have the time to do a slow walk (retirement 01/04=plenty of time), but in your case you are limited in time...
I took that decision for the views (when lucky) and that there is a possibilty that I won't do the same route again.
What ever you decide good luck
Buen Camino

Hi Willydp, thanks for your help, and wishes x

 

[Nelsa walker]

I was wondering the same thing for a couple of months because I only have time to do some preparations in the weekend (even then, no way).
So, I decided to do the Napoleon route with a stopover in Orisson (+communal meal) due to lack of enough preparation.
I have the time to do a slow walk (retirement 01/04=plenty of time), but in your case you are limited in time...
I took that decision for the views (when lucky) and that there is a possibilty that I won't do the same route again.
What ever you decide good luck
Buen Camino

 

[Kanga]

If the weather is good, you are reasonably fit, and you have never done it, the Napoleon. If taking that route, I would always stay in Orisson, regardless of my fitness. If the answer to any of the first is "no" (poor weather, unfit or not the first time) then the Valcarlos. I'm like @Tincatinker, having done the Napoleon a few times, I now would always take the Valcarlos. But I agree, the Napoleon is a bit of a bucket list thing.

 

[HedaP]

I agree that there are many good, informative videos on youtube. Search for Camino Day 1 and you should get plenty of results. I've watched several and very few showed pilgrims who found the Napolean to be a walk in the park. I've done the Napolean and we struck bad weather. I'm walking again in a few weeks time and I will be taking the Valcarlos route. Thanks @Tincatinker for the recommendation for what I think is a restaurant, or at least that's according to Google?

 

[Nelsa walker]

Please, Nelsa Walker, when you take the Napoleon route and get to Roncesvalles let us directly know if it was a walk in the park or if you encountered any pleasant walks down through a forest.

Most people I know get a grin on their face when talking about the Napoleon route and not because it's a walk in the park ending in a pleasant walk down through a forest.
It's a notoriously difficult stretch! Not because of hard to trot mountain terrain but the sheer distance uphill with everything you've got strapped on your back ending in a steep, long, often slippery way downhill when you already had quite a beating. The entire camino, including that first day, is not about fitness. It's about willpower, how well your joints, your feet, your back and everything else can take a beating and how good you are in taking care of your body.

The Napoleon route is not a walk, it's a climb and a steep downhill stretch, 28Km long.

I will take the Valcarlos route or stop at Orisson any day, except when the weather is almost perfect and I feel really daring to take a risk.
I'm 44 , have a desk job but run 10Km 4 times a week.

Hi Jo

If the weather is good, you are reasonably fit, and you have never done it, the Napoleon. If taking that route, I would always stay in Orisson, regardless of my fitness. If the answer to any of the first is "no" (poor weather, unfit or not the first time) then the Valcarlos. I'm like @Tincatinker, having done the Napoleon a few times, I now would always take the Valcarlos. But I agree, the Napoleon is a bit of a bucket list thing.

Thank you Kanga, very useful response

 

[Nelsa walker]

Please, Nelsa Walker, when you take the Napoleon route and get to Roncesvalles let us directly know if it was a walk in the park or if you encountered any pleasant walks down through a forest.

Most people I know get a grin on their face when talking about the Napoleon route and not because it's a walk in the park ending in a pleasant walk down through a forest.
It's a notoriously difficult stretch! Not because of hard to trot mountain terrain but the sheer distance uphill with everything you've got strapped on your back ending in a steep, long, often slippery way downhill when you already had quite a beating. The entire camino, including that first day, is not about fitness. It's about willpower, how well your joints, your feet, your back and everything else can take a beating and how good you are in taking care of your body.

The Napoleon route is not a walk, it's a climb and a steep downhill stretch, 28Km long.

I will take the Valcarlos route or stop at Orisson any day, except when the weather is almost perfect and I feel really daring to take a risk.
I'm 44 , have a desk job but run 10Km 4 times a week.

• Hi John, yes, sure will do. I have watched some videos on YouTube and there was a pilgrim saying isn't as bad as one could probably think, the hardest bit is from km 4 - 6 km up steep hill then it gets better, then Orisson, this is re Napoleon Route. Will try and keep our rocksac as light as possible. Just keeping my fingers crossed re weather. We are flying from the UK to Biarritz 11 April, take a bus to Bayonne and stay there then go to SPDP the following day and aiming to start the walk the next one. Thanks so much for your help.