WINTER CAMINO--please help

[sergiy]

Hello,
My girlfriend and I were thinking of walking the Camino from mid-December to mid-January. I was wondering if any of you knew what the weather would be like/anything else we should know and be prepared for on a winter Camino? (what clothes to bring, do we need a portable stove, will there be enough accommodations provided, will it be enjoyable at all/safe, are grocery stores going to be open)

Thank you in advance,

Sergiy

 

[Dael]

Hi, I walked the CF in January/February and didn't have any real issues with weather but be prepared for the cold. I used a multi-layer clothing system which worked well for me. The local support systems shops/cafes/bars were all open as normal. The aulbergie wardens will be able to advise what is open/available ahead of you on a daily basis. I didn't carry a stove as I ate out every day. Many aulbergies not heated and hot water sometimes in short supply. My only real problem was getting clothes dry.
Enjoy
Dael

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Hi Dael - lovely to see you here again. I remember your Camino. I was also on the Camino Frances both in November and January and my experience is the same - albergues were oopen - just not all of them. Hositlaeros will advise.

 

[sillydoll]

The weather is never predictable - winter, spring or summer. In the past few years there have been some vicious winters and some equally bitter springs in the north of Spain.
I have a post on my blog on walking in winter - with links to pilgrims' websites, photos, backpack lists for male and female etc. that I extended into April because of the snows and freezing temperatures. This is what Rebekah wrote about walking in winter:

December and January are the real bottom-out months on ALL the Caminos. Nothing is open, and there are NO fellow pilgrims to be seen some days... Reb (Moratinos)

Just hold thumbs for a mild winter!
http://amawalker.blogspot.com/2009/10/w ... inter.html

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Here is a cold weather blog:

http://kaybeetravels.blogspot.com/2009_ ... chive.html

 

[mspath]

Hello,

You can read my CF winter camino blogs for 2007, 2008 and 2009 at allmycaminos.blogspot.com.
Mspath

 

[sillydoll]

Your blog - mscamino.blogspot.com - is the first link on my Winter Camino post! Should I change it?

Sil

 

[mspath]

Sil,
Allmycaminos.blogspot.com is the book format with chapters and maps of Mscamino.blogspot.com.
It seems easier to read since it is in chronological sequence. Check it out!
Margaret Meredith

 

[Rebekah Scott]

If I can clarify my scary note about December and January:

I can only really speak for the meseta part of the camino, esp. the part that traverses Palencia. Things close down the week before Christmas, and stay pretty well closed right through the first week of the year. This includes albergues that claim to be "open all year." You really need to phone ahead and ensure you have a place to stay each night, because the weather can be quite nasty and the etapas up to 35 km. long.

Reb.

 

[sergiy]

Thank you very much for all the responses. Very helpful!