Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela

[sillydoll]

A friend has sent me photos of Roncesvalles, and parts of the landscape outside Pamplona - thick snow, mist and wet roads with them in padded jackets, woolen hats, scarves and gloves. Brrrrrrrr...

[Javier]

Photos Diario de Navarra.-


In Mezquiriz



Roncesvalles



Near Roncesvalles

[viajero]

Thanks for posting the pictures. I leave tomorrow night and plan to arrive in Roncesvalles Friday evening for a Saturday morning start. Brrrr....

[Minkey]

Brrrr indeed! Looks beautiful, though.

Probably wise to dodge the Pyrenees if it's like that!

[sillydoll]

Ouch!! Congelación - fría! These look even worse than Patrick's photos.
Thanks Javier!

[Dale]

All right I sitting here in eastern Canada up to my arm pits in the stuff. I'm contacting the Spanish embassy I demand that they melt all of that before I arrive in early April !!

[viajero]

Minkey said it might be best to dodge the Pyranees if the snow is there. I had read that the Camino from St. Jean to Roncesvalles can be quite treacherous in bad weather. That is why I had decided to start at this time of year from Roncesvalles instead. How would the Roncesvalles to Larrasoano stage be in this kind of weather. Any thoughts?

[vinotinto]

How would the Roncesvalles to Larrasoano stage be in this kind of weather.

Man, it was strenuous enough during a hot/dry July...I'd hate to imaging going through the woods with the slippery, rocky, muddy slopes (uphill and downhill) in winter weather. Be careful if you do...

[fiona]

wow- looks like the leg from Roncesvalles to Pamplona will at best be slushy, and at worst a stream-bed, next week. Something to consider next Friday when I fly into Pamplona! Still, I don't have to decide whether I shall walk southwest or bus northeast until next Saturday morning.

[viajero]

I leave tonight and arrive in Pamplona tomorrow (Friday ) afternoon. I had planned to take the 6pm bus to Roncesvalles and walk from there. Due to the snow and rain predicitons, I"m wondering if I should just start from Pamplona. I had my heart set on Roncesvalles. I thought possibly, when I arrived in Pamplona I could try to get some information on how the camino is between Roncesvalles and Pamplona. I'm thinking maybe I could call the albergue in Larrasoana to see what people reported. Any thoughts or suggestions on who I should check with. If I could get some information tomorrow when I arrive, I could decide then if I should go on to Roncesvalles or start out from Pamplona. As this is my first Camino, I'm having trouble imagining how the snow and rain affect the camino is this area. Is there a bus from Pamplona to Larrasoana--maybe I could start there. I had this plan in my head for months but now that I am leaving, TODAY, I'm nervous about whether or not I should change it...even nervous about if I'll be able to find information once I'm there in Pamplona. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[JaneB]

Can't say anything useful but GOOD LUCK!

[lckgj]

Hi Viajero
The weather DOES look rather daunting doesn't it?
The bus from Roncevalles goes to Pamplona via Larrasoana so you could always go to Roncevalles and assess the situation more accurately from there. The bus company website is http://www.autocaresartieda.com/default.html. Look under 'lineas regulares' and select 'Jaurrieta'. there appears to be 4 buses leaving Roncevalles between 8am an 12noon. The worst that can happen is you bus it back to Larrasoana or even Pamplona instead of walking but at least you will have started in the mountains and seen your preferred starting point rather than missing it out altogether. Please check these details for yourself as I would hate to have got it wrong and sent you on a hopeless journey!!
I loved the walk from Roncevalles to Larrasoana but did it in raging heat so cant offer you any advice on how accessible it is under present conditions. I do remember parts of the path were very steep so be sure to have good grips on your boots!
There are sure to be other pilgrims arriving at Roncevalles with you so whatever decision you make you are unlikely to be heading out on your own which is always reassuring.
Have a wonderful camino and, if possible, let us know how you found the conditions when you get there as that will be helpful to others leaving soon.
Wishing you all the best
Laura

[fiona]

I have also looked at the website Laura mentions. A lot of those services are historic details of last summer's routes. However, I did find some that worked at the moment. But to repeat laura, please don't rely on me, either!

There is a bus M-F at 1300 to Larasoana, (the Euqui service)

The 1600 Saturday bus and 1800 Weekday bus (Jaurriete) also stops at Larasoana, Zubiri, Linzoan, Viscarret, Espinal, Burguete as well as Roncesvalles. So you could decide to go as far up the road as looked walkable.

If you get to Roncesvalles and think better of it, there are buses reversing the route of the 1600/1800 service towards Pamplona at 09.20, but only Mon - Fri. Looks like you will be there over a weekend, like me. So we don't have this "cheat" option.

Rather than having to make a fast decision after your flight on Friday, you could stay overnight in Pamplona, use the morning to sightsee, then take a view at lunchtime about either setting off to walk for a short first day, or getting the 1600 bus either to Roncesvalles or Larrasoana. The ride would be in daylight so you could see what you were getting into and being two hours earlier you might have a better chance of getting a bed than if you were catching the Friday bus.

Sorry - some unsolicited advice - mostly musing about what I shall do in a week's time.

[lckgj]

Thanks for confirming my unreliabilty Fiona!!
The road and path from Roncevalles criss cross each other quite often but I doubt you could really assess properly how the path is underfoot when you mostly cant see it from the road.
There is always the option of a (possibly shared) taxi from Roncevalles if things dont look good when you get there. I know there have beeen postings in the past which tell you how much it costs for a taxi between Pamplona and Roncevalles.
Provided you have got the right kit I would suggest trying to start from Roncevalles and taking the advice of the hospitalero when there - easy to say from the comfort of my own warm kitchen!
I wish it was me having to make these decisions!
Laura

[Minkey]

Viajero,

The route between Roncesvalles and Pamplona won't be particularly treacherous, I wouldn't have thought. I'd say go from Roncesvalles.

[viajero]

Hi,
Thank you SO much for your thoughts on this. I will probably go on to Roncesvalles as planned and take it from there. Your suggestions were all great...At least I'd get to see ROncesvalles, attend pilgrim's mass, etc. I can also see what other pilgrims there are planning to do. Your ideas have made me realize I have other options then just deciding on the spot in Pamplona. I'll try to post once I arrive to let you all know the conditions, etc. Thanks alot. I'm feeling very excited but nervous too and this snow/rain business just made me more nervous--I'd actually rather have snow than rain but I guess I'm not the one who gets to decide! I feel a little more relaxed after reading your advice! Thanks

[sillydoll]

The weather can be trecherous - it seems that the last few years, March and April have had the worst of snows and sludge:
This was posted last year by a Forum member:

I am in Lorca
by rioja routard on Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:50 am

Hola
I went to set off from Pamplona on Monday and could not set out due to endless heavy rain. I ended up staying another night at my friends. I even got soaked just walking around Pamplona.
Left yesterday and got to puente la reina, and it seems much of the Camino had been closed by the police with alternative diversions. The mud and slurry is just horrendous. Just when it seems it can not get worse it does! Never mind, it is part of the fun, I guess?
Leaving Puente today was the worst, just unbelievable. Holding onto fences, having a stick helps. It took me over an hour and a half to get to Maneru which is only 5km!

hu Apr 05, 2007 6:26 pm

Hola
Very tired but got here from Vilamayor, around 30km. Weather better but it was snowing last night.
When I got to Los Arcos I read with sadness in a newspaper in a bar about the British Pilgrim. I just about worked out the jist of it. It brought home to me how it is a serious walk in that area especially in poor weather conditions.

Please take good wet weather gear and use two walking poles in the mud!

[Minkey]

Oh the mud!

Sil, you must've been through the mud on the hillside between Larrasoana and Pamplona last Summer. That was... interesting!

[Deirdre]

When I took the bus last summer from Pamplona to Roncesvalles, it made a stop at the albergue in Larrasoaña. No doubt there will be other pilgrims on the bus - and the driver might even know what the conditions are like. Also, while you are in Pamplona, check with the albergue there - they should have Pilgrims who have walked it in recent days.

My personal feeling is that the route from Roncesvalles to Pamplona should not be too bad. But, I have not walked it in winter so perhaps I should keep my counsel.

Regardless of what you decide, Buen Camino!

[sillydoll]

On leaving Roncesvalles you walk through a lovely forest for about an hour which lulls you into a false sense of security. "This is great - if the path is like this the whole way, it is going to be a doddle!" And then you break out into farmland, and the roller-coaster of up hills and down dales begins. Parts of it is on wide farm roads but others on narrow tracks or shale and gravel pits.
The CSJ Guide warns:
After heavy rains the route between Burguete and Larrasoana can be almost impassable. The descent into Zubiri is also difficult in bad weather.
The hill that Minkey is referring to goes straight up a hillside. There used to be a rickety boardwalk with a wooden railing for safety but a wash away has neccesitated a detour above the boardwalk path that goes straight up very steeply. We had to use two sticks like skipoles to drag ourselves up this muddy quagmire.
It was the same climbing to the Alto del Perdon which was just mud and slush. (It is this section that was closed last year in April because it was a river of mud from melting snow and rain.) In August, the mud was so thick and sticky that my boots were almost sucked off my feet. The constant rain which soaked boots and socks, and the rubbing whilst trying to lift feet out of the mud is what caused the blisters on the back of my heels.

After Larrasoana.JPG (71.19 KB) Viewed 1253 times

Muddy path to Zubiri.JPG (73.17 KB) Viewed 1248 times

Alto del Perdon.JPG (52.16 KB) Viewed 1240 times

[Minkey]

I think I meant the bit after that, after you cross the road by the picnic area, then go up (the bit along the side of the hill before the underpass)

[sillydoll]

Yep - that is it!
Here is a view from the picnic site. You climb straight up that hill, detouring around the landlside and up into the trees.

Picnic site 2.JPG (43.29 KB) Viewed 1132 times

[Minkey]

Doesn't really look like much there, does it?!

[sillydoll]

Here is another view (that is Sister Anneliese in the photograph).

Picnic 1.JPG (69.42 KB) Viewed 1072 times

[peregrina2000]

So, Sil, I have a question,

When I was on the Frances in 2006, there was a huge detour that started at the spot in the picture with the picnic tables. I don't know how many kms it was but it took us forever to get into Pamplona from there, lots of walking along the river. I take it from your comment that the old route is open again, or at least that there's a way that doesn't involve the detour?

Thanks, laurie