Walk around Alto de Perdon

[Gbadgley]

I see that very experienced pilgrim has provided details for a walk around for this challenge. This makes perfect sense to me. I have always been a risk taker until I flew my paraglider into a cliff and broke both ankles. Now I am a little more gun shy! I will be on a Mountain bike starting in Pamplona. Are there any other "challenges" on the Way that might be worthy of a walk around.

Thanks, Gary

 

[mspath]

The steep descent on shale from El Acebo to Molinaseca can be HELL especially in bad weather. Bike the parallel road LE 463.

MM

 

[Gbadgley]

The steep descent on shale from El Acebo to Molinaseca can be HELL especially in bad weather. Bike the parallel road LE 463.

MM

Yes, thanks very much Margaret. The walk around that you provided for Alto de Perdon appears to be wonderful. Quiet country roads. A lot with shoulder, a lot without shoulder. But not a hill in sight. Perfect.

 

[RENSHAW]

There is a tough up and down just after Castrojeriz in the Meseta. The greatest problem was on the decent - MUD!
It was very difficult on foot - with a bike , a nightmare.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

The marked bicycle route for bypassing the Alto de Perdon is on NA-1110. It is not flat, but the only flat route is through the tunnel on A-12, which is prohibited for bicycles. It is a very quiet country highway.

 

[Gbadgley]

There is a tough up and down just after Castrojeriz in the Meseta. The greatest problem was on the decent - MUD!
It was very difficult on foot - with a bike , a nightmare.

Nightmare, and a hell, keep them coming! Is there a walk around?

 

[Gbadgley]

The marked bicycle route for bypassing the Alto de Perdon is on NA-1110. It is not flat, but the only flat route is through the tunnel on A-12, which is prohibited for bicycles. It is a very quiet country highway.

Which of the two, in terms of climbing, is the easier of the two? Thanks for the help.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Which of the two, in terms of climbing, is the easier of the two?

What is the first route you are considering? The NA-1110 would not rank very high on the bicycles climbs on the Camino. You can see it on Google street view.

 

[Gbadgley]

What is the first route you are considering? The NA-1110 would not rank very high on the bicycles climbs on the Camino. You can see it on Google street view.

From Cizur Menor walk SE on NA6000 roughly 14k to Campanas, then on NA121 SE to Muruarte de Reta on NA601 to join the Camino Aragonese. Continue W 10k to the splendid circular Romanesque church at Eunate and 4k further to Puente la Reina on the Camino Frances.

 

[mspath]

Nightmare, and a hell, keep them coming! Is there a walk around?

To avoid descending on bike the Mostelares plateau hill west of Castrojeriz either walk the bike or immediately west of Casterjeriz bike BU 400 north to follow BU 403 west to Itero de la Vega.

MM

 

[Deleted member 3000]

In both cases you will climb to about the 700m contour. The Campanas route is longer.

 

[Gbadgley]

In both cases you will climb to about the 700m contour. The Campanas route is longer.

Okay, thanks, in your opinion then, which is the safer route? I see that the caraterra has a shoulder but with more traffic. The Campanas route for a large part of it, has no shoulder, but it appears to have a lot less traffic.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

The route on NA-1110 is marked for bicycles as the Camino route, so I suspect it is properly safe.

 

[Gbadgley]

The route on NA-1110 is marked for bicycles as the Camino route, so I suspect it is properly safe.

Okay Falcon, thanks. I have a guide book. But it doesn't mark bike routes. Which map do you have?

 

[Olivares]

There is a tough up and down just after Castrojeriz in the Meseta. The greatest problem was on the decent - MUD!
It was very difficult on foot - with a bike , a nightmare.

Yep, I loved walking up the Altos de Mostelares, but had no idea of the steep downhill right around the corner. I remembered thinking this downhill on a bike must be sheer torture.....this was October and surprisingly dry ground, but definitely has all the makings for mega-mud if decent rain. All to considered and factored in BEFORE engaging...

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Which map do you have?

If you follow the route on Street View, you can see the Camino markers.

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.726...m4!1e1!3m2!1scMhKY2qjIngqXr-Temsl5A!2e0?hl=en

 

[indyinmaine]

With all the snow we presently have in Maine I was thinking what a great toboggan slide it would make!

 

[Gbadgley]

If you follow the route on Street View, you can see the Camino markers.

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.726...m4!1e1!3m2!1scMhKY2qjIngqXr-Temsl5A!2e0?hl=en

Hey Falcon, the shoulders look great, and superior to the Campanas route. But is there an easy way to get on this caraterra? It just looks like a lot of spaghetti and confusing to me trying to get out of Pamplona compared to the other route which seems quite simple to get on.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

The bicycle route splits from the walking route a bit after Cizur Menor. Follow the yellow arrows through Cizur Menor and turn right when the signs indicate. I have not cycled it, but I think that the markings will take you across the autopista and then up the hill. After descending there are several options to rejoin the walking route at Uterga, Obanos, etc., or take the marked route to Puente la Reina.

 

[newfydog]

Nightmare, and a hell, keep them coming! Is there a walk around?

The Alto de Perdon is pretty easy on a bike. My wife and I have done it twice, the first time with semi- slick tires. We never have had a single crash on the Frances.

The only descent I'd recommend taking to the road is from OCebriero to Tricastella.