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Hi chaucom
The OP is taking a bus from Ponferrada to Piedrafita and not climbing the segment to OCebreiro. OP is asking about climb up to O Cebreiro. Not everyone’s equipped to do a sustained hill walk. OCebreiro is a great place to start a camino!! Don’t we agree that where someone starts their Camino is a personal choice?
The walk up the hill along the road is NOT unsafe. There is a wide, marked pathway the entire length of it, and the scenic outlooks have places to sit down and enjoy. Only at the very finish do you have to walk a narrow bit, but I have never heard of anyone being hurt there. Fear-mongering does no one any good.
I do not know how you can definitively say one way or the other this person's preference on where he wants to start. Based on what the OP wrote he may actually walk to O'Cebreiro from the bus. In my own mind, there is nothing that @Rebekah Scott wrote that is inappropriate at all. At times I wonder (not for more than a second or two and then I say that is their problem) why some people walk as they are looking for the paths of least resistance. Through the deepest recesses of my soul, I believe a camino should be hard, should make virtually all of us struggle, and sacrifice. There should be some pain. With this brings a greater appreciation of the joys and insights and peace we are seeking.
Well, we can respectfully disagree on whether the road is dangerous or not!? I have been on that road, when it was very busy and the taxis were racing up and down around the curbs! Fear-mongering
no… my experience!In 2017 we walked up to O Cebreiro (age 66) with no difficulty in good weather. Yes it was a ton of uphill but you can pace yourself. If it were muddy or wet might be more difficult but it is not bad at all. So beautiful in places with some wonderful views. Do it if you can! There is also the option available to ride horses up the hill from Las Herrerias and have your bags carried up.
There is a path up some of it to keep you off the road
Its actually a nice walk
Alternatively, you can carry on from Pedrafita do Cebreiro on the Vía Künig, following the trail of a 15th century German monk who wrote a best-selling guidebook to the Camino. He walked on to Lugo, mostly on the Roman road the Vía Antonino, and then took the Primitivo on to Santiago. Very pretty walk - I took the Vía Verde from Lugo to Sobrado do Monxes, on the Norte, taking in the glorious Visigothic wall paintings at Santa Eulalia (Santalla) de la Bóveda, highly recommended.
Do you actually know what went into the decision-making process of the OP wanting to start in OCebreiro? It is the OP’s first post on the Forum? Could it be that the person is physically unprepared, or medically unable to climb a steep hill? I don’t know? Maybe a time factor enters in? Is the person thinking that they might be jet lagged, having just arrived, taken a train, and a bus to get to Pedrafita and might potentially perceive a climb too much on that day? Do I even know when they are walking? Maybe they just hate steep hills? All I know is that the OP is planning or considering taking a bus from Leon to Pedrafita and Is wondering about the bus ride and if the short walk from the bus stop to OCebreiro is steep?
Sometimes what I may think is the path of least resistance, may, for someone else really be a life struggle! It is not my place, I believe, to advocate that someone else should ever, experience pain. That is up to the individual to discern. Perhaps walking the camino for some, is a desperately needed time of peace and relaxation? Perhaps struggle is not what they need then?! Personally, I do not seek out pain. Seeking out pain can sometimes be narcissistic…since it is about self. When life choices bring it my way, I certainly try and work through it. However, on any journey, I rather focus on good works….Talking to pilgrims who may be alone, inviting those alone to join us to break bread, buying a struggling pilgrim a meal or a bed, helping a pilgrim out to get home. Opportunities abound! On a recent journey leaving from EWR, a woman from another country (didn’t recognize the language) who was ahead of us on a fast food line, ordered a hero, and a drink. Bill was circa $21( Welcome to highway robbery). She didn’t have enough cash to cover it. But it didn’t matter, because, surprise, the establishment only took credit cards (no cash?!). They weren’t going to give her the food! So we payed her bill on our CC. She offered what cash she had in broken English. I said no,no, pay it forward to someone else when you get home. She thanked with tears.
It is indeed an open forum, but not open to all expressions of opinion. For example, rule #1 is not to be rude, sarcastic or insulting. I believe, while disagreement is certainly permitted, outright expressions of disdain for others are best avoided.
I agree with you completely. Of course we will all experience some physical pain. The pain, struggle and difficulty that I think of is much more internal. One very minor example of this would have occurred last year. The final leg of my camino was on the coastal Portugues. A camino I have wanted to do for years. As others will heartily agree the weather was absolutely horrible. Day in and day out heavy and at times torrential rains. Walking in the woods at times I was anke deep in water and mud. I was worried about stepping in those sharp and protruding rocks, The ferry I needed to take was not running and having to figure out how I would continue. I wore raingear all day and my trail runners were always soaked through within a few minutes of my daily walk. But I could have cared less as my personal experiences I have had over many caminos had already given me a very valuable lesson and insight. Who cares if I just saw Noah's Ark, I am on the camino, where would I rather be.
I walked it in early May. I was happy to do it. The first 2 km.were tough and then it was easy and stunning with great views. Walking on the road on the last stretch was safe and the road was quiet. I really enjoyed it this about 2 hour walk with rest stop to drink and take pictures. When in O cerebreo, dont forget to do the mass. It was one of the best services and pilgrim talk. Buen Camino
