Current trail and dog conditions?

[Mananath]

Hi Folks -
I about 9 days I will be arriving in Leon and need to decide if I will continue with my original plan to walk the SS (and then the Primitivo) or just keep rolling on the Frances (which is surprisingly not crowded currently).

Has anyone been on the SS recently and can comment on the status of the trail? Are there a lot of overgrown sections? I had a bunch of ticks last month on the Via Podiensis in the overgrown sections so would like to avoid those if possible.

How about the dogs? I had a few run in with the mastiffs last year on the Norte which frightened me quite a bit!

Thanks.

 

[David Tallan]

My San Salvador was last year, so I can't directly answer your questions. But I was talking the other day to one of our local Camino addicts who just got back from Spain. This trip he walked about 1500 km on various routes, which included the San Salvador. He said it was his favourite route of all the Caminos he has walked, if that is of any help

 

[C clearly]

the Frances (which is surprisingly not crowded currently)

Shouldn't be a surprise. In July and August, the Francés is not typically very busy before Sarria. In fact, it is not typically very busy before Sarria, in any month except SJPP to Pamplona in May and September.

 

[billC]

I walked Salvador about 3 weeks ago. There was a section after Llanos de Someone to Herias where it was overgrown and quite muddy and treacherous in one part on the mountain route (Munistiriu bypass). You can avoid some of it by taking the road route. I experienced no issues with dogs.

 

[El Cascayal]

There was a section after Llanos de Someone

This has to be one of the bestest autocorrects ever!

Edit: check this out in Resources here on Forum.

 

[Mananath]

Shouldn't be a surprise. In July and August, the Francés is not typically very busy before Sarria. In fact, it is not typically very busy before Sarria, in any month except SJPP to Pamplona in May and September.

I can only compare to my previous time on the Frances in July 2022. It was a holy year then so maybe that played a role but currently it feels a lot less busy. I have returned to a few places I enjoyed in 2022 and my memories of them are full with happy pilgrims but now they are half full.

On the plus side the temps have been much better, no heat wave this time!

 

[Teddie]

I would like to walk Salvador, my late season Caminos are making the most arduous exponential.
Primitivo is open at most sections, with narrow paths on the steep ascents, encroaching bushes easy to skirt.
Dogs. I came up with a deterrent, and I include excerpt of my previous post :

I have concluded a long arduous Camino Primitivo early November and am feeling some remise not updating my findings concerning a 'dog deterrent device'. Although my understanding and love for dogs runs long, I am aware of situations where a loose dog can be a threat to the health of humans ( I am not naive ) and will not elaborate. I had attached a powerful pen light ( erroneously thinking 1850 lumen but in reality 350 ) to my walking cane having a "strobe setting". I tested it on myself....saw dots for a minute or so.
I am happy to announce 'it works' !! , it disorients without harm or threat ( yes, I did have two occasions to field test otherwise).

Note. I used "gorilla tape" to attach penlight to telescopic walking cane.