Demographics of Le Puy

[acrah]

I was going to walk the Le Puy but the videos I am seeing on youtube make me think that its 99% seniors. Not that there's anything wrong with seniors but being the token 'young person' gets old after a while.

 

[acrah]

I was going to walk the Le Puy but the videos I am seeing on youtube make me think that its 99% seniors. Not that there's anything wrong with seniors but being the token 'young person' gets old after a while.

...oh, and my question is - is the le puy really predominantly a seniors' scene?

 

[C clearly]

I am curious - your profile indicates you walked the Camino 19 years ago. Sure, you could be "young" compared to me and many seniors, but does that make you young enough to qualify as a token young person?

 

[acrah]

Perhaps not, at 40. That said, for whatever reason most of the people in my life are quite a bit younger than me and I don't feel much of an appetite to be meeting a whole bunch of seniors. But yes, I should update my mental idea of how old I am to my physical age... one day.

 

[markie6]

I'd say middle aged like yourself would fit in with the demographic. More French than other nationalities too

Most of the Caminos and indeed other walks tend to be populated with a wide variety of ages.

 

[Sirage]

videos I am seeing on youtube

... and perhaps "Seniors ?" are more interested in just enjoying the walk, being in the moment, rather than having their headspace occupied with making YouTube videos.

 

[Simperegrina]

... and perhaps "Seniors ?" are more interested in just enjoying the walk, being in the moment, rather than having their headspace occupied with making YouTube videos.

Hang on, maybe best not to generalise or stereotype - and that goes as much for talking about young people on Camino as about older people.

I’ve walked 4 Caminos in the past 10 months, including the Frances, the Norte and the Portugues, and on none of them did I meet and engage with fellow pilgrims in, say, their 20s, who were any less engaged in the moment on Camino, than older pilgrims.

 

[JabbaPapa]

I have only visited Le Puy once, when I was about 30 years old, and it did not strike me as being a city of geriatrics.

As to the route itself, whilst it's generally true that French routes have a higher proportion than others of retirement age pilgrims, the pilgrims I have spoken to this year who have started from Le Puy have been of several generations, and I would suppose that the average age of pilgrims would be higher on the Arles Way than on the Le Puy. Pilgrims having walked from Paris/Chartres/Orléans/Tours seem to be a bit younger though, for whatever reason.

 

[Mananath]

I just walked this last month. Definitely an older crowd (I am 45), esp to Conques. Most of the people I met were older than me. Apparently if you walk in the summer there are more younger people when school is out of session.

I think a bigger concern for socializing would be if you don't speak French.

 

[Kathar1na]

I just walked this last month. Definitely an older crowd (I am 45), esp to Conques. Most of the people I met were older than me. Apparently if you walk in the summer there are more younger people when school is out of session.

I think a bigger concern for socializing would be if you don't speak French.

Just curious: Did you observe (or participate) in what is so omnipresent on the Camino Francés in particular: the forming of casual spontaneous groups sometimes labelled as "Camino family"? (Not groups that are already established and know each other when they travel to Le Puy or another starting point and stay that way). FWIW, I tend to regard the road from Le Puy more as a GR than a Camino.

 

[Bradypus]

I just walked this last month. Definitely an older crowd (I am 45), esp to Conques. Most of the people I met were older than me. Apparently if you walk in the summer there are more younger people when school is out of session.

When I first walked the Camino Frances peak pilgrim season was July and August and the majority of pilgrims were in their 20's. Mainly students walking in vacation times. Now the peak periods for the Caminos have shifted along with the average age of pilgrims. If you want to find a younger demographic then your timing is probably going to be important.

 

[Kathar1na]

the Caminos

But this is about the GR65 from Le Puy. My experience is fairly limited so far but it definitely had a very different vibe from the Camino Francés in Spain. Some Le Puy walkers had the intention of walking to Santiago - the majority of those I met and chatted with didn't.

BTW, in late June/early July this year, there were a few of student age, i.e. in their early 20s or so. The majority was old: the 40-70 years of age group.

 

[Bradypus]

But this is about the GR65 from Le Puy. My experience is fairly limited so far but it definitely had a very different vibe from the Camino Francés in Spain.

I understand that. But I think the same issues will apply - younger people are likely to have more work/education restrictions on their vacation time and so may time their walking for specific vacation periods while those of us less encumbered with commitments can spread ourselves over the entire year.

 

[Sirage]

I tend to regard the road from Le Puy more as a GR than a Camino.

When I walked it in 2005 from late April for 4 weeks or so there were a lot of French people walking for a week or so, sometimes for a long weekend, during May when the French get out for some Spring fresh air. It appeared few French people wanted to cross the border into Spain. The Gites were often very busy at that time with French people who had prebooked well in advance. So to that extent it was a GR in 2005.

 

[Kathar1na]

It was one of the first things that struck me: The reference to a welcome to les amis randonneurs, les amis pelèrins - welcome dear walkers, welcome dear pilgrims. The gîtes du randonneur and not only the albergue del peregrino. Just an impression - it may be wrong of course but that's what I noticed.

Another reason for a somewhat different demographic may be the cost. There are no gîtes (or barely any if they exist) that have been created and are maintained by a local town or by the regional administration or by something like a Friends of the Camino association. They are mostly privately owned, more expensive than a comparable place in Spain and you can stay for more than one night and you don't need a pilgrim passport although they nearly all have stamps. In general, the more mature amongst us are more affluent than the very young, hence ...

 

[Tortilla]

Perhaps not, at 40. That said, for whatever reason most of the people in my life are quite a bit younger than me and I don't feel much of an appetite to be meeting a whole bunch of seniors. But yes, I should update my mental idea of how old I am to my physical age... one day.

And why do you expect that "younger demographics" have an appetite to be meeting you?

 

[Kathar1na]

And why do you expect that "younger demographics" have an appetite to be meeting you?

@Tortilla, perhaps you would like to share your personal experience and impressions on the Le Puy with us and with the OP? The "younger demographics" that I encountered were as happy to chat with me as anyone else was. And they were remarkably polite, too.

BTW, I met a noticeable number of Canadian pilgrims - French speakers mostly. I don't know whether that was typical or just random. Very very few native English speakers. But as mentioned my experience is somewhat limited - so far. Locals made an effort to speak English to me at first. For some strange reason I appear to have an English accent when I speak French although English is not my first language. On the Le Puy, the lingua franca is French though but that has been mentioned numerous times. The majority of the foreign walkers that I met (from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and the Netherlands) all knew French at a decent conversational level.

 

[JabbaPapa]

Some Le Puy walkers had the intention of walking to Santiago - the majority of those I met and chatted with didn't.

I had the exact same impression in France this year, from people on the Arles and Piémont Ways, as well as a few from the Le Puy route who had deviated via Lourdes.

To be fair, most who were intending to finish at SJPP or Pamplona or so on either had already walked from SJPP to Santiago and were "finishing" by walking there from Le Puy or elsewhere, or their year's stage was ending at SJPP.

You are right that many in France treat these ways as a GR rather than as a Camino or as a pilgrimage.

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

... and perhaps "Seniors ?" are more interested in just enjoying the walk, being in the moment, rather than having their headspace occupied with making YouTube videos.

Actually, an awful lot of the YouTube videos of the VP I've come across lately are made by Seniors! At 60 I'm verging on that group myself, and we have other long term forum members/YouTubers in this age range. Whilst a YouTuber I do it for my own memory/satisfaction, not money - much like some of you collect stamps (in your Credencial), Compostelas, or souvenirs. There's very little difference for me in stopping to take a photo or making a video as I walk - I certainly don't "occupy my headspace" with it!

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

FWIW, I tend to regard the road from Le Puy more as a GR than a Camino.

I guess it comes down to the intent of the individual walking it.

The Camino itself is really just a collection of connected paths that are used to walk to Santiago.

Walking from Berlin there are numerous routes I can take, many of which are called Jakobsweg's. I need to cross France to reach Spain, one of the most logical (and best supported) routes includes the VP. To quote the intro to Dave W's guide: "Via Podiensis (GR65), a historic pilgrimage route through southern France from Le Puy-en-Velay to Saint-Jean- ...

GR65 is a modern identifier.

From my perspective the VP is very much a Camino....

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I walked the Le Puy in June 2018 with two friends. We were youngish seniors and none of us spoke French. The vast majority were French walkers and a few French Canadians. We met no walkers at the nightly dinners where English was their spoken first language, although we met one American in a cafe who overheard us chatting.
There were very few young people that I recall, but what makes the OP think we "seniors" have nothing interesting to say, or have lost our sense of humor or adventure?
Considering this also a GR trail and possibly more for hiking, it was really a nice surprise that nearly all churches were open; both large and small.
In the first week we were in a bubble of about 5-8 walking with a guide who was pointing out and discussing plants, so I assumed it was a special type of walk they were on. Other than that we rarely saw others that I recall except at the communal dinners. Thankfully I had my friends to sit with as the French all talked and laughed among themselves. The meals were remarkable, btw.
We ended our walk in Auvillar, then walked back one day to Moissac before taking the train back to Paris.

 

[Kathar1na]

From my perspective the VP is very much a Camino

You've not walked from Le Puy, though? What I meant is a certain "subculture" that I noticed along the Camino Frances, which is the only Camino in Spain that I know from own experience, and that I did not detect as present on the GR 65.

I am not aiming for a discussion of whether the GR 65 is a "Camino" or a "Camino pilgrimage" for an individual walker nor for a discussion of the historic background to the extent that there even is one. My comment was more meant as an alert - don't expect to find what you know from the Spanish Caminos.

@Camino Chrissy's post matches my own recent experience nearly point for point.

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

There are no gîtes (or barely any if they exist) that have been created and are maintained by a local town or by the regional administration or by something like a Friends of the Camino association. They are mostly privately owned, more expensive than a comparable place in Spain and you can stay for more than one night and you don't need a pilgrim passport although they nearly all have stamps. In general, the more mature amongst us are more affluent than the very young, hence ...

I was under the impression that there are a considerable number of Gite de etapes? (It certainly appears true of the VG, which of course feeds into the VP).

Are those not established /supported by the local townships?

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

You've not walked from Le Puy, though? What I meant is a certain "subculture" that I noticed along the Camino Frances, which is the only Camino in Spain that I know from own experience, and that I did not detect as present on the GR 65.

I am not aiming for a discussion of whether the GR 65 is a "Camino" or a "Camino pilgrimage" for an individual walker nor for a discussion of the historic background to the extent that there even is one. My comment was more meant as an alert - don't expect to find what you know from the Spanish Caminos.

@Camino Chrissy's post matches my own recent experience nearly point for point.

Fair enough, I misunderstood you.
No, I haven't yet walked the VP, that's very much part of the route for next year. And I cannot speak to the culture on the Frances because I have not walked it - nor am I likely to. (Although never say never).

As regards the experience that would be like comparing my recent Jakobsweg's to my Spanish Camino's - you can't!

 

[Bradypus]

As regards the experience that would be like comparing my recent Jakobsweg's to my Spanish Camino's - you can't!

Sadly people still attempt it though. No idea how often someone has told me that route X is "not as good as the Camino Frances" because it does not have the same infrastructure or is too expensive or is too quiet or.... So many people seem to think that the current Camino Frances (and more recently the Portugues too) is the template for walking pilgrimages rather than the admittedly remarkably popular exception in those respects!

 

[Lexicos]

...oh, and my question is - is the le puy really predominantly a seniors' scene?

No, not in my experience, and I’ve done it twice in 3 years.

 

[Dani7]

But yes, I should update my mental idea of how old I am to my physical age... one day.

I know exactly how you feel, the mirror says 68 but my mind says « 40 »…one day

 

[Bradypus]

I know exactly how you feel, the mirror says 68 but my mind says « 40 »…one day

Apparently I was an especially solemn and pompous child. My mother once told me that I was born aged 40 and got even older every day from then on....

 

[acrah]

Thanks for the answers folks. I realize that my question was pretty insensitively phrased - I wrote it in a stressful moment and I apologize.

 

[Chrisp]

I walked the Le Puy in June 2018 with two friends. We were youngish seniors and none of us spoke French. The vast majority were French walkers and a few French Canadians. We met no walkers at the nightly dinners where English was their spoken first language, although we met one American in a cafe who overheard us chatting.
There were very few young people that I recall, but what makes the OP think we "seniors" have nothing interesting to say, or have lost our sense of humor or adventure?
Considering this also a GR trail and possibly more for hiking, it was really a nice surprise that nearly all churches were open; both large and small.
In the first week we were in a bubble of about 5-8 walking with a guide who was pointing out and discussing plants, so I assumed it was a special type of walk they were on. Other than that we rarely saw others that I recall except at the communal dinners. Thankfully I had my friends to sit with as the French all talked and laughed among themselves. The meals were remarkable, btw.
We ended our walk in Auvillar, then walked back one day to Moissac before taking the train back to Paris.

I was looking forward to reading your reply Camino Chrissy, you always have something worthwhile and interesting to say

 

[Chrisp]

Thanks for the answers folks. I realize that my question was pretty insensitively phrased - I wrote it in a stressful moment and I apologize.

Thank goodness for that! Surely it is about attitude, not age, gender, nationality or religion. Have a great time whatever you decide to do

 

[eDub]

...oh, and my question is - is the le puy really predominantly a seniors' scene?

I walked it last summer to Switzerland and didn't see to many seniors,older folks yeah.But remember it is one of the more expensive caminos out there in term of accommodations.I'm not saying young people are broke but I do rememberwhen I was younger I was less willing to spend more.hope this helps

 

[bullingtonce]

Perhaps not, at 40. That said, for whatever reason most of the people in my life are quite a bit younger than me and I don't feel much of an appetite to be meeting a whole bunch of seniors. But yes, I should update my mental idea of how old I am to my physical age... one day.

"a whole bunch of seniors." If I was a senior, which I am, I would not think highly of this remark or of the person who said it. Perhaps when you walk the Camino you can reflect not only this categorization but what lies behind it. A bunch of carrots, OK. A bunch of seniors, no. Thank goodness Jesus did not categorize this group as such. In addition, perhaps you ought to walk with seniors so you can learn to value, value more than what you do now. Chuck

 

[eDub]

I walked it last summer to Switzerland and didn't see to many seniors,older folks yeah.But remember it is one of the more expensive caminos out there in term of accommodations.I'm not saying young people are broke but I do remember when I was younger I was less willing to spend more.hope this helps

 

[Mananath]

Just curious: Did you observe (or participate) in what is so omnipresent on the Camino Francés in particular: the forming of casual spontaneous groups sometimes labelled as "Camino family"? (Not groups that are already established and know each other when they travel to Le Puy or another starting point and stay that way). FWIW, I tend to regard the road from Le Puy more as a GR than a Camino.

None at all. A lot of the people on it were preexisting friend groups. There were a few solo walkers who I would occasionally run into but never really walked with anyone. This is vastly different than the Frances, of course.

I am sure it happens occasionally but during the month I was on it I didn't really notice it.

 

[t2andreo]

I know exactly how you feel, the mirror says 68 but my mind says « 40 »…one day

I have read in several locations that 70 is considered the new 50, 60 the new 40, etc. I can see this in people that I know. Personally, I now find myself staring at 71, and I subscribe to this opinion. Now, if I could only get my physical self to pay attention... I think younger, a lot younger. But, my aging body stil has not gotten the memo.

That said, it seems logical to me that older folks, in general, may have the time and perhaps the resources to invest in walking a Camino - anywhere. Conversely, younger folks are, perhaps, more burdened by the demands of raising a family, still working full time at a career, or having adequate vacation time to devote to a Camino - or a combination of all three issues / challenges.

In my experience, the latter situation is chronic among US and Canadian society. Employers typically do not grant long paid-time off from work for holidays / vacations.

The big exception are teachers and professors - who usually work a 10-month academic year - as well as their students. These folks also have the structurally built-in time off. Usually, it is enough time to do a properly long Camino (Frances, Portuguese, Norte, de la Plata, etc.), as opposed to a short stroll from Sarria, Tui, Ferrol, or Ourense.

This would explain why the Camino, writ large, is more crowded during the summer months. It is simply when large tranches of folks, of any age, have time to devote to any Camino. This is also why traffic on the Camino routes, as well as demands on the Camino infrastructure surges after colleges and universities recess for the summer.

Hope this helps.

Tom

 

[trecile]

"a whole bunch of seniors." If I was a senior, which I am, I would not think highly of this remark or of the person who said it. Perhaps when you walk the Camino you can reflect not only this categorization but what lies behind it. A bunch of carrots, OK. A bunch of seniors, no. Thank goodness Jesus did not categorize this group as such. In addition, perhaps you ought to walk with seniors so you can learn to value, value more than what you do now. Chuck

@acrah has apologized for the tone in their original post:

Thanks for the answers folks. I realize that my question was pretty insensitively phrased - I wrote it in a stressful moment and I apologize.

 

[caminoresearcher]

I was going to walk the Le Puy but the videos I am seeing on youtube make me think that its 99% seniors. Not that there's anything wrong with seniors but being the token 'young person' gets old after a while.

I just walked Le Puy to Conques last month. I’m similar in age to you, and I encountered people of a broad range of ages, both older and younger than myself. The bigger challenge for me was that most pilgrims on this route are (understandably) French-speaking, which made it slightly harder to connect. But it was a spectacular walk that I would recommend to anyone.

 

[Madamjoy]

"a whole bunch of seniors." If I was a senior, which I am, I would not think highly of this remark or of the person who said it. Perhaps when you walk the Camino you can reflect not only this categorization but what lies behind it. A bunch of carrots, OK. A bunch of seniors, no. Thank goodness Jesus did not categorize this group as such. In addition, perhaps you ought to walk with seniors so you can learn to value, value more than what you do now. Chuck

The poster has already apologised. And your post lacks kindness.

 

[Pafayac]

Many young pilgrims start walking on Podiensis, but it is so difficult that they become old within a few days.
I have in my mind the example of this 25-years old guy. Reaching St Privat (the first step) he was looking like a 40-years old pilgrim. At Aumont Aubrac, even before beginning to cross this dangerous plateau with so many wild bulls, he seems to have 55 years !

 

[mgnswaus]

I walked the GR65 in 2012 en route to Muxia and 2019 to SJPP. At the Le Puy cathedral pilgrim mass/blessing, a large number of walkers were going to Conques, some to SJPP and only a handful to SdC. The majority of people you meet will be on holiday walking the GR65, and, of course, some walking in the 'wrong' direction'.... Their energy is different from those aiming for Santiago, something i really noticed after SJPP.
As for 'senior phobia', I jest, I am well into that age group and find that people of all ages, particularly those in their thirties and forties, choose to keep my company, frequently for days, perhaps because I'm a good listener, perhaps because of my experience, who knows. So, my friend, take the first steps and engage with those you are privileged to share space with, disregarding the cover of the book. An amazing journey awaits. Keep you eyes and ears open during your journey of a lifetime and enjoy every experience which, and person who, it is in your destiny to engage with.

 

[Matthew Fitzhenry]

Not at all. You tend to associate with others of similar age, as I did (I'm 42). Although the majority will be French.

 

[LiltingBanshee]

We walked the Le Puy starting in late August of 2022. It definitely skews older but we also ran into some very young walkers and plenty in their 40’s - 50’s. It’s kind of becoming “discovered” and is drawing walkers from all over the world. The scenery is fantastic, especially the first sections.

 

[Smash123]

None at all. A lot of the people on it were preexisting friend groups. There were a few solo walkers who I would occasionally run into but never really walked with anyone. This is vastly different than the Frances, of course.

I am sure it happens occasionally but during the month I was on it I didn't really notice it.

I had the exact opposite experience. I left Le Puy in the morning after mass, and though I chose not to walk with people during the day, I fell in with the same people over and over in the evenings, at local bars, coffee shops or gites. At least until Figeac, where I left the VP on the Rocamadour variant. That put me two-ish days behind the group that left Le Puy with me. Similar groups formed after, but it was never as intense. That said I still knew people when I arrived in Roncesvalles. Many of them remain listed on my WhatsApp as Sylvie du Chemin or Nathalie du Chemin. It's my du Chemin family. But perhaps if you don't begin in Le Puy, don't speak a lot of French, or are walking with a companion it doesn't happen so much.

 

[SueV]

Perhaps not, at 40. That said, for whatever reason most of the people in my life are quite a bit younger than me and I don't feel much of an appetite to be meeting a whole bunch of seniors. But yes, I should update my mental idea of how old I am to my physical age... one day.

Hi, from personal experience of walking the Le Puy in 2022 and 2023, at 40 you’ll be one of the’seniors’! Bon Chemin. PS Tthe Le Puy route is beyond beautiful, just do it.

 

[Vagabonder]

Another reason for a somewhat different demographic may be the cost. There are no gîtes (or barely any if they exist) that have been created and are maintained by a local town or by the regional administration or by something like a Friends of the Camino association. They are mostly privately

Actually we have stayed in several « gîtes communals » along the VP, in Lascabanes, Lauzerte, Auvillar, Castet-Arrouy, Limogne-en-Quercy. All well-run, the first two offered demi-pension, the others didn’t. With Demi-pension costing between €35-45 euros it is more expensive than in Spain but the meals are super delicious.

 

[Kathar1na]

Actually we have stayed in several « gîtes communals » along the VP, in Lascabanes, Lauzerte, Auvillar, Castet-Arrouy, Limogne-en-Quercy. All well-run, the first two offered demi-pension, the others didn’t. With Demi-pension costing between €35-45 euros it is more expensive than in Spain but the meals are super delicious.

Out of curiosity, I had a look at Gronze for these five gîtes communals on the GR 65. Only one of them - Auvillar - is listed as "exclusively for pilgrims", they others are "not exclusive but oriented towards pilgrims". That's what I meant, it is different from Spanish caminos, a different vibe, a different "subculture". At least my impression.

 

[Pafayac]

I am surprised that the communal of Saugues is not said as reserved to pilgrims.
In my remembering, the credential is required (at the camping where the check-in takes place).
Arroue is also marked as "exclusivo para peregrinos".
There are far less gites communal in France than municipal albergues in Spain, but I would be surprised that their rules are different...
Perhaps the Gite communal d'Espagnac (in the Voie du Célé) welcomes hikers walking the Tour du Lot, but I am not sure...

 

[Vagabonder]

Out of curiosity, I had a look at Gronze for these five gîtes communals on the GR 65. Only one of them - Auvillar - is listed as "exclusively for pilgrims", they others are "not exclusive but oriented towards pilgrims". That's what I meant, it is different from Spanish caminos, a different vibe, a different "subculture". At least my impression.

This is true, but the two times I walked the VP there were only pilgrims staying in these gîtes. All were walking the Chemin du Puy.

 

[Smash123]

This is true, but the two times I walked the VP there were only pilgrims staying in these gîtes. All were walking the Chemin du Puy.

That is my experience too. And one can debate whether or not one qualifies as a 'pilgrim' or 'just a hiker'' if that's a distinction someone is making. Who cares? What you would care about is whether or not a gite is open to tourists who are not hikers - and I never encountered that. In fact I stayed in a gite that turned people away because they weren't hiking despite being mostly empty. But I never asked people why they were walking, and 99.9% were walking in the same direction, so, whether they defined themselves as hikers or pilgrims didn't really make any difference to me. Another element is that many French walk the Le Puy in stages, a week at a time, some taking a few years to complete. A chacun son Chemin.

 

[Kathar1na]

What you would care about is whether or not a gite is open to tourists who are not hikers - and I never encountered that.

I did.

In the first gîte that I stayed in there was a French woman who had stayed for several days at this gîte, had a car with her and toured various places around Le Puy by car, and there was also a couple who stayed for 2 or 3 days due to an invitation of a friend's anniversary. In another gîte, there was a French couple who were walking for a week but they were on some kind of circuit trail that overlapped for a day or so with the GR 65. In a third place which had both hotel rooms and dormitory rooms, we were all having our meal together at a large table and the majority were walking on the GR 65 but one person was on a motorbike tour (again not along the GR 65) and another person was on a business trip. And in yet another gîte, one of the guests had been walking the GR 65 for a few days but in the direction of Le Puy and was then staying with a farmer as a WWOOFer.

Maybe I was just lucky - I loved it that there was no talk about whether someone defined themselves, or was defined by others, as a hiker or a pilgrim or even walking ...

PS: All the people who stayed with me at these gîtes where French except one person who was German and spoke some French but not enough to be able to really participate in the conversations.

 

[katkins_in]

Last September, when I walked from Conques to Pamplona, I noticed that there were two main demographics: young French people just out of college or between jobs, and retired people (60+). Many of the camino family I fell in with had walked across all or most of France, and were planning to walk to Santiago. We bonded quickly across generations and cultures. It was lovely.

Also, the Via Podiensis is beautiful! I have loved almost every day of the path. People say it is a tough camino, I don't have enough to compare it to... It didn't seem particularly hard for me, and I was in my mid-fifties and out of shape on the first walk. I mean, I did have heart palpitations on the first long hill out of Le Puy, but whatever that was passed and never returned. Perhaps jet-lag. On the second or third day, I learned to take small steps when going up steep hillsides. While I huffed my way up that rocky steep slope, trying to keep my heart from exploding, four mountain bikers passed me going about 10km, dodging or hopping boulders.

I marveled that even though some of the French friends (and a couple of German and Swiss) I met had literally walked out of their front doors with a pack on, and onto a chemin/GR on the way toward SJPdP, they were instantly pilgrims. Even though they were in their home country, home language, home culture, familiar ground... no one seemed to be treating this like "a walk in the park", or like they could be home in a day if they decided to...

I do now recall running into a few 40s-50s Quebecois, I'm not sure how they had the leisure to walk for so long in Fall... and they didn't become part of my "camily"... partly because they walked farther and faster than most of us, so after a couple of days, they were out of sight.

10 years ago when friends and I walked from Le Puy to Conques in July, the Bishop of Le Puy asked all of us who attended mass and the pilgrims' blessing to introduce ourselves... which kick-started the camino family. But I do think many people we met on that walk were similarly only walking 10-14 days... though many planned to come back and continue the next section... camino interruptus. (A luxury of being more local.) They still treated it as a pilgrimage, beginning and ending in monasteries. And on that walk I think perhaps the median age was older... but youthful. At one point, picking my way careful down slippery rocks on a rainy day I was passed by a 70 year old French man *running* it, with his pack. One day, two 83 year old Norwegian men joined us for lunch, but finished earlier than we did, and went on. We never saw them again! Not that speed = youth, but...

I think many of the sort of self-selected people who decide to make a peregrination... have something ineffable in common... you will find your tribe...

-Kevin

 

[bullingtonce]

I was going to walk the Le Puy but the videos I am seeing on youtube make me think that its 99% seniors. Not that there's anything wrong with seniors but being the token 'young person' gets old after a while.

It gets old only if you choose to let it get old. Valuing and appreciating everyone is what one ought to be learning in life, plus it enables you to come out of this shell you are currently in. You will have plenty of time to engage with your own age groups and to lose the opportunity to pick up some wisdom that few in your age group have and give is an opportunity, not a burden. You, perhaps in this case, are being presenting an opportunity to grow--whether you choose this opportunity says a lot about you and is particularly reflective of you, and not in a positive way. Not criticizing; merely providing a perspective that varies from your own perception, narrow as it is. Welcome to life. You can't always have what you want nor should you. Chuck

 

[Bill905]

It's not called the GR65 for nothing ....

 

[BlackRocker57]

...oh, and my question is - is the le puy really predominantly a seniors' scene?

in a word ... no

 

[thepacman]

@acrah thanks for your clarification about halfway through the thread, as some elements of the tone and direction of the conversations had been bothering me. Generalisations and stereotypes about most things can be misleading, be they about age or not.

Oh, and in less than two months, and about a week after my 72nd birthday I'll be setting out on the Le Puy, to SJPdP, my fourth camino. I'm expecting a beautiful walk, challenging only because as poor as my Spanish is, my French is considerably worse, but not nearly as physically (and therefore mentally) demanding as the VDLP which I walked at about the same time last year.

 

[BlackRocker57]

@acrah thanks for your clarification about halfway through the thread, as some elements of the tone and direction of the conversations had been bothering me. Generalisations and stereotypes about most things can be misleading, be they about age or not.

Oh, and in less than two months, and about a week after my 72nd birthday I'll be setting out on the Le Puy, to SJPdP, my fourth camino. I'm expecting a beautiful walk, challenging only because as poor as my Spanish is, my French is considerably worse, but not nearly as physically (and therefore mentally) demanding as the VDLP which I walked at about the same time last year.

bon chemin @thepacman ... depending on the number of kms you are proposing to walk each day, you might be surprised at how physically demanding the GR65 Via Podiensis [aka the Le Puy route] is ...

 

[Chizuru]

We walked from Le Puy to Cahors in April/May 2023.
The majority were French hikers in their middle age. Many were work friends, some were family groups. Most were hiking it as the GR 65 in week long sections over a number of years.
Most spoke reasonably good English and better than our okay French and were happy to chat over lunch or dinner but due to their short duration we didn’t create a Camino family and due to their tight knit friendship groups they didn’t really join random strangers. They were really just people we were friendly with and we would invite them to join us for lunch or a drink for a couple of days then they would be finished.
All of the available accommodation was full and many were forced to take taxis off route then taxi back the next morning which also meant that you might not be able to join friends for dinner or in the same accommodation.

 

[thepacman]

bon chemin @thepacman ... depending on the number of kms you are proposing to walk each day, you might be surprised at how physically demanding the GR65 Via Podiensis [aka the Le Puy route] is ...

Thanks @BlackRocker57 - as the years have gone by I've planned slightly lower daily limits. This one will be an average of just under 20klms/day, with very few over 25. And I love having the time to "smell the roses" along the way.

 

[BlackRocker57]

Just curious: Did you observe (or participate) in what is so omnipresent on the Camino Francés in particular: the forming of casual spontaneous groups sometimes labelled as "Camino family"? (Not groups that are already established and know each other when they travel to Le Puy or another starting point and stay that way). FWIW, I tend to regard the road from Le Puy more as a GR than a Camino.

not so much ... but that may be due to the numbers walking the Voie du Puy [approx. one tenth of the numbers walking the Camino Francés] ... every year I have made casual acquaintances and walked with them for two, three, four or more days ... also the nature of the accommodation perhaps impacts on this phenomenon ...

 

[thepacman]

Oh, and @BlackRocker57 it's always nice to connect with a fellow Aussie on this forum, and I now see that you've walked the Via Podiensis many times ...

 

[BlackRocker57]

Thanks @BlackRocker57 - as the years have gone by I've planned slightly lower daily limits. This one will be an average of just under 20klms/day, with very few over 25. And I love having the time to "smell the roses" along the way.

20kms a day or less should work well for you ... and you will have loads of time to enjoy the rest stops [petites pauses], trackside buvettes and to «smell the roses» ... absolutely one of the highlights of the Via Podiensis ... bon chemin