Are the gites heated?

[Purple Backpack]

Hi all, Starting to get organized for a Spring Podiensis. Can't find any info on if gites, in general, are heated or not in April/May. Should I toss in the 1 pound sleeping bag or the silk liner? I tend to sleep cold but don't want an extra pound if not needed (btw, Sea to Summit Traveler). TIA!

 

[Vacajoe]

Gites are individually run, so there is no answer to your question other than, “possibly”! Fuel costs are generally high in Europe and even higher due to a spike in natural gas prices. Many places turn off the heat at night and some provide blankets, but nothing is guaranteed.

 

[Purple Backpack]

Gites are individually run, so there is no answer to your question other than, “possibly”! Fuel costs are generally high in Europe and even higher due to a spike in natural gas prices. Many places turn off the heat at night and some provide blankets, but nothing is guaranteed.

Thanks so much, will keep the bag! And the fleece, and the beanie!

 

[Former member 99290]

Hi there. I’ve walked the Le Puy in April (2014). Don’t recall feeling cold in the gites - which I recall as being by and large very comfortable and with smaller dorms (ie fewer beds to a room) than you would typically find on the Frances which I see you’ve walked. And yes I had a sleeping bag. Bon chemin. It’s a wonderful path

 

[malingerer]

Thanks so much, will keep the bag! And the fleece, and the beanie!

and the spare smart wool sox for thy feet to keep the tootsies warm! Old trick which i use in dire necessity is to put me and the sock covered feet into the sleeping bag and the whole bloody lot into the ruck. This is a tenters trick but years ago some of the basic Refugio's were COLD. Take care and remember the old saying, if you are malnourished and your feet are cold, YOU WILL NOT SLEEP! Take care and buen Camino.



Samarkand.

PS The older you get, the more important the above becomes

 

[pasiño a pasiño]

Hi all, Starting to get organized for a Spring Podiensis. Can't find any info on if gites, in general, are heated or not in April/May. Should I toss in the 1 pound sleeping bag or the silk liner? I tend to sleep cold but don't want an extra pound if not needed (btw, Sea to Summit Traveler). TIA!

Vacajoe is right.... April/May even more likely that the heaters are of.
I remember a longer period of rain in May on the via Podiensis, where I tried to put the heaters on, in vain, to dry my gear.

 

[Dan]

Hi all, Starting to get organized for a Spring Podiensis. Can't find any info on if gites, in general, are heated or not in April/May. Should I toss in the 1 pound sleeping bag or the silk liner? I tend to sleep cold but don't want an extra pound if not needed (btw, Sea to Summit Traveler). TIA!

We too did it in April/May 2014. The only time I felt a bit cold was the night I spent in a room with Joe who, as was his right as a free citizen, passed wind all night. I survived by opening the window next to my bed and left it open until dawn. As time went on I had to put on more and more layers of clothes, but nothing was going to make me shut that window.
Apart from that I never noticed the cold at night in the gites.

 

[Scott Fraser]

Thanks so much, will keep the bag! And the fleece, and the beanie!

For sure the fleece and beanie. The walk across the Aubrac plateau can be damp and wet.

 

[naplesdon]

In June 2019 my first night out after Le Puy was in Montbonnet at l'Escole. The morning started off with fine weather but by noon it had changed to sleet, rain and high winds. There was a pellet stove in the lounge room which was a Godsend for dealing with wet gear. The dormitory was not heated but there were lots of blankets. After that night most of my accommodations were in larger pensions and gites which I shared with the host family who had no desire to live in a damp, drafty home.

 

[edtrudeau]

and the spare smart wool sox for thy feet to keep the tootsies warm! Old trick which i use in dire necessity is to put me and the sock covered feet into the sleeping bag and the whole bloody lot into the ruck. This is a tenters trick but years ago some of the basic Refugio's were COLD. Take care and remember the old saying, if you are malnourished and your feet are cold, YOU WILL NOT SLEEP! Take care and buen Camino.



Samarkand.

PS The older you get, the more important the above becomes

Please translate: whole bloody lot into the ruck? I know ‘ruck’ as a Brit term for backpack... And I’m not fitting into a 36l pack!

 

[Purple Backpack]

Hi there. I’ve walked the Le Puy in April (2014). Don’t recall feeling cold in the gites - which I recall as being by and large very comfortable and with smaller dorms (ie fewer beds to a room) than you would typically find on the Frances which I see you’ve walked. And yes I had a sleeping bag. Bon chemin. It’s a wonderful path

Thanks so much, really looking forward to it. Third time I've tried to do this trip so hope the world cooperates!

 

[Purple Backpack]

Please translate: whole bloody lot into the ruck? I know ‘ruck’ as a Brit term for backpack... And I’m not fitting into a 36l pack!

I've seen fellow cold backpackers put their lower legs in their packs at night!

 

[edtrudeau]

Ok, thanks!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

most of my accommodations were in larger pensions and gites which I shared with the host family who had no desire to live in a damp, drafty home.

That was my experience, as well.

 

[Ian Campbell]

I walked from LePuy at the beginning of May 2016. By chance it was a cold, wet spring in the mountains of Ardeche and Aubrac. It even snowed a couple of days and yes, it was cold in some of the gites. Some of the municipal facilities open on the first of May and aren't heated at any time. Some hotels don't have heat either, or turn it off on the first of May. Sleeping bag is a very good idea. Also hat and gloves for walking.

 

[Bob from L.A. !]

Bring the Silk Sack with you

 

[Karl Oz]

Please translate: whole bloody lot into the ruck? I know ‘ruck’ as a Brit term for backpack... And I’m not fitting into a 36l pack!

Threw me initially too, but I think he meant the feet!