Camino del Norte

Hi and welcome to the Forum, could you be more specific about your start date please.

What's your current hiking regime?

This is a site many of us use for the Norte. If you use Google Chrome it will "machine" translate into English.

velofellow said:

Hoping to do the northern route this fall.

Any opinions on late season hiking ?

Click to expand...

I can’t see anything wrong with this plan @velofellow
As long as you’ve got time enough to do it at your comfortable pace and your knees are up to it. There are some ‘workout hills’ to tackle initially if starting in Irún.

If you start too early in September., you could find accommodation more difficult because of tourists in the region too; but many have found that with a bit of research and being prepared … they have managed those early stages. Don’t expect too much of yourself in that first week.

I wish you the best -.

Ps. I agree with your thoughts on spending too much on socks. Lots of less expensive socks around that work. Wear what worked for you on your last camino.

Buen camino

How “late” is your late season? Many albergues (public and private) start closing down in October, so you’d be wise to check those dates in an app or Gronze just to be safe. I walked mid-October and though my choices were more limited than early in the season, I easily found accommodations without much prior planning.

Good rain gear, umbrella and gaiters. Its beautiful. Buen Camino

I did the Camino Del Norte late March to early May this year. I would suggest that you be equipped for very wet and muddy trails. Trails are fine if it hasn't rained recently, but if you do get rain some sections of the trails into mud chutes where steep and ponds on the flat sections. To clarify, most of it will be fine, but a few times a day you would find yourself navigating swampy and creek conditions.

If you have high, waterproof hiking boots, no problem. If you prefer more trail-runner style, then I think you will be unable to avoid soaked shoes and socks at some points. As noted above, gaiters would also be handy.

I wished I had taken my Bridgedale waterproof socks. I probably only would have used them on few stages, but on those stages they would have really helped.

Alternatively, take a few pairs of spare socks that you can rotate through. Don't assume you will be able to dry out socks overnight, especially if staying in albergues: The air is damp along the coast and the albergues tend to be frugal with heat, so clothing was often still damp in the morning.

check out our blog. it might help. many times we were advised to stay on the road because trails were too muddy. stu. caminowalkaboutnorte.blogspot.com