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Glad you took in stride, so to speak. I made a couple of diversions on my CF last year, planned and unplanned. Enjoy every step, especially the extra ones!Day 1 from SJPDP to Roncesvalles is in the books. Great weather, beautiful scenery, and a challenging hike.
For those coming after, I got twisted up in the woods coming into Roncesvalles and ending up doing 17 miles instead of 15.6. I went right at Lepoeder, but somehow in the woods I crossed over to the other path, and then went the wrong way away from Roncesvalles. Thankfully not too far before I figured it out.
Moral of the story, don’t zone out in nature too much when you have multiple routes to get to the same spot. Arrows can be confusing in those settings.
Looking forward to a straight shot to Zubiri tomorrow.
No, you are not over thinking it. The left is fine on a dry, hot day. If it is wet, the leaves that cover the path can be quite slippery. The path to the right is pretty straight forward as far as I am concerned, just keep walking downhill and make sure you are heading in a westerly and north-westerly direction. My internal compass has never lead me astray. The OP says he that he "zoned out" and started heading in the wrong direction. I am sure there is a spot where the Valcarlos crosses the deviation to the right but honestly I never remember seeing it in all the times I have gone that direction and I know if I took a right hand turn off of that path it would be heading me back down hill eventually.Now I am REALLY confused! Wise Pilgrim app seems to favor going straight ahead at Col Loepeder and walking through the woods down to Roncesvalles. Other folks recommend turning right at Loepeder and taking an asphalt path down to Roncesvalles. I don't want to end up in Valcarlos and adding distance to the 1st day trek. Is there a more definitive and well marked recommendation on the descent into Roncesvalles? Even better with pictures? Am probably over-thinking this.
You are long past the way to Valcarlos when you reach the decision point to go down the steep trail through the forest or the gentle asphalt path to Roncesvalles.Now I am REALLY confused! Wise Pilgrim app seems to favor going straight ahead at Col Loepeder and walking through the woods down to Roncesvalles. Other folks recommend turning right at Loepeder and taking an asphalt path down to Roncesvalles. I don't want to end up in Valcarlos and adding distance to the 1st day trek. Is there a more definitive and well marked recommendation on the descent into Roncesvalles? Even better with pictures? Am probably over-thinking this.
This sounds like the easiest route and makes sense having been there now.That is why a lot of people including me each time, take the turn to the right, at the directional sign, just after the peak. Instead of proceeding straight-on down into the woods, as you did, one follows the winding farm road down to the church. A left turn takes you into Roncesvalles in about 10 minutes. It might be relatively less scenic but the road route is more reliable and relatively safer.
Hope this helps.
Tom
Buen Camino, PilgrimDay 1 from SJPDP to Roncesvalles is in the books. Great weather, beautiful scenery, and a challenging hike.
For those coming after, I got twisted up in the woods coming into Roncesvalles and ending up doing 17 miles instead of 15.6. I went right at Lepoeder, but somehow in the woods I crossed over to the other path, and then went the wrong way away from Roncesvalles. Thankfully not too far before I figured it out.
Moral of the story, don’t zone out in nature too much when you have multiple routes to get to the same spot. Arrows can be confusing in those settings.
Looking forward to a straight shot to Zubiri tomorrow.
Well done! Were you "spent" or could you have continued (if Roncesvalles) was not the option? I ask because I hope to contirue to Espinal BUT I won't know till I get there and experince it. It is great to have (Roncesvalles) as an option if I find the walk enoughDay 1 from SJPDP to Roncesvalles is in the books. Great weather, beautiful scenery, and a challenging hike.
For those coming after, I got twisted up in the woods coming into Roncesvalles and ending up doing 17 miles instead of 15.6. I went right at Lepoeder, but somehow in the woods I crossed over to the other path, and then went the wrong way away from Roncesvalles. Thankfully not too far before I figured it out.
Moral of the story, don’t zone out in nature too much when you have multiple routes to get to the same spot. Arrows can be confusing in those settings.
Looking forward to a straight shot to Zubiri tomorrow.
"somehow in the woods coming into Roncesvalles"I got twisted up in the woods coming into Roncesvalles and ending up doing 17 miles instead of 15.6. I went right at Lepoeder, but somehow in the woods I crossed over to the other path, and then went the wrong way away from Roncesvalles. Thankfully not too far before I figured it out.
Is there a more definitive and well marked recommendation on the descent into Roncesvalles?
In Sept 2022, I walked this portion after spending the night in Orrison on a very gloomy morning, which very quickly became foggy and there were portions where we could not see one another much less the trail. Needless to say and in spite all the warnings, I took all the wrong turns and walked through the woods and that infamous steep and dangerous path down to Roncesvalles, not before face planting withing sight of the roof of the monastery, but I lived to tell the story. Buen Camino everybodyThere are a number of reports on the forum from people who wanted to avoid the forest way but got confused and ended up taking it by accident (it can be nasty when foggy, raining or wet or you are tired from a full day's walking).
I probably could have carried on a few more miles, but it was a long day. The climb out of SJPDP over the Pyrenees is no joke.Well done! Were you "spent" or could you have continued (if Roncesvalles) was not the option? I ask because I hope to contirue to Espinal BUT I won't know till I get there and experince it. It is great to have (Roncesvalles) as an option if I find the walk enough
I took the road route down to the small building at the end of the road after reading it was hazardous to go down through the forest in 2013.That is why a lot of people including me each time, take the turn to the right, at the directional sign, just after the peak. Instead of proceeding straight-on down into the woods, as you did, one follows the winding farm road down to the church. A left turn takes you into Roncesvalles in about 10 minutes. It might be relatively less scenic but the road route is more reliable and relatively safer.
Hope this helps.
Tom
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