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My husband and I are planning to walk the Camino Frances in mid March. We live in Minnesota, and we are avid hikers but not experienced pack travelers. We plan to walk to Santiago from SJPDP and would appreciate advice on hiking this time of year, gear - or anything that's helpful for first-timers.
Thank you!![/
I am also a first time pilgrim walking the Camino in mid March. I am from Texas leaving on the 12th. Bueno Camino
Thank you for the packing advice! I'm relieved to hear that we can pick up things we need along the Way. I have a habit of overpacking and I've never packed an expedition type back pack for efficiency. We're presently looking into the type of packs that will suit us best.First time pilgrims often pack between 5 and 10 kilos of fear in their backpacks. The good news is that the Camino passes through many cities that have department stores, hardware stores, and trekking stores (often geared toward pilgrims). So only pack what you know you will absolutely need every day. Do not pack anything that you think you might need. Worst case scenario is that you have to take a taxi ride to a store to pick something up. Otherwise, pack as light as possible. Buen Camino!
I would pack at least one thing I might need. A spare pair of underwear. Left a pair hanging on a line somewhere and I was not the only oneFirst time pilgrims often pack between 5 and 10 kilos of fear in their backpacks. The good news is that the Camino passes through many cities that have department stores, hardware stores, and trekking stores (often geared toward pilgrims). So only pack what you know you will absolutely need every day. Do not pack anything that you think you might need. Worst case scenario is that you have to take a taxi ride to a store to pick something up. Otherwise, pack as light as possible. Buen Camino!
I agree with @SYates that knowing what gear you are going to take is an important first step. If it is any help, I have a simple rule of thumb to get you into the right area. Take your weight in kg, halve it and that is about the size (in litres) of pack that will take a load of about 10% of your body mass comfortably. For a spring or autumn walk, add about 25%. Smaller means tighter and more difficult packing each day. Bigger is temptation to carry more, and is to be avoided.We're presently looking into the type of packs that will suit us best.
Welcome Spreckel, mspath is a winter walker and can give you plenty information on this subject, she will probably be along shortly.
Happy planning and Buen Camino.
You're from MN, it will feel like you are 3 months ahead on the calendar!Thank you for the packing advice! I'm relieved to hear that we can pick up things we need along the Way. I have a habit of overpacking and I've never packed an expedition type back pack for efficiency. We're presently looking into the type of packs that will suit us best.
I'm also curious about the weather conditions during mid-March; wondering how many layers to pack so as to accommodate cooler temps and snow.
Buen Camino!
That is one of the best ways to describe it I have heard. The only thing I would add is that those day-walks aren't what I would consider a daylong bushwalk. So many towns and villages along the way.I found one of the harder things to do was minimise the things that I would normally take bushwalking, when one does need to be independent for several days. The camino is in large part a series of day-walks, not a typical multi-day bushwalk. Once I had that figured out, I removed about 3 kg from my load immediately, and a bit more over the following weeks.
My third Camino was during what awful spring of 2013 Tpmchugh refers to. Until then I has walked the CF mid-May to early June and late Sept. to mid October and had only encountered a day of rain an never cold or terrible heat. And so terribly proud of myself for traveling light with just a sleeping bag liner. After that Camino, in May of 2013 I no longer take good weather for granted: I ended up buying gloves anda sleeping bag (when I had some at home) and walked in inches of mud in some places, not just in a spot, but for kms on end.I started mid March 2013 which apparently was the worst early spring weather in 25 years. There was snow on the high ground, mud lower down and really deep mud on the meseta. The weather varied from cool to very warm and on the couple of days it rained, boy did it rain.
3kg off: what did you leave behind? After seeing the lists of items people are bringing, and their weight, I weighed my items this weekend. Would love to know what I could leave behind to get me under where I'm at at the moment.I found one of the harder things to do was minimise the things that I would normally take bushwalking, when one does need to be independent for several days. The camino is in large part a series of day-walks, not a typical multi-day bushwalk. Once I had that figured out, I removed about 3 kg from my load immediately, and a bit more over the following weeks.
The problem with this calculation is that for people who are carrying extra weight themselves, and would benefit from even less weight in their backpack, with this calculation you end up having them carry a lot more than they should. If you are all muscle, then yes. But if not .... people would end up carrying 3 times the size of bag. Perhaps you should preface your calculation with a few words of caution ;0)I agree with @SYates that knowing what gear you are going to take is an important first step. If it is any help, I have a simple rule of thumb to get you into the right area. Take your weight in kg, halve it and that is about the size (in litres) of pack that will take a load of about 10% of your body mass comfortably. For a spring or autumn walk, add about 25%. Smaller means tighter and more difficult packing each day. Bigger is temptation to carry more, and is to be avoided.
Sorry, this is the issue with doing a Q&D response,The problem with this calculation is that for people who are carrying extra weight themselves, and would benefit from even less weight in their backpack, with this calculation you end up having them carry a lot more than they should. If you are all muscle, then yes. But if not .... people would end up carrying 3 times the size of bag. Perhaps you should preface your calculation with a few words of caution ;0)
I can remember backpacking through Europe with an 85L bag, filled with my postgrad books on board. And I remember the bruises on my shoulders ;0)
Most pilgrims develop a favorite kit; mine weighs 6.5 kilos and has kept me comfy and safe walking in late autumn/winter for the past 10 years.
Prentis, The bags which are extremely sturdy (10 years old!) and virtually silent originally carried computer equipment home from Parisian shops; cinched tightly closed with quarter inch cord they resemble stuff sacks.
My husband and I are planning to walk the Camino Frances in mid March. We live in Minnesota, and we are avid hikers but not experienced pack travelers. We plan to walk to Santiago from SJPDP and would appreciate advice on hiking this time of year, gear - or anything that's helpful for first-timers.
Thank you!!
Hello!! We arrive in Madrid on March 10 and plan to head out to SJPDP on or around March 14. We are also trying to figure out the best way to get to SJPDP. This seems a bit confusing to us. We'd appreciate any advice on this.Hello Spreckel, I will also be a first-timer walking the Camino Frances in mid-March! Glad to see they'll be a few of us out there. I'll be coming from Syracuse, N.Y. arriving in Madrid on March 22nd and am still trying to figure out the best way to make to SJPDP will be. I plan on starting my Camino on March 23rd. Will be keeping an eye on this thread as I am also looking for advice on what to bring during this time of year. Will you be in SJPDP earlier in March then I will be? Maybe will cross paths at some point ..
From downtown Madrid, you can choose the bus or the train to Pamplona. Train is always more comfortable, but the train station is some distance from downtown and the bus station. From Pamplona, there may be a bus to SJPdP; ALSA is a bit coy about the starting date for the service. Otherwise you can take a bus six days a week to Roncesvalles, and a taxi from there to SJPdP. Another option from Pamplona is to spend the night at Corazon Puro if they are open. They will pick you up in Pamplona, house and feed you, and deliver you to SJPdP the next day.We are also trying to figure out the best way to get to SJPDP.
Hello!! We arrive in Madrid on March 10 and plan to head out to SJPDP on or around March 14. We are also trying to figure out the best way to get to SJPDP. This seems a bit confusing to us. We'd appreciate any advice on this.
It seems we'll be about a week ahead of you as to our Camino start. It sure would be nice to see you out there! I'll keep my eye on this thread too. We're also trying to determine the best clothes for March. Talk more soon!
Buen Camino!
Yes Spreckel would be great to see you guys out thereFrom downtown Madrid, you can choose the bus or the train to Pamplona. Train is always more comfortable, but the train station is some distance from downtown and the bus station. From Pamplona, there may be a bus to SJPdP; ALSA is a bit coy about the starting date for the service. Otherwise you can take a bus six days a week to Roncesvalles, and a taxi from there to SJPdP. Another option from Pamplona is to spend the night at Corazon Puro if they are open. They will pick you up in Pamplona, house and feed you, and deliver you to SJPdP the next day.
http://www.corazonpuro.es/Enghome.html
Buen camino.
Hello,Yes Spreckel would be great to see you guys out thereand yes I've been finding getting to STJPdP quite confusing myself..
Thanks falcon269 for further info on that- here's what I've found so far:
I emailed Corzonpuro as that sounded like a great and very reasonably priced option, but unfortunately Istvan emailed me back to tell me they are not open til March 27th. I think my options may be further limited by arriving on a Sunday and therefore no bus to Roncesvalles on Sunday. I then tried www.expressbourricot.com and Caroline emailed me back and said she doesn't provide transport service from Pamplona. So Madrid to Pamplona doesn't seem to be a problem as it seems like bus or train will be an option, but still trying to figure out if I'll need to spend the night in Pamplona or perhaps taxi on Sunday (but was hoping to not have to spend the money it'll cost for a taxi, at least not alone perhaps if I found another peregrino arriving at same time would be great we could share the cost). Caroline did tell me a couple of other options:
1) Try Ivan: transporte.peregrinos@gmail.com
2) Go from Madrid to San sebastian or Irun, and she could transport me from there to st JPP
- San Sebastian to St JPP: 126€
- Irun to St JPP: 106€
And yes faclon269 your right about ALSA be a bit coy about the starting date for bus from Pamplona to SJPdP can't seem to find that info, although I imagine Sunday may not be an option for me on that also...
Well I'll make to SJPdP one way or another just have to make it through some initial roadblocks looks like - oh and I saw a thread on strike in Spain dates and I'm arriving on one of those days designated as an all day strike so have no idea if that will mean anything for me - all part of the journey my camino journey I suppose..
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