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Is the Napoleon route typically open beginning of April?

B

bobegg

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Time of past OR future Camino
April 2024
Planning on starting on April 4th 2024.
Is the Napoleon route typically open?
Thank you.
 
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bobegg said:
Planning on starting on April 4th 2024.
Is the Napoleon route typically open?
Thank you.
Click to expand...
It might be, but there would be no guarantees it will be. The Pilgrim Office in SJPP can provide advice on the evening before about the conditions on the Route Napoleon.

Have you thought through your options should it be closed? Can you wait a day or two, or do you want to walk that day? If the latter, Route Valcarlos will be open.
 
I can possibly wait a day or two to see if conditions improve.
 
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bobegg said:
I can possibly wait a day or two to see if conditions improve.
Click to expand...
Your call on the day. I have friends who did this because they were determined to walk the Route Napoleon. Both times I have walked the CF there were issues with Route Napoleon, and I walked the Route Valcarlos.
 
This year the opening of the route was delayed to 4 April because of snow. It could easily have been longer. Weather is not predictable at this distance. If you have a particular date in mind then you will have to be prepared to be flexible about when you start and the Valcarlos option.
 
Several years ago, there were 3 major snowstorms in May. The Napoleon was closed to foot traffic most of the month and the Valcarlos paved road was closed for many days. No one can predict anything from reading the history of the weather in this region. With Global Warming who knows, it might be a sunshiny day in April, otherwise if a major storm has developed in North America about the same time and is headed across the Atlantic, take care.
 
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bobegg said:
Planning on starting on April 4th 2024.
Is the Napoleon route typically open?
Thank you.
Click to expand...
I walked the Napoleon Route last year on April 15 - no problems and beautiful. Both the week before and the week after the route was closed due to snow/weather. Throughout April it’s just a roll of the dice. I’ve been lucky, two April starts and beautiful weather each time.
 
It has been said that there are 'no guarantees in life' or that 'man plans, god laughs.' Both certainly apply to whether the Napoleon route from St. Jean will be open on a particular day, especially in early April.
It was closed on April 8th in 2016 for my wife and I. Even on the alternate Valcarlos route we ran into heavy snow as we approached Roncesvalles.
Not a big deal since we live in northern Alberta and live with snow six months of the year.
If it turns out the Napoleon route isn't open on your first day, don't get too worked up about it. The alternate route was beautiful and ultimately it is only one day out of many.
Don't think you have been 'short changed' because the weather gods have other plans for you!
 
Last edited:
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simply B said:
I cannot improve on the advice provided above. Summarized as:

"It depends. The Valcarlos route has its own charms. The Route Napoleon is NOT superior, it is just different."

Buen Camino!

B
Click to expand...
You have captured what I feel about all the routes and variants on the Camino(s).
 
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