Pilgrim rescued between Santoña and Noja

[peregrina2000]

Looks like it was muddy and slippery, and a French pilgrim fell and broke his ankle. Had to be rescued by a helicopter.

Be careful, peregrinos on the Norte! That is a very nice coastal segment, but as I remember (Anemone can correct me if I'm wrong, she has a much better memory than I for these things) the descent to the beach is a bit steep.

http://www.radiocaminodesantiago.com/rescatado-peregrino-frances-por-un-helicoptero-en-cantabria/

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Read this as well this morning and thought it was an accident just waiting to happen.

El Bursco, as this hill is called, is made up of a lot of sand and requires huge steps (I'm short!) to go both up and down. I had to take by backpack off to climb up at some point, and sit in some places on the way down.

The article doesn't say if he was going up or down, but he was lucky to only break an ankle. If you were to fall backwards while ascending, you'd be joining the many ant size surfers in the ocean below after a long fall down the cliff.

When I think of all the useless detours on some sections of the Camino "for safety reasons" and then think of this place where there are no barriers to prevent a fall, I shake my head.

The only other difficult and potentially dangerous spot for short legged people was also on the Norte, leaving the monastery near Guetaria, bit steps have now been installed.

There is a way to walk around the Brusco. If it's not marked on your map just pop in at the tourist kiosk as you get off the ferry in Santona. My guide had us going around the Brucso ... it was the girl at the kiosk who suggested the uphill route.

 

[oursonpolaire]

This stretch is one of the riskiest (and most scenic) on the Camino del Norte and I am agreeably surprised that injuries and mishaps are so rare. At my advanced age, I could not get up the initial stretch and had to do the much longer and poorly marked alternative route. The turismo on Santona should be able to mark it for you on a map.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Read this as well this morning and thought it was an accident just waiting to happen.

El Bursco, as this hill is called, is made up of a lot of sand and requires huge steps (I'm short!) to go both up and down. I had to take by backpack off to climb up at some point, and sit in some places on the way down.

The article doesn't say if he was going up or down, but he was lucky to only break an ankle. If you were to fall backwards while ascending, you'd be joining the many ant size surfers in the ocean below after a long fall down the cliff.

When I think of all the useless detours on some sections of the Camino "for safety reasons" and then think of this place where there are no barriers to prevent a fall, I shake my head.

The only other difficult and potentially dangerous spot for short legged people was also on the Norte, leaving the monastery near Guetaria, bit steps have now been installed.

There is a way to walk around the Brusco. If it's not marked on your map just pop in at the tourist kiosk as you get off the ferry in Santona. My guide had us going around the Brucso ... it was the girl at the kiosk who suggested the uphill route.

I remember this sandy, rather treacherous hill with gorgeous views, both while ascending and descending. Lucky for me I was with my son, who walked just ahead of me, then would turn around and gave me his hand to help pull me up those huge "steps". One of my scariest sections on the Norte, but also one of the most beautiful ingrained in my memory.

 

[jay quintero]

Looks like it was muddy and slippery, and a French pilgrim fell and broke his ankle. Had to be rescued by a helicopter.

Be careful, peregrinos on the Norte! That is a very nice coastal segment, but as I remember (Anemone can correct me if I'm wrong, she has a much better memory than I for these things) the descent to the beach is a bit steep.

http://www.radiocaminodesantiago.com/rescatado-peregrino-frances-por-un-helicoptero-en-cantabria/

I've been meaning to ask, is there such a thing as a Medical Insurance policy on the Camino? and who paid for the helicopter? ... we don't have that kind of healthcare in the U.S.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I've been meaning to ask, is there such a thing as a Medical Insurance policy on the Camino? and who paid for the helicopter? ... we don't have that kind of healthcare in the U.S.

You can absolutely purchase medical insurance for your Camino. You can go online and type in travel insurance to compare the various policies. I live in the U.S. and purchase my travel insurance thru CSA. Make sure whatever policy you buy has medical evacuation coverage. I pay approximately $100 US to cover my Caminos.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I've been meaning to ask, is there such a thing as a Medical Insurance policy on the Camino? and who paid for the helicopter? ... we don't have that kind of healthcare in the U.S.

Based on what happens when people need rescuing on the Napoleon route, when it is open, I would guess that rescue operations are free but medical care would be billed. At least for an non EU citizen. This man is French so he should have his hospital bill taken care of automatically.

For a map with all countries with universal health care, click here. I think you will notice that they are not all "socialist", in fact, for many, far from it.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_with_universal_health_care

 

[grayland]

One of the most often recommended sites to research travel (medical) insurance for the camino is Squaremouth.com
They will give you comparisons of major companies.

It will give you a wide range of options and show all the main companies and the rates. It is a very good place to start.
I use it myself every year to find a policy that fits what I am doing that year.
Pay attention to:
Primary Insurance
Medical Evacuation (I look for a MINimum of $500K)
At Least $50K medical

I do not include any travel cancellation type insurance and that keeps the price way down

There are other sites that may be good to look at....this is the one many of us use.

 

[peregrina2000]

This may be going off topic, but I think it bears repeating. If you are from the US, you should be careful to read the fine print of any insurance policy you are thinking about buying. This is from another thread, from a while ago, but I think it bears repeating. A friend of mine, with much more patience than I, did a deep dive into the fine print.

One company's policy "provides for repatriation of remains" or "provides for medical evacuation," but when he read the fine print he saw that what that means is that they will take it upon themselves to find you a company to bring your body home or to evacuate you, but you will bear the actual cost of transportation. So, "provides for" means -- "finds you a service provider" not "pay for the cost of service."

I have medical insurance that covers emergency medical expenses abroad, and a credit card that will pay a fairly high sum to bring me home, so I have decided that I am not going to buy additional travelers' medical insurance. I know there are many people who do buy it, and if it's a once in a lifetime trip it's probably worth the few hundred dollars for peace of mind, but if you go every year, you might want to reconsider.

 

[jay quintero]

This may be going off topic, but I think it bears repeating. If you are from the US, you should be careful to read the fine print of any insurance policy you are thinking about buying. This is from another thread, from a while ago, but I think it bears repeating. A friend of mine, with much more patience than I, did a deep dive into the fine print.

One company's policy "provides for repatriation of remains" or "provides for medical evacuation," but when he read the fine print he saw that what that means is that they will take it upon themselves to find you a company to bring your body home or to evacuate you, but you will bear the actual cost of transportation. So, "provides for" means -- "finds you a service provider" not "pay for the cost of service."

I have medical insurance that covers emergency medical expenses abroad, and a credit card that will pay a fairly high sum to bring me home, so I have decided that I am not going to buy additional travelers' medical insurance. I know there are many people who do buy it, and if it's a once in a lifetime trip it's probably worth the few hundred dollars for peace of mind, but if you go every year, you might want to reconsider.

Thank you for the heads up ... I don't have a credit card, never had one (long story, but I think it caused the housing crisis) ... my travel agent of 15 years didn't even warn me about this ... hmmm ...

 

[grayland]

Last October I had a pretty serious medical problem on the Florence to Rome Camino.

The bill was about $9,500.
(It would have been $50k plus in th U.S.)

I had travel medical insurance and it was all paid in full

 

[sharon w]

If I had known there was a detour I would have taken it. My husband helped pull me up and all I could do was swear all the way! He was amazing to put up with me. There's no way I would have been able to do it by myself. I'm terrified of drop offs like that.

 

[Kanga]

Yes, I was terrified going over this headland - only short, but much the worst section of any camino I've walked. And then we found that it could have been avoided by a simple walk around the bottom!

See those tiny figures down below on the sand....

 

[ISABEL linares]

Looks like it was muddy and slippery, and a French pilgrim fell and broke his ankle. Had to be rescued by a helicopter.

Be careful, peregrinos on the Norte! That is a very nice coastal segment, but as I remember (Anemone can correct me if I'm wrong, she has a much better memory than I for these things) the descent to the beach is a bit steep.

http://www.radiocaminodesantiago.com/rescatado-peregrino-frances-por-un-helicoptero-en-cantabria/

Hope the peregrino is ok.
I will never forget the descendant toRoncesballes with my bad Knee.

 

[mla1]

Re insurance: I had been planning to just use the insurance that comes with my credit card until I found out it is only good for trips of 15 days or less. So read carefully! For north Americans, Costco has cheap travel insurance with broad coverage - including dental work ( which is the only thing I have ever needed while travelling ) and, if I remember correctly, physio.

 

[grayland]

It was very difficult for my wife, as well. I was able to help her most of the way...but in retrospect, I should have gone to the top and left my pack and came back and got hers. I just did not really realize how hard it was for her.

An interesting part of this is that when we got down to the beach on the other side....it was a full nudist beach, at least that day. It made an unusual sight of fully equipped and clothed Pilgrims trudging up the beach through the sun bathers.
Actually, pretty funny experience.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Re insurance: I had been planning to just use the insurance that comes with my credit card until I found out it is only good for trips of 15 days or less. So read carefully! For north Americans, Costco has cheap travel insurance with broad coverage - including dental work ( which is the only thing I have ever needed while travelling ) and, if I remember correctly, physio.

You can extend the duration of your credit card insurance.

 

[Redvespablur]

We set out from Playa de Berria early on a rainy foggy morning over the big dune last May. The panorama photo with views of Playa de Noja and Berria (and my wife hoofing it up) hangs in our living room. Too big to upload

I did slip and drew blood on the thorns on way down but we both had poles and I don't remember it being too awful.

 

[Trude]

I have a fear of heights, and that section scared the hell out of me.... only little prickly bushes to hang on to.. I was so disappointed to find out when I came down there was an alternate way around that hill. The walk along the beach was one of my favourite parts.

 

[Atlas Traveler]

Last October I had a pretty serious medical problem on the Florence to Rome Camino.

The bill was about $9,500.
(It would have been $50k plus in th U.S.)

I had travel medical insurance and it was all paid in full

What policy did you purchase?

 

[grayland]

What policy did you purchase?

I used Squaremouth.com and purchased the policy from the TinLeg company.
Strange names but very reputable companies who have servered the backpacking community for many years.

Previously we have used TravelGuard and had A few small claims with excellent results.

Lots of good providers... just be sure of what is covered.
Squaremouth does make it easy to sort the policies and companies.