jeffrey r aitken
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Hopefully leave the states 2nd week of April 2014, Right now i am lost in my existence of living my life and need a cleansing before making my move to Cambodia
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Scott, thousands and thousands and thousands of pilgrims walk the Camino every year. How many have been robbed? A handful.Pepper spray is what you want. I think. I have read on here about people getting robbed on the camino. Which is not right but does happen. however you should be able to protect yourself from harm though. Just my two cents.
Pepper spray is what you want. I think. I have read on here about people getting robbed on the camino. Which is not right but does happen. however you should be able to protect yourself from harm though. Just my two cents.
Fear does not even exist on the Camino but is it not wise to have a little protection.Guys I have not yet walked my first Camino will do so this Sept. I am with Kanga about the fear factor. I have been reading about the Camino on this forum for a year more or less and have not read about anyone being assaulted. I think the mace or pepper spray could come in handy for the stray dogs. There could be a problem with them. Part of the Camino is trusting in God to provide. He will if you allow him to do so.
Buen Camino
Guys I have not yet walked my first Camino will do so this Sept. I am with Kanga about the fear factor. I have been reading about the Camino on this forum for a year more or less and have not read about anyone being assaulted. I think the mace or pepper spray could come in handy for the stray dogs. There could be a problem with them. Part of the Camino is trusting in God to provide. He will if you allow him to do so.
Buen Camino
Hey Koilife!Also, a fleece-lined windbreaker AND a separate fleece is overkill. Get yourself a lightweight (4oz or less) windbreaker with DWR (I'm a fan of Houdini, but lots of other good options out there). I hiked last summer with multiple days in rain where the temp didn't get over about 40 degrees Farenheit. All I wore was my Houdini, a Columbia backpacking shirt, a merino tee shirt, zip-off backpacking pants, and a merino stocking cap (I wish I had brought my merino glove liners, though!), and I was fine. I used a GoLite umbrella rather than actual rain gear because I would have sweat those out, and I didn't need any fleece (though it would have been nice to have during stops when my exertion levels dropped).
As to your Frog Toggs, I'm not convinced you need the pants. Your backpacking pants are probably fine. I just used standard Columbia backpacking pants and was fine, even in the cold (<40F) weather. I brought merino leggings for warmth, but didn't need them except one night where is was colder than my thin quilt (I used my lightest hammock quilt in place of a sleeping bag or liner) was rated.
If camping, then maybe the extra stuff you're carrying is justified (partly, it's good to go with what you know and what you know how to use), and maybe that New Mexico blood is a bit thin compared to us Coloradans . . .
Scott, thousands and thousands and thousands of pilgrims walk the Camino every year. How many have been robbed? A handful.
I'm an elderly woman who often walks alone. On the Camino in Spain and France I do not feel the slightest need to "protect" myself.
It is fear that drives nations into arms races. It is fear that drives some nations into off-the-planet gun homicide rates.
The greatest fear is fear itself.
Exact same time of year as you (Memorial Day to 1st of July), 2013. PM me and maybe we can catch a coffee some time, and compare notes. I'm curious if you're a member of the local chapter of the American Pilgrims.Hey Koilife!
When did you do your Camino? Your clothes list looks similar to mine. I am going end of May to first of July this year.
Thanks from a fellow Coloradian!
Rosemary
Also, I bought a digital scale at my local Target that weighs in grams or ounces. I've taken to weighing EVERYTHING that I am even considering putting in the rucksack or in a pocket. Weight is the enemy. I maintain an Excel spreadsheet. Each time I consider or reconsider an item, it gets weighed...period.
I hope this helps.
Man! I am glad to know that I'm not the only on that has been weighing everything! my traveling companion thinks I'm nuts. Let's see who laughing when my ack is lighter than her
I met a funny guy on the Frances in October. He knew the weight of everything in his pack including stuff he bought along the way. I asked how and he said he had a scale. I asked him how much it weighed and he didn't know. I said he should buy another scale so they could weigh each other. It took a second for him to realize I was joking.Kanga:
You are NOT elderly. You are mature. Get with the program woman!
BTW - I use my hiking poles to fend off anyone or anything undesirable...or at least that is the plan. I did not meet anyone undesirable on my Camino last year. Even the dogs were too lazy to trouble with me.
Now, dodging "cow pies" that is another hazard entirely...
Jeffrey:
Take half the gear and twice the money. You can pick up what you truly need along the way. Last year I started from St. Jean humping about 30 pounds. At Pamplona, I shipped 5 pounds down to Santiago. At Burgos, another 4 pounds went that-a-way. By the the time I unpacked at my hotel at Santiago 35-days later, I identified another 2 - 3 pounds I did not use.
This year, I replaced as much as possible with the lightest item available that would do the job. I removed from the list anything that was a single-use-only item. Everything has to be usable for two or more functions that are likely to occur. I adopted the 3-day clothing rule. Wear one, dry one, and have a dry set. You need to do hand wash every day. But the weight benefit is worth it. That alone saved 1.5 pounds. I lost a polo shirt, boxers, and two pair of socks.
My goal is to come in at no more than the 10 kg mythical limit, not including water.
Also, I bought a digital scale at my local Target that weighs in grams or ounces. I've taken to weighing EVERYTHING that I am even considering putting in the rucksack or in a pocket. Weight is the enemy. I maintain an Excel spreadsheet. Each time I consider or reconsider an item, it gets weighed...period.
I hope this helps.
Hi Jeff,Jeffrey, you're a pretty big guy, and a 28 lb pack may not seem too heavy to you, but be warned: your feet take quite a pounding in the day after day after day walking the Camino involves and every ounce adds to that. Any weight reductions you can accomplish will reduce the chance of getting blisters and your feet will appreciate it.
I reduced my pack to about 18 lbs (without water) and then lost the weight of my pack off my body weight before I did the Camino last year, and it really helped.
Karl
After walking a few thousand miles over the years i am going to take this opportunity to dispense with the tent and cooking stuff. I am aiming for 10lbs in 40 Lt bag - will take a flask for hot water, fork and plate, one change of clothes, a cape for the rain, one fleece, sheet sleeping bag, pillow case, water purification tablets, sun Block, hat, small first aid kit, phone and small pad computer, charger, adaptor, water flask 1 lt, guide book and wallet. That will be absalute bliss compared with the 30 kg load that I started off with in Perth walking the Bibbulmun track:-D
So there are plenty of places to sleep? I am just worried about not making it to the next alberque is all. I haven't done it yet and I do hear about people bringing a tent and some people dont.
After walking a few thousand miles over the years i am going to take this opportunity to dispense with the tent and cooking stuff. I am aiming for 10lbs in 40 Lt bag - will take a flask for hot water, fork and plate, one change of clothes, a cape for the rain, one fleece, sheet sleeping bag, pillow case, water purification tablets, sun Block, hat, small first aid kit, phone and small pad computer, charger, adaptor, water flask 1 lt, guide book and wallet. That will be absalute bliss compared with the 30 kg load that I started off with in Perth walking the Bibbulmun track:-D
Ok folks getting ready for the long walk. Just kinda like to get any feedback anyone is willing to give on where im at , like leaving or adding items. I will be doing a bit of camping some thing like 50% of the time and doing some exploring also. Im 6' 216lbs male and my total pack with food and water will average about 25 to 28 lbs deping alot on weather as im sure i will donate clothing along THE WAY.
rain gearfrogg toggs320 CLOTHES
hammockthe travel hammock 362 2pants
pillowkelty 260 2shorts
towelsea to summit 248 6p socks
water pufifiersteri-pen 125 5undies
sleep bagmarmot nanowave45 905 oxford fleeced lined wind breaker
solar chargergoal zero nomad7 618 flipflops
tarpoutdoor products asolo boots
stovebluet solid fuel 500 vasque trail
cooking GSI-all spices utensils -500 columbia fleece
lightsUCO bat&candle 600 7lbs, 3175g
miscBinos,knife,mace sharpner 600
killer 1staideverything and more 250
toiletries everything and more 525
polesblack diamond 555
backpackREI flash65 1360
sleep padThermarest 1040
Thank you. Cleared a lot for me.Three points bear here:
All of this together means that we just go with the flow. A bed always materializes. The reported instances of people being compelled to sleep "rough" as our UK friends refer to sleeping under the stars are, for the most part anecdotal. There is a small percentage of pilgrims who prefer to sleep under the stars on occasion. This is their Camino and it is not my place to make a judgement. Just know there is a significant weight penalty involved.
- You must have faith.
- The Camino provides...
- St. James works in strange ways...sometimes REALLY strange ways...
Another viable alternative to albergues, both public and private, are private pensions or hostals. The former are like B&Bs - you are in someone's home. The latter is a small, clean and serviceable private hotel with a private bath.
Personally, I favor hostals as: (a) I am told I snore; and (b) at age 60, having a private room has a quality all its own . These private rooms can run from Euro 25 to 50 and up per night, including a very light breakfast.
That said, I will sometimes offer to share a double with a fellow pilgrim to mitigate costs. Also, if I find myself with sole use of a real bathtub (it is embarrassing when other folks are praying there is hot water left in the shared showers at an albergue), I generally offer the ladies free use - with me somewhere else at the time. After a week or more of shared showers, some folks enjoy a good soak. I understand this. It is all part of my sharing and giving back.
There are a few albergues I try to stay at for the sheer pleasure and camaraderie available. In particular, I stay at the albergues at Orisson and Roncesvalles the first two nights out to form my Camino Family for the month. After that, the "peloton" of walkers tends to spread out anyway as everyone has their own pace. From the first few days, the pattern of seeing the folks you started with is like leap frog all the way to Santiago.
I hope this helps.
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