Repeat Offenders - Thoughts on a Poll

[Robo]

As the more popular routes, become even more popular, I'm curious to understand the impact that we 'repeat offenders' are having. We are surely part, potentially a large part, of the congestion problem on some routes and times of year?

Have we run any polls on this, to see what proportion of Pilgrims walk more than one Camino?
Of course this community is not really representative.

If we ran a poll, would it tell us much?
And then we have the problem of determining what a Camino is, to count.
Probably any Camino greater than 100 kms hat ends in Santiago?

Then that got me thinking about 'days' on Camino. Which is perhaps a better indication of how much time, or bed nights, we spend on the path. Perhaps more relevant that distance?

Polls as we know can attract some heavy 'feedback' as they are really quite hard to structure in any meaningful way, and to ensure that they cater for all potential responses.

I suppose the question in my mind, is quite simply, "Of the Pilgrims arriving in Santiago, how many have walked more than 1 Camino".

But then of course those not ending in Santiago are also taking up 'bed/nights' along the way

Maybe there are some stats out there somewhere?


PS. If I think back to those I met when last on Camino, only 1 on the VdlP was a Newbie. None on the Invierno. Lots on the Fisterra/Muxia, and maybe 70% + on the Frances?

 

[J Willhaus]

Hi @Robo
I was thinking hard and I have not stayed anywhere that was full on any Camino since 2022 and I am not sure I can recall anywhere that was full even before that (maybe in 2016 at Beilari or Orrison in late May?). At the albergues where we volunteer we have been full two or three nights out of a 2 week period max with the most full being San Miguel in Estella in 2019.

I don't think that ALL places are full frequently or that my once a year trip is contributing to overcrowding. Of course, I don't routinely make reservations, I don't mind an upper bunk, and I don't mind an open bay style albergue. Those kinds of places are frequently half empty.

The crunch seems to come more from the type of accomodation and when people walk. For 2 years now, Phil and I are walking off season, but even in the summer of 2023, we never stayed in a full albergue on the CF.

I freely admit that for my upcoming pilgrimage stretch on the Via Francigina that I actually have some kind of reservation for every night's stage. Phil called that to my attention this week, and we aren't beginning our walk for at least 4 more weeks! Really not me at all! I think I am more nervous because I have not walked in Italy. Maybe another trip will be different.

All this to say, I agree it isn't easy to quantify who is walking more and who is walking less and how really crowded it is. Don't know if that helps you clarify your question or not.