Sarria to Santiago by Wheelchair

[Offaly Rover]

Hello... forming a group (10 booked so far with a max of 25).
Have been asked by an older couple if it's possible by wheelchair. They were enquiring re Gradients/obstacles.

He can walk a limited amount, using the chair to stand, when in the chair he can certainly assist with his arms the person pushing (his wife).

I don't know how to respond. Can you actually rent out power batteries for chairs. Are there stiles, streams with stepping stones, inaccessible portions?
I haven't even thought of suitable accomodation- we're using private accomodation.

Tom Cox

 

[Deleted member 3000]

It must be possible: 98 (0,04%) en silla de ruedas (in 2014) received compostelas.

I can think of several sections that looked impossible to me, but with assistance, they might be traversed. In many sections there are parallel roads that would be wheelchair accessible.

 

[scruffy1]

Shalom and Greetings from Jerusalem!

My final years of teaching were spent in a school for physically handicapped children and among my duties were theteaching of safety and operation of wheelchairs both classic and electric. I can think of several stretches which would be difficult-Sarria to Portomarin for example, on the positive side, in that part, most of the Camino is along very small roads and country lanes, when the Camino goes off through a forest, say after Arzua, the road is closeby allowing a rendezvous just past . There are albergues in Arca o Pino which have straight shot access from the street, Monte Gozo would be another obstacle due to all the steps. Maybe try and utilize a Camino guide for bicycles for alternatives. The Camino might be possible for a young person with an athletic style wheelchair, battery operated ones weigh far too much should one need a quick transfer or in navigating a staircase, you would need three people just to pick it up-Portomarin again but if the town is skipped one can slip right around and continue without that staircase and without the round-about road up to the top. It is a daunting enterprise with a high failure possibility-for you as a leader but more so for your pilgrim. Consider well.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Hello... forming a group (10 booked so far with a max of 25).
Have been asked by an older couple if it's possible by wheelchair. They were enquiring re Gradients/obstacles.

He can walk a limited amount, using the chair to stand, when in the chair he can certainly assist with his arms the person pushing (his wife).

I don't know how to respond. Can you actually rent out power batteries for chairs. Are there stiles, streams with stepping stones, inaccessible portions?
I haven't even thought of suitable accomodation- we're using private accomodation.

Tom Cox

Hy , it is no easy task to do this in a wheelchair , you have to think this over very carefully . What ever you decide , I wish you a great and Buen Camino ,Peter.

 

[Anniesantiago]

I saw a man doing it in a wheelchair in 2014. He was a very athletic young man with arms of steel, and his chair looked like a special athletic chair, as Scruffy describes. It can be done, but would take some planning.

 

[peregrina2000]

When I was volunteering at the Pilgrims' Office last May, I gave compostelas to a group of four young Polish women, one in a wheelchair. The other three had been her support all the way from SJPP. They said it was very hard, and that in fact they did have to take the road option frequently, which would put them where most of the bikes go, I assume. They were in fact using a bicycle guidebook.

It was a pretty emotional moment, when they finally completed their promise to this close friend. So, as everyone says, it can be done, but it will take a lot of effort and planning -- with huge rewards at the end. Buen camino, Laurie

 

[Offaly Rover]

Thank you so much for your very considered replies. It's good advice to obtain a "bicycle guide" as effectively that's what you need for a wheelchair. It is possible but the challenges are significant. The dilemma I have is that with a group, everyone will go at their own pace and are on their own journey. Everyone, including the people asking re wheelchair suitability, would not want to have people feeling they should help. I'll consider it with them, maybe over a bicycle guide and study gradients. I'm sure we'll come to a good decision. Maybe he'd like to drive a support vehicle as his wife walked- he might end up carrying us then with dodgy ankles and knees! Thank you for your help... you're a real camino family.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Maybe he'd like to drive a support vehicle as his wife walked- he might end up carrying us then with dodgy ankles and knees!

In their bureaucratic way, municipal albergues will not accept pilgrims with chase vehicles. If you are in private accommodations, that won't bother you in the least. Have a good pilgrimage.

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

Hello... forming a group (10 booked so far with a max of 25).
Have been asked by an older couple if it's possible by wheelchair. They were enquiring re Gradients/obstacles.

He can walk a limited amount, using the chair to stand, when in the chair he can certainly assist with his arms the person pushing (his wife).

I don't know how to respond. Can you actually rent out power batteries for chairs. Are there stiles, streams with stepping stones, inaccessible portions?
I haven't even thought of suitable accomodation- we're using private accomodation.

Tom Cox

it's possible and i've seen several. that said, they will be on the highway several times on every stage (this is always dangerous, walking on the shoulder facing the traffic) as there are sections (many on each stage) that are impossible and/or inaccessible for wheelchairs. good luck.

 

[judydaisy]

Hi Tom
I first did the section you mention in 2002 and was amazed to meet a very young quadraplegic guy doing his camino. He had two friends with him who pushed, pulled and carried his wheelchair the whole way from Leon to Santiago! As far as I could make out all of it was done on the camino proper. He relied on his two friends for everything from toileting help to dressing to feeding etc, etc. If he could do it, I am sure the chap who has asked you could manage as well. They may well need the help of a younger fitter guy to help with the rougher sections but do-able, I'm sure it is.
Wish them buen camino from me.

 

[ivar]

Also have a look here:
http://accesible.xacobeo.es

Click on the stages in the menu, there are hundreds if photos of the most difficult parts. Spanish only, but images might help you get an idea.

 

[Offaly Rover]

In their bureaucratic way, municipal albergues will not accept pilgrims with chase vehicles. If you are in private accommodations, that won't bother you in the least. Have a good pilgrimage.

Thank you... was thinking that might be the case.

 

[Offaly Rover]

Hi Tom
I first did the section you mention in 2002 and was amazed to meet a very young quadraplegic guy doing his camino. He had two friends with him who pushed, pulled and carried his wheelchair the whole way from Leon to Santiago! As far as I could make out all of it was done on the camino proper. He relied on his two friends for everything from toileting help to dressing to feeding etc, etc. If he could do it, I am sure the chap who has asked you could manage as well. They may well need the help of a younger fitter guy to help with the rougher sections but do-able, I'm sure it is.
Wish them buen camino from me.

Thanks judydaisy

 

[Offaly Rover]

Also have a look here:
http://accesible.xacobeo.es

Click on the stages in the menu, there are hundreds if photos of the most difficult parts. Spanish only, but images might help you get an idea.

That's brilliant... gives a real good impression of the route. Of course the wheelchair route and bicycle route is quite different I'm sure. Thanks for the film "6 ways to Santiago"... only arrived in the Post today and a parishioner has it borrowed!

 

[SYates]

... Have been asked by an older couple if it's possible by wheelchair. He can walk a limited amount, using the chair to stand, when in the chair he can certainly assist with his arms the person pushing (his wife). ... Can you actually rent out power batteries for chairs. ...

Those pilgrims I saw on the Camino and that used a wheel chair were typically young and very fit in a 'sports wheel chair' and not older in a heavy, battery powered one. Also to consider is what is the support level for this idea in the rest of your group? Perhaps your idea of making the pilgrim that needs a wheel chair the support vehicle driver is the best solution. Buen Camino! SY

 

[Offaly Rover]

Those pilgrims I saw on the Camino and that used a wheel chair were typically young and very fit in a 'sports wheel chair' and not older in a heavy, battery powered one. Also to consider is what is the support level for this idea in the rest of your group? Perhaps your idea of making the pilgrim that needs a wheel chair the support vehicle driver is the best solution. Buen Camino! SY

Yes... I was forming the same impression of lighter, sports type chairs and the importance of the physical profile of a wheelchair-piligrino and the need to consult a group on the matter. Along with the photographs Mr. Revke sent me it's given me a good sense of the terrain involved. Thank you... TomC

 

[Kanga]

As this thread has come up, I thought it might be useful to see how some did it - two pulling, one pushing. I posted this in another thread but this seems more relevant

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Documentary on a wheelchair camino:
http://www.west-info.eu/700-km-in-a-wheelchair-along-the-camino-de-santiago/