Seeking Unpaved Vertical Change

[Jeri]

Which Camino or combination of caminos has the most trail or vertical change. Not necessarily altitude.

 

[Beeman]

Which Camino or combination of caminos has the most trail or vertical change. Not necessarily altitude.

If you would add that Argonne to your list this year,you would be the best person to answer your own question. I will be waiting for your opinion.

 

[Jeri]

If you would add that Argonne to your list this year,you would be the best person to answer your own question. I will be waiting for your opinion.

I very much wanted to hike the GR11 this summer but am unable to get away this summer for that long. That said, I am hoping my plan for this year will give me what I am looking for. I understand it is a lot of pavement though. I am 62 and unsure of my ability to do longer than about 20K. Which caminos have you walked and which do you think offer the most non paced surfaces?
Thanks for the feedback!
Jeri

 

[Beeman]

I very much wanted to hike the GR11 this summer but am unable to get away this summer for that long. That said, I am hoping my plan for this year will give me what I am looking for. I understand it is a lot of pavement though. I am 62 and unsure of my ability to do longer than about 20K. Which caminos have you walked and which do you think offer the most non paced surfaces?
Thanks for the feedback!
Jeri

Jeri, I have only walked the primitivo,and noticed it had a fair amount of ups and downs. I am going to do the argonne and salvador this fall,so will get plenty of ups and downs. I would suggest that you read about the salvador,which should satisfy you yen for ups and downs. Consider doing the salvador from leon,then do the primitivo,and if you have time,walk on to muxia and finesterra. That should be enough for anyone. If not do the Gr10,as a friend of mine did. 550000meters of rise and fall. Buen Camino,whatever you choose!

 

[NorthernLight]

The Le Puy, from Le Puy-en-Velay to Conques. Known otherwise as GR65.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

try the Labaniego onto the Vadiniense. Serious mountain mileage. Or for the truly stout-hearted, the Olvidado!

 

[Jeri]

Jeri, I have only walked the primitivo,and noticed it had a fair amount of ups and downs. I am going to do the argonne and salvador this fall,so will get plenty of ups and downs. I would suggest that you read about the salvador,which should satisfy you yen for ups and downs. Consider doing the salvador from leon,then do the primitivo,and if you have time,walk on to muxia and finesterra. That should be enough for anyone. If not do the Gr10,as a friend of mine did. 550000meters of rise and fall. Buen Camino,whatever you choose!

My general plan is Olvidado to

Jeri, I have only walked the primitivo,and noticed it had a fair amount of ups and downs. I am going to do the argonne and salvador this fall,so will get plenty of ups and downs. I would suggest that you read about the salvador,which should satisfy you yen for ups and downs. Consider doing the salvador from leon,then do the primitivo,and if you have time,walk on to muxia and finesterra. That should be enough for anyone. If not do the Gr10,as a friend of mine did. 550000meters of rise and fall. Buen Camino,whatever you choose!

My current plan is Olvidado to Salvador to Primativo but the stages are long with little time to prepare. Looking forward to whatever it may bring!

 

[Beeman]

My general plan is Olvidado to

My current plan is Olvidado to Salvador to Primativo but the stages are long with little time to prepare. Looking forward to whatever it may bring!

Jeri, i am74 and found the primitivo very do-able. I feel that I will handle the argonne and salvador as well. If you are reasonable fit and can do some uphill training, You should have no problem. Often times our biggest obstacle is ourselves! If 5 days on the salvador seems too hard,take 6 days.Likewise on the primitivo.i suspect that you will be just fine!

 

[Beeman]

Jeri. I confess that I did not know what the olvidado was,so had to look it up. It seems to be a great alternate to the Frances,and it passes through la robla,which is the first stop on the Salvador,if which I am sure is no surprize to you. It would seem that you are trying to avoid the Frances(my first choice also). So,I would suggest that you leave the Primitivo in Lugo( having done the best part of this camino already),and take the Camino Verde west and connect with the Norte. I walked a short 12 km to Boimorto and then headed to lavacola and Santiago,completely avoiding the Frances. It is well marked and takes you into Santiago by a whole different route. I suspect the Verde will become more and more popular,and maybe someday few will go to Melide. If you have any questions,feel free to ask!

 

[Elle Bieling]

I have never done the Olvidado, but I have done the San Salvador and the Primitivo. The San Salvador is by far the bigger challenge. I just wrote about the San Salvador, and if you click on the link, you will see the elevation profile, etc.

 

[mminalaska]

Which Camino or combination of caminos has the most trail or vertical change. Not necessarily altitude.

The Primitivo is quite hilly and mostly on dirt.

 

[David Tallan]

I haven't done it personally yet, but from what I've heard the San Salvador probably is your best bet in Iberia.