Weather at the Pyrenees

[melloglrm]

Hi folks,

I'm am 25 doing the Camino for the first time, starting next week. I'm doing my best to keep updated about the Camino, and recently I looked at the forecast for the first part of the Frances Route - SJPdP to Roncesvalles, and it is not very exciting. On April 4th, the day I planned (still plan) to start, it gets cooler in the region, even with snowy conditions near Roncesvalles.

I have some Under Armour thermal clothes I used in a snow trip before and they worked well at low and negative temperatures. but I'm concerned about things as visibility, slippery paths etc. Could someone give me a light on this issue? Would you recommend taking the Valcarlos route, or it is doable by the Napoleon in these conditions?

By the way, does someone know some local weather forecasts or the big ones (Accuweather, weather.com) work well?

 

[naplesdon]

It is too early to forecast the weather on 4 April, but it does not look good considering there is still snow remaining at the top which might obscure the trail markers.
Consult with the Pilgrim Office in SJPdP and follow their advice.
There are numerous places where one could be fooled into taking a false trail into oblivion, if they can not see the markers.

 

[Tincatinker]

In snow or other adverse weather take the Valcarlos. The Route Napoleon may or may not be open. The sensible and safe thing to do is check in with the Pilgrims Office at 39 Rue de la Citadelle. They will have the actual weather and will advise accordingly.

Thermals may be handy though personally I get and keep pretty warm when walking. It is having additional warm layers for when at rest that can be tricky but useful. Stuck in a snowdrift on the Ibaneta is not the time to be changing into thermal undies

 

[lt56ny]

If I was sure of the weather in the future I'd be rich and I wouldn't be talking to the likes of me!

 

[pjacobi]

I think that there was at least one bad year where the Route Napoleon was closed due to snow until mid-April. Does anyone have the actual historical dates?

-Paul

 

[naplesdon]

I remember continuous snow storms the entire month of May 2015.

 

[aperfectmess]

Hi folks,

I'm am 25 doing the Camino for the first time, starting next week. I'm doing my best to keep updated about the Camino, and recently I looked at the forecast for the first part of the Frances Route - SJPdP to Roncesvalles, and it is not very exciting. On April 4th, the day I planned (still plan) to start, it gets cooler in the region, even with snowy conditions near Roncesvalles.

I have some Under Armour thermal clothes I used in a snow trip before and they worked well at low and negative temperatures. but I'm concerned about things as visibility, slippery paths etc. Could someone give me a light on this issue? Would you recommend taking the Valcarlos route, or it is doable by the Napoleon in these conditions?

By the way, does someone know some local weather forecasts or the big ones (Accuweather, weather.com) work well?

Hi,

I start the same day from SJPP. Also curious about how the weather will be. However, I might go for the Valcarlos. I will wear t-shirt, a fleece and a puff jacket in colder weather. Hoka runners. No thermo clothing. If I feel cold, I wear my poncho too. This is what works for me in these temperatures. See you around!

Anna

P.S I use the eltiempo.es app

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I remember continuous snow storms the entire month of May 2015.

In mid-May 2015 it was the forecast of possible lightening on the ridge that caused us to walk the valley route.

 

[dgallen]

I'm starting my 10th anniversary camino (6th from SJPdP) on April 1st, starting when I arrive on the noon train and will make my way for a short walk to either Valcarlos or Orrisson that afternoon. And as the case with every early April camino I walk, always curious anout the conditions on the high pass. I always dread that steep upward bit via the pass on the Valcarlos, so the Napoleon or St Michel are the preferred options. Anyone at the Pilgrim office been speaking with locals about Napoleon conditions? I wrote to Orrisson to see if they will be open, and they said call them on March 31st to find out. I will report on conditions when I get there.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I always dread that steep upward bit via the pass on the Valcarlos

Both routes have a 3 km stretch of 15% uphill slope. (The difference in views could play a part in likeability though.) Click the picture below to see comments about the routes.

Elevation profiles of the tracks from St. Jean Pied de Port to Roncevalles

• Rick of Rick and Peg
• Feb 14, 2019
• 10
• sjpp to roncesvalles

If seen in a post click the chart to see a page with comments on the details.

 

[NancyLee]

I did this piece from SJPdP to roncesvalles second week of March 2018. In the morning it was sunny and some in our group were wearing shorts as we left France. We took valcarlos route as Napoleon wasn’t open. (We heard the next day some took that route anyway but are at risk of high fines if caught when closed). Our group separated and I encountered others throughout the day and by the time I was scaling the Pyrenees, it started to rain, then freezing rain, then snow. The trail became treacherous but it was a heavy springlike snow (I am from canada) not real cold. Does that make sense to anyone? That day we needed more rain type gear rather than layers for warmth. That was day one for me. Buen Camino - you will be fine as long as you don’t allow weather to dictate outcome of daily walks.