Weather, Winter Camino de Madrid

[Former member 91017]

So…. If the world cooperates, I will land on NY Day in Madrid…. And I was thinking to myself: Self? Why don’t you just walk up to Sahagún and then take your apartment whereever it shall be?

I’d need to ship some things from home to whichever town ends up being where I want to rent for sabbatical time… I’m not sure if I can have my suitcase land at a Correos office for general delivery and just pick it up when I arrive in the town… If anyone knows that would be great.

My more pressing question is “Just HOW WINTERY” is it to get from Madrid to Segovia? I’ve walked Galicia in late November from the Minho to SdC and it was *wet* and not particularly warm — setting off in the morning roughly 4-5C was not unusual.

I’m not wildly afraid of walking in a few inches of snow… but I get dangerous asthma attacks if we fall to under -7C, and I need to be practical about packing for winter walking temperatures.

If my idea is too wild, I suppose the train to Segovia is my best option, and then I wonder: does it become more like my autumn weather in January there?

When people say to me “winter mountain weather” my frame of reference is the Rockies and involves 150 cm base of snow and temperatures that peak at about 3C at the height of the mildest days, but that’s at an elevation of about 3000m, and I think the mountains north of Madrid are only about 1500m.

Does anyone know?

I will remain watchful for information on accommodation possibilities as we head toward winter.

If it looks like things just won’t be open because the traffic is too low in a COV context, then I’ll simply fly to Madrid and take the train to wherever my final destination is going to be.

I was able to buy a 1-way ticket so my fare is very very low… and I will just eat the cost if we go back into lockdowns etc. If I need a booster shot before I go (I’ve had my 2 now), then so be it…

 

[Pelegrin]

In most winter you can do Cercedilla-Segovia walking because temperatures will be -1°C to 10°C and little snow, but there are one or two weeks in winter where -7°C and 1/2 m of snow are possible.
The highest point, Puerto de la Fuenfria, is 1796 m.

 

[Prentiss Riddle]

Does this answer your question?

 

[Former member 91017]

Does this answer your question?

Wow…. Shorts and trail shoes???? Looks like I could need my snowshoes!

 

[Pelegrin]

Wow…. Shorts and trail shoes???? Looks like I could need my snowshoes!

Of course snowshoes, gaiters and a good shape are required to do Cercedilla Segovia with so much snow.

 

[Anniesantiago]

Does this answer your question?

Yep. That's the section I'd be concerned about.

 

[jsalt]

So…. If the world cooperates, I will land on NY Day in Madrid…. And I was thinking to myself: Self? Why don’t you just walk up to Sahagún and then take your apartment whereever it shall be?

Great idea, go for it! Wish I could be there too. End of March was quite wintry for us. Had to get the train as Fuenfria was covered in snow, but a day or two earlier, or a day or two later, and we could have done it. Also hit a flooded river further on which was impassable. But there are always ways around. Have fun!

 

[Former member 91017]

Great idea, go for it! Wish I could be there too. End of March was quite wintry for us. Had to get the train as Fuenfria was covered in snow, but a day or two earlier, or a day or two later, and we could have done it. Also hit a flooded river further on which was impassable. But there are always ways around. Have fun!

Provided the wheels don't come off the bus at home... THANKS!!!

I have a plan to meet my friend (whom I met navigating the train station and my transfer north when we each were headed toValladolid when I was headed to Fromista in 2018). We will have a coffee on Jan 2nd before I get a train to Segovia... I can't bring my snowshoes, so this seems like a safer way to manage. Then, thanks to the series of Spanish language programmes on Roman Engineering that were posted in another thread, I will stay to satisfy my curiosity about Roman ruins in Segovia for a day or 2.... and then start walking.

Pretty sure I can manage as I'm good with winter walking here at home (photo: km 27-ish of 48 in -14C) icy rather than snowy...

 

[Former member 91017]

Of course snowshoes, gaiters and a good shape are required to do Cercedilla Segovia with so much snow.

Yes, but did you see the video? One of these fellows is in shorts! And they are all wearing little trail shoes!!!!

 

[Pelegrin]

Yes, but did you see the video? One of these fellows is in shorts! And they are all wearing little trail shoes!!!!

Some of these people survive and other have to call 112.

 

[Pelegrin]

In case to be rescued they could have problems with the Guardia Civil for not wearing proper shoes.

 

[alexwalker]

,,,Then, thanks to the series of Spanish language programmes on Roman Engineering that were posted in another thread, I will stay to satisfy my curiosity about Roman ruins in Segovia for a day or 2.... and then start walking.

Did you know, that apart from knowing that the Roman builders added volcanic ash into their concrete, scientists still scratch their heads about the Roman concrete secrets, which allowed their buildings to stand for thousands of years, while modern buildings are rotten and have to be taken down after 50-100 years?

And how many so-called "modern" roads of our time, (apart from the old Roman ones that we walk upon on different Caminos), are still in perfect shape?

pantheon building rome - Google Search

 

[Pelegrin]

The Roman aqueduct of Segovia was built stone over stone without any kind of concrete.

 

[Former member 91017]

Did you know, that apart from knowing that the Roman builders added volcanic ash into their concrete, scientists still scratch their heads about the Roman concrete secrets, which allowed their buildings to stand for thousands of years, while modern buildings are rotten and have to be taken down after 50-100 years?

And how many so-called "modern" roads of our time, (apart from the old Roman ones that we walk upon on different Caminos), are still in perfect shape?

Yep. I knew that. It's such a neat problem...

 

[Former member 91017]

The Roman aqueduct of Segovia was built stone over stone without any kind of concrete.

Which is just so mind-boggling. So is "hot water into the households" at the height of the empire...

 

[alexwalker]

Which is just so mind-boggling. So is "hot water into the households" at the height of the empire...

In the palace of Knossos on the Greek island of Crete (and many other places in Greece/Roman Italy)), they had water-flushing toilets, hot swimming pools & more, 3.700 years ago. In middle age Europe (before America was "discovered") they threw everyting (excrements etc.) out into the streets...

But I realize I am hijacking the thread. Will say no more.

Knossos - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org