hiking in February

[Skyfish]

hey there, I am wondering if there are many pilgrims hiking the Camino this February, and whether it is safe for a girl to go alone during this month-has there been crime reported recently along the trail?
Thanks alot...

[Covey]

The answer is in two parts:

A female walking alone on the Camino is in less danger than walking to the shops at home. Approx 50% of those walking the Camino are solo females, some of who want to walk alone, and some who join a loose group who may walk individually, but socialise and eat together in the evenings.

Over the past 5 years of walking the Camino Frances I have never heard of a female pilgrim being the subject of any form of crime. The only injuries they get are blisters, just like the rest of us.

Walking in February brings dangers of its own from the weather. The weather can be extreme over the Pyrenees and snow has a habit of covering up the yellow arrows by which we navigate along the trail. The clothing you take has to cover everything from snow and below freezing, to rain and possibly spring warm weather in Galecia.

I would suggest that unless you are an experienced cold weather hiker who is used to living in snow and ice conditions and are suitably equipped for such conditions, it would be better to go in April/May when the weather is a little kinder. Remember, this is not just a couple of days walk. This is 30 days, walking 25kms a day, every day, snow, rain or shine!!

Take care

[timecheck00]

Johnny Walker's YouTube of his winter pilgrimage may push you one way or another. If you are accustomed to snow, slush, mud and rain, interspersed with periods of great beauty, this may be the trip for you. I would not start from St. Jean in Feb unless I had a backup plan for transport to Roncesvalles if the weather is at all questionable. I have not done this trip in winter, but have lived in similar climates. Keep in mind that the indigenous peoples of the Arctic view Hell as a place of cold.

[Covey]

I put the Youtube clip on this site to show that the Camino in it's various forms is not always a gentle jaunt in the sun across Northern Spain.

From May to October you worry about getting too hot or too wet, but the clothing requirements are fairly simple.

In winter, you have to expect real winter and not the milder version some of us normally experience. Clothing to cope with deep snow is vastly different than the clothes we carry for the spring - autumn seasons. The clothing you need for Jan - April is much heavier than summer kit, so the weight you are carrying on your back is higher. In summer I only use a silk sleeping bag liner, but for winter you need a proper winter weight bag, which is additional weight. Drying clothes in winter is also a problem because most official albergues only have the most basic heating and drying facilities.

A few years ago a couple of Brits froze to death in blizzard conditions on the way over the top to Roncesvalles. The St Jean Pilgrim Office had warned that the top road was impassible, but they ignored the advice and decided to try the top road. They paid for their stupidity with their lives.

The Camino is great fun for most, but it is a very serious physical undertaking where you are pushing yourself hard every day for 30+ days.

[Frankie G]

I would like to thank all the experienced Pilgrims for the info you are providing...so I would like to add my question to Fishes, my question, therefore is would it be better to start the Camino in Mid March From Roncesvalles? The reason I ask is...This is my first time on the Camino and Live in Florida...time is right for me to go in March but I understand that this is a holy year and I will be walking the back end of the Camino during Easter. Can anyone tell me if I should be concerned about not finding a place to sleep specially if it is arctic Weather?
thanks in advance and sorry to add to this thread!
Frankie

[Covey]

Don't worry about asking questions!! It's what we are here for.

My basic advice it to leave it as late in the Spring as you can. Unless you are an experienced cold weather walker, and have all the clothing for such conditions, equipping yourself for the different climatic conditions you will meet will be expensive and heavy to carry.

In summer you could walk the Camino Frances with 2 shirts and 2 pairs of shorts and an optional lightweight rain jacket, but in February/March you have to dress for serious cold and snow as well as warmer but much wetter weather over in Galecia.

Being on the Camino at Easter will only be a problem if you are near Santiago. The Sarria to Santiago stage will probably be very busy in Easter week, so aim to avoid.