A lonely path from Somport?

[TJL-E]

Hello all
I am walking from Somport in march and was wondering if anyone else has and found that it is less walked by other pilgrims? There seems to be less refuges....from St Jean there where quite a few people and if from Somport is less well known then perhaps it is more solitary?
Look forward to hearing some of your experiences.
Tom

[Leslie]

I walked most of this route in 2004, my god did not realise it was so long ago.

Anyway, yes it is much quieter. There are enough hostels along the way. That year on the St Jean part I would hardly have been out of site of another pilgrims - whereas from Somport I hardly saw another pilgrims. There was only 4/5 pilgims in the hostels at night.

For me it was great as I had just walked the St Jean to Santiago route and then went back to meet a friend and walk part of this route with them before running out of time and having to head home.

[TJL-E]

That's interesting to hear.

Since 2001 I have had a week here and there over the years to do parts of the camino up to Portomarin from St Jean. It has the most powerful pull on you to come back to it and get away from everything and reassess the priorities of life.

From Somport I imagine it is quite 'hilly' and similar countryside to from St Jean? I will have 6/7 nights so once joining at Puente la Reina and walking on, will probably have to head back to Pamplona for buses to Bilbao.

I notice you have helped a lot of people on this forum - do you find everytime you come back onto the site or start talking about the camino that you feel the itch to walk it again?!

[Leslie]

I wish I was able to walk for a month every year, although I could fit that into my routine my other half is not able to. I find it bad enough when when we are apart for a week never mind four.

I have started cycling recently and would like to plan two weeks on the Via de la Plata - but it won't happen this year.

[dbird10]

I think the Somport route is less travelled and less well marked. I am walking it in April of 2011 and would appreciate hearing of your experiences. I did find the "Rother Walking Guide Camino de Santiago" covers this route.

Dave Bird

[geraldkelly]

Hi Dave

I realise this post was a while ago but I'll reply anyway since you're not planning to walk until next year. I walked over the Col de Somport late last year, I wrote an account of it in the Camino Aragones forum (which Leslie created). Have a look under:

http://www.caminodesantiago.me.uk/fo...-aragones.html

It was great and I highly reccomend it!

Ger

[Oak Hill Walkers]

More info on the route from Somport to Puente la Reina:

Here's the link to the info below (it'll be easier to read):

http://chemindarles.free.fr/carte_EN.php

from the Somport pass to Puente-la-Reina.

At the Somport pass, the forests of the French side of the Pyrenees give place to dry lands on the Spanish side. An easy going down along the r?o Arag?n leads to Jaca, a warm and friendly town that is worth a visit. The camino then follows the r?o Arag?n westwards. Close to the 'embalse de Yesa', villages are partly or entirely foresaken. Mineral landscapes in valleys, created by erosion, alternate with forests on low mountains. After the sierra de Izco, the trail goes down to the superb Sang?esa. During the last two stages you will experience never ending ups and downs until reaching Tiebas. Arriving at the magnificient Sta-Maria-de Eunate is a great emotion, just a few kms before Puente-la-Reina.

stage: from ... to ...

time

kms

total

31

**

Somport pass - Jaca

7:15

31

782

32

*

Jaca - Arres

6:15

25

807

option: one more day to visit the superb monastery of San-Juan-de-la Pe?a.

33

**

Arres - Ruesta

7:15

28

835

34

**

Ruesta - Sang?esa

6:00

22

857

35

***

Sang?esa - Monreal

6:30

25

882

36

***

Monreal - Puente la Reina

7:45

31

913

[TJL-E]

Thank you all for the great and helpful response to my questions.

Leslie - I know what you mean about walking it every year. My other half is taken by the camino as well and even walked a bit when 5/6 months pregnant with our first! Some of the catholic spaniards thought I was forcing her!

I suppose the dilemma is whether to walk from St Jean where you will potentially meet more people (it is nice to have the solitude, but you also meet some fascinating people) or the route from Somport which will be new..

When you say less marked; are there the yellow arrows/shells and the normal refuges for pilgrims...or will I need my poncho to camp out.
Leslie you mentioned 4/5 pligrims per evening - I wonder if that will be less in march/april

This site has given me the opportunity to think and prepare alot more than normal, as usually I just book the flight and join a part of the camino. One day we hope to have a whole month to walk it all non stop. We won't allow ourselves to arrive in Santiago unless we have walked non stop from the beginning.

Thanks again.
Tom

[TJL-E]

Leslie
Apologies for not realising earlier when I said 'I noticed you helped alot of people on this website' as I hadn't realised that it was indeed you who set it up in the first place..!
Tom