Valcarlos or Napopleon Route?

[larrybarrett2]

Posters,especially you veterans...
Am 67,in fairly good shape.......have read a lot about the Napoleon Route and have concluded that it was meant to weed out the the fit from the hopeful... "The Way' has Emilio dying going the Napoleon route, and I understand a rather significant pertcentage turn back ......I used to golf a lot,and understand 'risk-reward' scenarios......so, the pay-off seems to be an uplifting,beautiful scenic walk,complicated by the problem of no intermediate albergues between SJPP and Roncesvalles......it's a tough way to find out whether I, too, was more hopeful than fit..
The Valcarlos route has albergues along the way,and while more subdued in its beauty,is more user friendly.....Have I got this right?.......or am I just stressing too much...
Larry

[BlackDog]

There is a refuge at Orisson that you can stay at, about 8Km out of SJPdP. That helps to break up the climb over the Pyrenees. I'm 67 doing it in September and that's what I've chosen.

[grayland]

The Napoleon route is very doable by most people. I do not think that a "rather significant pertcentage turn back". Most stop at Orisson or Huntos and then onto Roncesvalles. Many just go to Roncesvalles in one day.
It isn't that it is so very hard...it is that it is hard and the first day when you really have not walked your way into a better stage of fitness.
By week two or three you will be ready to make the trip over the mountain, but it will be behind you.
Don't worry about it...just do it.
I am older than you by a number of years.

[Precious1]

The Napoleon route is very doable by most people. I do not think that a "rather significant pertcentage turn back". Most stop at Orisson or Huntos and then onto Roncesvalles. Many just go to Roncesvalles in one day.

Don't worry about it...just do it.
I am older than you by a number of years.

Thanks for the heads up, Grayland!! :]

[BHinSanDiego]

As others have said you can break up the leg by staying in Orrisson, you mentioned "The Way" there is about a 5 second scene in the movie where Martin Sheen is sitting outside of it eating, though it is out of sequence of the actual walk. Here is a link to the alburgue, it is a bit more expensive than most alburgues but it also includes breakfast, the place also books up fast, they also have tents they put people in.
One of the interesting things I saw there was the young woman that worked there would come out and advise Pilgrims to consider staying there if they were passing by in the late afternoon, not to drum up business, they had plenty, but to keep them safe and not attempt to continue on since it would be getting dark soon. They have a great communal dinner the night before, this place hold a special place in all my memories because it was not only the first place I stayed on the Camino but because the people I met there, we were all finishing our first day of walking together, of all the approximately 40 people I saw about 6 along the Camino and finished within a day of 2 of them, it was a special bond.

Auberge etape sur le chemin de compostelle : Refuge d'Orisson

[nollaigc]

larrybarrett2,
We used Orrison as a staging post to go over the Pyrennes in October and boy were we glad we did. It was very very hot.
We had only ever been April camino walkers and never been exposed to this great weather.
I believe Grayland's point is well made ie the SJDP to Roncesvalles is a lot to take on for a first day, if it an be avoided.
It appeared to us, that for a lot of people that we met who had tackled this stage, their tanks appeared to be running on empty in the following days.
Of course we also met the 35km+ a day people and envied their vigour..... well just a little bit!
To my mind there are only two important days- the day you leave and the day you have to go home- on a camino. Let your body dictate how far or fast you go..
I'd also echo BHinSanDiego's point in re the communal meal at Orisson, it is a great meeting/melting pot and to my mind is the very essence of the Camino.
Today I met a a man from the town I work in, he is 75- I met him for the first time in Orisson, in October. He is heading back this year with his daughter so I really wouldn't let age be a concern, save there are underlying medical issues.
Go for it at whatever pace you like, and who says you have to start in Sjdp.
Enjoy
Nollaigc