Reasons for hiking El Camino?

[per_mand]

I?m a master student at the University of Copenhagen (Denmark). For a project, I?m doing a sociological analysis of the hikers on El Camino to Santiago de Compostella in Northern Spain ? who are they, and their reasons for hiking El Camino.

Please answer as detailed as possible, and return the questionnaire to my Email [per_mand@yahoo.dk], or as a personal message at this site. Thank you very much for your help. I will tread your answer anonymously.

1. Gender:

2. Year of birth:

3. Nationality:

4. Education:

5. Job:

6. Where did you hear of El Camino?

7. When did you hike El Camino?

8. When did you decide to hike El Camino (a week before, a month before..)?

9. How many times have you been hiking El Camino?:

10. How many days have you spend on El Camino?:

11. What was your average amount of money spend daily?:

12. What was the average age of hikers on El Camino?

13. Why did you hike El Camino?

14. What did you gain from the hike?

15. What was the greatest experience?:

15.b What was the worst experience?:

16. What are you especially going to remember from El Camino?:

17. Are you religious?:

18. In your opinion, were you a tourist, a religious tourist or a pilgrim on El Camino?:

19. What was the course of a typical day on El Camino?:

20. Did you mostly hike alone, or with other hikers?:

21. How many hours did you spend by your self in the course of a typical day?:

22. In your opinion, how important was the community with other hikers to you?:

23. What was most important, your personal experience or the community with other hikers?

24. Are you going to hike El Camino again?:

25. Why are you going to do it again?:


If you know other people who have hiked El Camino, please send my questionnaire to them, thanks.

I appreciate your help,

Per Svendsen, April 2008
[per_mand@yahoo.dk]

[Leslie]

Hi,

I hope you get some responses. It would be great if you would let us see the final results.

Thanks Leslie

[jamesg]

Hi. I hope this is of help. I thought I would post it here to let others read it as well.

1 . Gender: Male

2. Year of birth: 1972

3. Nationality: Australian

4. Education: Postgraduate Diploma

5. Job: Registered Nurse (Paediatric)

6. Where did you hear of El Camino? Originally on a travel documentary on TV around 15 years ago. What again prompted me was another TV travel show - Pilot Guide - Northern Spain., that I saw in 2001. After a little investigating, a friend loaned me the book by Paulo Coelo - The Pilgrimage and my enthusiasm levels increased until I finally first walked the Camino in May 2003.
7. When did you hike El Camino?

8. When did you decide to hike El Camino (a week before, a month before..)? Firmly committed about 3-4 months prior to going.

9. How many times have you been hiking El Camino?: Once from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago ( May 2003) and I started in Lourdes in August 2006 and reached Belorado (before Burgos) before I decided to finish that Camino.

10. How many days have you spend on El Camino?: The first trip was 32 days ( 1 day rest in Leon)

11. What was your average amount of money spend daily?: 20-30 euro - including accom, food etc.

12. What was the average age of hikers on El Camino? I met people aged 18-92. Probably more in their early 60s, generally retirees, fewer people my age (early 30s), although more in their 20s.

13. Why did you hike El Camino? I started out as a tourist - the pictures of the countryside I had seen were beautiful, and I am interested in the historical aspect, of Medieval times, Knights castles etc. Religion was not a huge inspiration for me initially. As soon as I started to meet fellow pilgrims at SJPdP, being just a tourist quickly started to change. Within a couple of days I felt a spiritual need to continue on the Camino.
My Second time on the Camino was for a very different reason. Once I returned from my first Camino, a life changing experience, I had a urge, or a need, much more than a vague desire, to return to the Camino again. Something inside me needed to return to my spiritual growth which started the first time round. Even more compelling was something I did not recognize until I had almost reached Santo Domingo de la Calzada, and I still can't explain. On my first Camino, I remember stopping on a hillside overlooking Santo Domingo for lunch. Looking back this was the first time I felt that I was part of the Camino, I was being walked by the Camino as some have put it. It wasn't until the day before I was again due to reach this spot overlooking the town did I realise I had an unconscious desire to reach this exact spot again. Something was pulling me back to this hillside, a tug I had been feeling since I first walked away from it 3 years previously, and had literally been around the earth before going back there. What this urge was, I still don't know but as soon as I arrived there I felt a huge sense of relief of making it back there, and release of this feeling inside me, urging me back there. So much so that I sat down and cried. The very next day I decided that it was time to end this Camino. I am now contemplating another Camino, possibly starting In Arles or Narbonne. I want to go back to Santo Domingo to try and figure out what this experience had been.

14. What did you gain from the hike? Blisters, 11 kg weight loss and a beard. There are so many positive and negative experiences gained it is difficult to acknowledge them all. My own sense of spirituality was greatly increased at this time. The Camino allowed me to explore my own self, my feelings, desires, anxieties, strengths, weaknesses and totally expanded my outlook on the world, and man's place in it. Mostly, I feel that I spent time with God, we communicated through my walking, prayer, pain, elation. I have a closer relationship with the being I call God, and possibly a greater understanding of religion and how man plays his part in it.

[jamesg]

15. What was the greatest experience?: I have 4 of these. 1 - the friends I made whilst walking and the talks that we had. 2 - the morning we were walking through he dawn, I think when leaving Fromista, and I was communing with God. He was with me around I cloud that I can still picture today. 3 - In the hills before Ponferrada I came across a glade just off the track. It was early morning, green grass was dotted with a myriad of colourful wildflowers and filtered sunshine, and the focus at the glade was a perfect birch tree (I think), standing there in all her glory. A perfect moment in time spoilt after a few minutes later by some fellow pilgrims up for an early start. 4 - Reaching Santiao de Compostela. I still get shivers everytime I think about the joy, relief and excitement of reaching that holy place.

15.b What was the worst experience?: Two things - some very unfriendly hospitaleros (germans) in a couple of refugios, and walking along hard concrete pavements in the larger towns and cities. Very painful on the joints and feet.

16. What are you especially going to remember from El Camino?: I feeling of calm and peace I experienced at times

17. Are you religious?: Yes, but not overly. I was brought up as a Presbyterian, spent a bit of time in Anglican Churches. I believe in God but am questioning aspects of organised religion. To label myself, I would say I was more spiritual that religious

18. In your opinion, were you a tourist, a religious tourist or a pilgrim on El Camino?: Started out more as a tourist, quickly converting to a pilgrim on my travels.

19. What was the course of a typical day on El Camino?: Wake before dawn, usually joining my friends. Up to 10 of us would walk together, all strangers till we met on the Camino, now life long friends. We would walk though the dawn, generally in silence. It was personal time, time to gather your strength for the day ahead, both physically and emotionally. You would never know what personal challenges the Camino would throw at you that day. We would usually stop at the first bar that was open and have breakfast, for me usually 2 cafe con leches and a croissant or pastry. Thus fully loaded with caffeine, we would walk till mid morning ( 9 or 10 am) and stop ffor a snack, either from the backpack or a cafe. Quite often we would arrive at our destination by early afternoon. Once there we would wash ourselves, our clothes, have something to eat, then siesta for a couple of hours. Then it was up to either look to buy food, or explore the town. There were often evening masses that I attended, in some exquisit churches, chapels and cathedrals. Early to bed after dinner, ready to do it all again tomorrow.

20. Did you mostly hike alone, or with other hikers?: As above, usually with others, but plenty of time alone, even surrounded by friends. There were times when I wanted or needed to be alone and would go off, and meet up with others either later that day or sometime over the next few days. It was a very fluid group, sometimes all together, sometimes all alone. There was always someone to talk to, even for 5 minutes, or 5 hours. There were always people to meet. I started on my own, but met people within walking 20 meters of getting of the train at SJPdP

21. How many hours did you spend by your self in the course of a typical day?: At least 1, I needed some time alone.

22. In your opinion, how important was the community with other hikers to you?: Extremely important. Friends that I made allowed me to explore my own thoughts and words. Talking to other pilgrims on the way gained you information, allowed you to swap stories, learn from others. It was exciting meeting people from all over the world, spreading ideas and sharing thoughts.

23. What was most important, your personal experience or the community with other hikers? My personal experience, but part of that was the community with others

24. Are you going to hike El Camino again?: Hopefully

25. Why are you going to do it again?: To spent more time with myself. To continue to grow personally and spiritually.

[per_mand]

Hi,

I hope you get some responses. It would be great if you would let us see the final results.

Thanks Leslie

--

Hi Leslie

I will write it in Danish - but I might make an english summary, or even the results of my analysis in English, if so, I will post it here..
I have received about 5 answers, but was hoping for 10-15, if you know anybody who might be interested in helping me, could you please forward my questions to them,
Thanks,
Per

[Douglas]

Another open answer:

1. Gender: Male

2. Year of birth: 1949

3. Nationality: Scottish

4. Education: Graduate

5. Job: IT

6. Where did you hear of El Camino? Friend

7. When did you hike El Camino? 2007

8. When did you decide to hike El Camino (a week before, a month before..)? 5 years before.

9. How many times have you been hiking El Camino?: Once

10. How many days have you spend on El Camino?: 5 months (walked from Scotland)

11. What was your average amount of money spend daily?: About ?2000/mth in UK (that dreadful summer, camping impossible), ?1000/mth in France, very little in Spain. I like my creature comforts.

12. What was the average age of hikers on El Camino? All ages.

13. Why did you hike El Camino? Always keen walker, and this is a major Europen trail. But also nostalgic memories of old girlfriend.

14. What did you gain from the hike? A necessary relaxation and escape. I'd been very pressurised at work and seriously ill.

15. What was the greatest experience?: Crossing the border from France to Spain. I'd said I'd walk from home to Spain, and I'd done it.

15.b What was the worst experience?: Being adopted by a lady who wanted a guide over the hill to Roncesvalles. It took a week to get rid of her.

16. What are you especially going to remember from El Camino?: Everything.

17. Are you religious?: No.

18. In your opinion, were you a tourist, a religious tourist or a pilgrim on El Camino?: A pilgrim.

19. What was the course of a typical day on El Camino?: Walk avg 25k per day. Rise early (no choice -as one hospitalera put it when I arrived: ma?ana, ocho, camino). As?, a las ocho, stroll sleepily to nearest bar. Coffee and a croissant, collect bottled water for the day. Walk, walk, walk. Stop for nice cold beer when 5/6 km to go. Check into hostel, shop and cook if possible (I'm a fussy eater), pilgrim meal if no choice (but some were good), bed.

20. Did you mostly hike alone, or with other hikers?: Always alone, but socialised in the evening. This seemed to be the general preference - people wanted to be alone with their thoughts when walking.

21. How many hours did you spend by yourself in the course of a typical day?: All except evenings.

22. In your opinion, how important was the community with other hikers to you?: Other people were a nuisance at first (I'd been entirely alone through England and France) but in Spain I slowly came to feel part of the community.

23. What was most important, your personal experience or the community with other hikers? Both, but in Spain (as opposed to France and England) what distinguishes the camino from other trails is the sense of community. Also true to an extent in the south of France, where there is a growing support network for pilgrims.

24. Are you going to hike El Camino again?: Yes.

25. Why are you going to do it again?: I love northern Spain, so any excuse...but there's something else, that I can't put my finger on. Anyone who has been there will know what I mean.

[Leslie]

My God Douglas this as they say takes the biscuit.

What a journey. My friend walked from Amsterdam, but from Scotland is quite something, was there some sort of route that you followed in the UK?

All the best.

[Douglas]

I walked from Dumbarton a few miles over the moors to to Milngavie, which you might know as the start of the West Highland Way. From there I followed a route known unofficially as the South of Scotland Way, used by Lands End/John o' Groats (LEJOG) walkers, which follows the Forth & Clyde canal, then turns south to pick up the Southern Upland Way.

Follow this until it intersects St Cuthbert's Way, then the Pennine Way, then on South by various other Ways, described here:

http://www.ramblers.org.uk/INFO/paths/e2.html (scroll down to 'western route via Dover').

I varied this a bit, detouring to avoid big climbs in the Pennines and further south being forced to avoid floods. I added my own variation at the end to go to Plymouth instead of Lands End, mostly using Two Moors Way.

It's not as dificult as it sounds - in fact I think it's easier to walk a few thousand miles than a few hundred - you have time to get fit and enjoy it. If you start the Camino in Roncesvalles, you're just getting into your stride when it's time to stop!

[Leslie]

I know Dumbarton went to school there for a couple of years. And you make the walk from here sound like a little stroll, well done, I think it is quite something.

[johnnywalky]

As i wait, ready to walk my first journey, i found many reasons why i made the correct choice for my life, reading the above stories! It was only 6 months ago i met a brother who had walked El Camino, and it stirred my sensesl. Upon returning from a recent trip to Granada in April i felt the draw to this adventure for early fall, late september, early october. All of your honest and reflective responses, again ring so true to my own call. Thank you all for sharing thoughts, and so beautifully expressed

[amgirl5]

Hi, I don't know if you still need replies, but I'm avoiding writing a paper, so....

1. Gender:
Female

2. Year of birth:
1968

3. Nationality:
US Citizen

4. Education:
BS-Natural History

5. Job:
Temping

6. Where did you hear of El Camino?
"The Pilgrimmage" Paulo Coehlo

7. When did you hike El Camino?
May-July 2005, Aug-Sept 2007

8. When did you decide to hike El Camino (a week before, a month before..)?
#1 year ahead of time, had been talking about it forever
#2 2 months before I arrived in Spain

9. How many times have you been hiking El Camino?: 2

10. How many days have you spend on El Camino?: #1 -44 days, #2 about 36

11. What was your average amount of money spend daily?:
probably 20-30E

12. What was the average age of hikers on El Camino?
Tough call, in Galicia, and also in first section, age skews low, teenagers walking in Galicia, avg age maybe 23? Families with kids in Rioja region, maybe 25...middle sections in September, probably avg age was 55-60, lot of retirees.

13. Why did you hike El Camino? #1 wanted to experience a miracle
#2 Needed some closure, wanted to know Christ again. (1rst happened, 2nd did not)

14. What did you gain from the hike? Sense of my own worth in the world (before both Caminos, not in the best situations...) Was in better shape, renewed belief in the goodness of people, sense of God being in the details of my life, not just some lofty being.

15. What was the greatest experience?: The beauty of other people. Oh, and that section between Rabanal and El Acebo--oh, how that makes everything else so worth it. (When the realization hit me that I had experienced a miracle, I was a bit slow in seeing that)

15.b What was the worst experience?: Got some sorta' stomache virus in Sahagun. (Also, really sick in Santiago as well, on my first Camino, couldn't actually get out of bed.) Really don't like the section from Molinaseca to Cacabellos...but what can you do? (In defense of that section, it was ridiculously hot and windy both times I walked it, exhausting. Plus my feet really hurt.)

16. What are you especially going to remember from El Camino?: Kindness of strangers. That beautiful hermita before Estrela. Getting to take the secret passages into the iglesias in Vianna and Longrono!

17. Are you religious?: Yes

18. In your opinion, were you a tourist, a religious tourist or a pilgrim on El Camino?: Pilgrim

19. What was the course of a typical day on El Camino?:
Get up, pack, eat breakfast (if offered) or walk to next village for cafe y tostado,
walk, (stop along at museums, cathedrals, other interesting places along the way, stick feet in river, etc.), eat lunch somewhere, if tired stay in village, if not, walk for a few more hours, arrive at refugio, laundry, bathe, write, nap, eat, (I often went to Mass) go to sleep, get up and do it again.

20. Did you mostly hike alone, or with other hikers?:
Depended on the section. I liked to know there were other people near by me. I liked having other pilgrims within sight. I liked talking to people some days, and there were sections I felt safer walking with someone else. (Plus it's nice to eat with other people.)
21. How many hours did you spend by your self in the course of a typical day?:4-6

22. In your opinion, how important was the community with other hikers to you?:
Very important. They knew what you were going through, physically, mentally, emotionally, etc. You read it again and again, people have very similar experiences on this camino. Perhaps its why we keep coming to the forums and reading them.
23. What was most important, your personal experience or the community with other hikers?
They were both important to me. I needed the community of others to have the personal experience. I didn't realize what had been happening until I was in conversation with other pilgrims.

24. Are you going to hike El Camino again?: I think so, I will try, don't think it's all in my own hands.

25. Why are you going to do it again?: Still under my skin. I love Spain. I haven't gotten the answers I was seeking, and I still might not. I'd like to to the Pyrenees section (either starting from St Jean or Sommport), which I never felt in good enough shape to do (plus couldn't figure out how to get there from Madrid), from Sahagun to Leon, and from Santiago to Finisterre.


If you know other people who have hiked El Camino, please send my questionnaire to them, thanks.

I appreciate your help,

Per Svendsen, April 2008
[per_mand@yahoo.dk][/quote]