pilgrimage in february

[justme]

Hi,

I want to do my (first) camino this february. Are there any other pilgrims, who will do it in this time? I am thinking about camino del norte. what do you thing about it? Some tips and experiences are welcome

Thanks

[Giselle]

Feb is a good time to go as this year is a 'holy year' and will be very busy as the year progresses. Weather will be cold especially in the mountains of galicia so think warm clothes. Cold or not .....you will have a great experiance.Three of us are also heading off at the end of feb (for the 2nd time) cant wait!!

[Villagejonesy]

I agree with Giselle, I think that since 2010 will be so busy (they say a record number, 300,000 pilgrims! will walk in 2010), it's better in some ways to do it in February instead of in May or June, when the whole world will come. Also, I walked the Camino a month ago, from October 9 to November 19, and it is true that it is very cold, especially on the hill after Rabanal del Camino with the Cruz de Ferro. So bring layers of clothing to put on, long underwear, long-sleeved shirts, and a good waterproof jacket.

The only problem is that in winter, if it snows too much, it can be very dangerous on the mountains and hills, because you can get lost when the snow covers up the trail and the yellow arrows that point the way. I spoke to someone who almost got lost for good that way. So if you do go in winter, buy a good, strong cellphone and take the emergency numbers so that you can call the police if you get stuck in the snow! Outside of the mountains and hills (you'll cross three, the Pyrenees at the start, then the Cruz de Ferro hill, and O Cebreiro at the end), the snow shouldn't be such a problem I think.

[justme]

thank you for yours answers.
how long time take the camino in winter? i want to do camino del norte, from irun. are 4 weeks for it enough? and what do you think about cycling in the winter, is it good idea?

[Villagejonesy]

Hi justme, now if you're cycling, then four weeks should be more than enough. I think it would only take maybe two and a half or three weeks on a bicycle, from Irun? Even for walking, if you're coming from Irun, then I think you would be OK with four weeks.

I bicycle a lot at home. Whether it's a good idea to cycle in winter, depends on how much you like the rain I walked the Camino in October to late November just now, and I had a very waterproof jacket and boots, and it was mostly just fine. A few days, it was freezing cold, and just for a few days the water got in everywhere, even soaking through my jacket and boots. Usually they kept the water out, but for a few days, even their excellent waterproofing wasn't quite enough. So I would think that if this rain and cold was a little bit chilling for me, while I was just walking, then if you were on a bicycle, it would be even colder!

Also, when you're walking, you can get one of those ponchos that drapes over your backpack, so your backpack can stay dry; but on a bicycle, you don't use a backpack, usually people use those little side-bags that hang over the wheels in back. So those might get wet more easily too.

Good luck and Buen Camino!!!

[justme]

Hi Villagejonesy,
thanks for your experience. I just bought my tickets to spain. I am really exciting. I am not sure about bicycle yet, cause I dont know how to transport it.
Do you think could it be dangerous for young girl to do the camino alone?
How many other pilgrims can I meet in this time?

[Villagejonesy]

Hi Justme, wow! That is exciting! Good for you.

I met a few dozen people on the Camino. A lot of people make friends that are very important to them on the way. I think it is harder to meet people when you're on a bicycle. If you are walking, you can keep up with one another more easily (although not always!). Also, there are not as many bicyclists, although they say there will be 300,000 pilgrims walking next year, so maybe there will be many more bicyclists than usual.

Normally, it is fine for a young woman to walk the Camino, not dangerous. This is because mostly, you don't walk at night. Also, with that 300,000 people walking, there should be so many other people walking or riding, usually, that it will be rare that you're COMPLETELY alone. I talked to many, many women who had walked the Camino alone, and only one said she'd had problems (that was a beautiful Australian woman on our Camino, who said that some of the local men had been coming up to her and hanging around her and pestering her, trying to talk to her. I don't think she was so much in danger, but she found it annoying!).

I think you should be okay, most women are all right, and none of the women I spoke to had had anyone do anything violent. If it bothers you to be alone, you can usually find someone that you like to travel with along the way.

[geraldkelly]

Hi Everybody!

Regarding snow in the mountains, I think the best approach is to ask advice locally before heading into the mountains, about conditions on the ground, weather forecast, best route to follow (because often there are alternatives).

In St Jean in winter they advise pilgrims to follow the lower Valcarlos route if there's snow or snow expected. I did it once at the end of December and, believe me, even the lower route was difficult with the snow. The upper route would have been impossible without the right equipment for snow.

YOU are primarily responsible for YOUR safety. The mountain rescue people risk THEIR lives to rescue people who get in trouble, and they're often volunteers. It would be very, very foolish to head into the mountains thinking, "Ah sure, I have my mobile phone on me, if I get in trouble I'll just call for help." Nobody is easy to find in a blizzard, in a forest, at night. And in freezing temperatures you won't live long.

Besides (I'm not sure about Spain, but) in France wasting the emergency services' time is a crime.

So, take advice from the locals and FOLLOW IT!

Ger

[justme]

Hi Villagejonesy,

thanks for your answer.
I dont want to walk completly alone all the time. It will be great to find some interesting friends during the camino. And thats right, it will be easier by walking.So I changed my mind, I will walk.

And how is it with language? Its english ok, or is it necessary to learn some basic spanish?

[Villagejonesy]

Hi justme, good! Yes, I think you will make some very good friends if you are walking. There were so many good people on the Camino when I walked.

As far as language, yes, I would learn some Spanish. You may find another walker who knows Spanish and can translate for you--but after I left the areas near France, I found very, very few Spaniards who knew any English or any other language at all! The best they can do is that if you're from Italy, they can sometimes understand some Italian; and those in the eastern bit might know some French. But though I found them often very friendly people, far fewer Spaniards know another language than, say, the Dutch, the Germans, or the Swedes do. I liked Passport Books' Just Listen n' Learn Spanish, which you can spend a few months studying, and get the basics down, by practicing with the CDs and the book. It may be out of print now, but if you go on Ebay, or Amazon.com, you should be able to find one for ten dollars or so. Cheers, Villagejonesy

[justme]

Hi Villagejonesy,

well I am not Italian, so then will be the camino for me also great oportunity to learn spanish. thank you for you for your advice, I will buy the book and I start to learn it this holiday. It seems to be a nice language.
have a nice day
justme

[Villagejonesy]

You're welcome justme! I hope you have a wonderful experience on the Camino (I think you will!). It's exciting to think of other people going on the Camino now that I've finished it. I hope you find it beautiful. You have a good day too--blessings, VJ