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[Sixten]

Hi
I am planning to do the walk now in September in the Pyrenees and find that no one is ready to join in for various reasons. What stops me is that people say that it is dangerous to go alone, so I hesitate.

I dont know anymore, does anyone has an opinion or experience on this ?

Thanks so much

[redrat]

Sixten
I just came back home to go back there again, go alone it will be the best experience. It is safe and you are never alone.
I will start in St Jean in September as well when are you arriving.

Marcel

[Pavel]

As someone (Leslie?) here said, most pilgrims start Camino alone and very few finish it alone. When you go alone, its easier to join someone else. Going with someone previously known is good, but half of these groups I met (at least groups going for more than one or two weeks) split, mostly because of different speeds.

Biggest danger are cars, especially near bigger cities, and walking healt problems. But if you stood at home, chance of being killed by a car is the same and about health, the worst case is that you won't finish the Camino. Take a first aid kit and chlothes visible even in darkness (or start later in the morning, as you wish) and you are safer than if you stayed home!

[Covey]

Walking the Camino Frances is no more dangerous really than an outing to your local supermarket.

Some 60% of pilgrims are female and start off walking alone. This year I started with a small group who had actually met at Bayonne railway station. When you are buying your ticket to St Jean, those in front of you in the queue are carrying packs as well as those behind, and everybody gets to talking etc etc.

The first two days from St Jean, or anywhere else you might start, are rather like Speed Dating! You are looking for those who walk at your pace (very important!), speak your language (important) and look as though they might be fun to be with (important). People swap groups until they are comfortable with their companions and you take it from there.

Some want to walk alone during the day and meet up in the evenings, others like walking in a small group. Walking groups of more than 4 can get tedious as the person at the back has to walk faster and misses the conversation at the front!

Even walking alone across the Meseta you are perfectly safe. If you ever feel uncomfortable about your surroundings, just stop and wait for those behind to catch up and join them for a while.

The majority of walkers tend to end up in a loose "family" who know each other, and who look out for each other. People tend to join and leave families along the way depending on how they feel and what shape their feet are in. Do not be tempted to walk faster or longer than you are comfortable with just to keep up with faster walkers. That is a sure route to injury.

If you want to be alone on the Camino, that is fine, and some enjoy a solitary existence, but humans are sociable animals and most seem to enjoy the company of others in the evenings over a cold beer

[dbird10]

My partner and I walked from Roncesvalles this spring, one of the things that really surprised us about the Camino were the number of women, all ages, who were quite comfortable walking alone. I heard of none of them having difficulty. I think the Camino is a very safe environment and perigrinos tend to look after one another.

Dave