Hey everyone,
long time no see, how are all of you?
Has any Languishite ever walked the most famous of the old pilgrim ways? Some people I know, and not many of them are very religious people, did at least some parts of the Camino, and they say it's a very interesting experience, to say the least.
I love to walk, even if I've never made a long-distance hike like this (in its classical form it's 800 kms, from Saint Jean Pied-de-Port in the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela), and I'm pondering about doing it, although for work-related issues it would be very difficult for me to take a 30-day uninterrupted leave, so I'm thinking about dividing it in two 400-km stints to do in two different years.
Opinions, advice (if there's someone who has done other multi-day hikes, too), suggestions?
L.
Not a lot I can help you with, but I'm planning a walk to Italy myself. It's also going to be a multi year affair, as I can't really afford more than about 10 days a year probably.
If you're going for the pilgrim experience and contemplation you should probably go as long as possible without interruption.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FUGtyEZG.jpg&hash=4124d0090d21b015f0902ffde3f91be32e4c2907)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fv27mhhY.jpg&hash=244402972170f47d1d5a485e668cf2b5ab69d6a1)
A couple of my mates have done it (none of whom are religious as far as I know). I just hiked along the Pyrenees Aragonian trail when I was a kid.
Usually one does the last bit, starting from wherever your constraints allow (time, money, fitness). But there are tons of alternatives (https://www.caminosantiago.org/cpperegrino/caminos/caminos.asp (https://www.caminosantiago.org/cpperegrino/caminos/caminos.asp)
Didn't they sell out to big oil?
Quote from: Maladict on July 25, 2019, 03:43:18 PM
Not a lot I can help you with, but I'm planning a walk to Italy myself. It's also going to be a multi year affair, as I can't really afford more than about 10 days a year probably.
If you're going for the pilgrim experience and contemplation you should probably go as long as possible without interruption.
How will this work? Walk toward Italy for 10 days, then next year drive out to that spot and walk another 10 days?
And you posted precisely in Santiago's day, coincidence? :lol:
Nowadays the whole Camino experience is not particulary religious at all, it's basically touristic nowadays, and pretty secular.
As Iorm said, there are plenty of options and routes depending on where you come from and other constraints. AFAIK in order to earn the official pilgrimage credentials you have to walk at least for 5 days (or 100 km, can't remember), with other timeframes for people going by bike or by horse, which are also officially allowed as means of transportation. It's not really necessary to begin at St Jean Pied de Port either, for instance many people start directly in the Spanish side of the Pyrenees at Roncesvalles. If you want to get hardcore you can even start at home in Italy, go all over Northern Italy and Southern France, cross the Pyrenees in Somport, and then join the main route in Puente la Reina.
In any case, let me know when you intend to be around and I'll hop over for some beers. :cheers:
Quote from: Pedrito on July 25, 2019, 03:34:04 PM
Hey everyone,
long time no see, how are all of you?
Has any Languishite ever walked the most famous of the old pilgrim ways? Some people I know, and not many of them are very religious people, did at least some parts of the Camino, and they say it's a very interesting experience, to say the least.
I love to walk, even if I've never made a long-distance hike like this (in its classical form it's 800 kms, from Saint Jean Pied-de-Port in the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela), and I'm pondering about doing it, although for work-related issues it would be very difficult for me to take a 30-day uninterrupted leave, so I'm thinking about dividing it in two 400-km stints to do in two different years.
Opinions, advice (if there's someone who has done other multi-day hikes, too), suggestions?
L.
Hey, Pedrito!
I'm looking at doing this next year in October with a group of friends. Because I'm also going to Germany for two weeks in June, my PTO is limited, but I may go for one week with them. My friends are taking this rather seriously, doing "build-up" hiking, practice camping, etc. They'll be doing the full 30-day hike.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on July 25, 2019, 04:00:11 PM
How will this work? Walk toward Italy for 10 days, then next year drive out to that spot and walk another 10 days?
Yeah, basically pick up where I left off the year before. That's how I've been doing my cross country walks, single day stages between train stations.
Taking a week off gives me 9 days, minus 2 travel days leaves 7 walking days. If I can manage about 250km I should reach Venice in five years.
And what's up with the meta-theme of the trip?
Are you doing a reverse "Spanish Road?" :nerd: :nerd:
Never mind, that wouldn't end in Venice.
I'll take this elsewehere, don't want to clog up P's thread
@ Maladict: Ideally I would love to make all the Camino in a single trip, because the meditation/contemplation aspect is very important, but it requires one full month; either my midlife crisis hits even harder than I expect, and I decide to give up work and family for 30 days, or I'll be forced to divide it in two parts, 15 days from SJPDP to Burgos one year, and from Burgos to SdC the next.
About your trip, should you decide to pass through or near Padua, I'll be more than happy to walk some miles with you, and exchange a couple of beers. If you're interested, I've read good things about the Via degli Dei, about 100 kms across the Appennines from Bologna to Florence. If you need some info, just ask, because I'm thinking about doing it next year around Easter time, as a training for Santiago. And if you need info about some mountain trekking in the Dolomites, too.
@ Iorm, Larch: I don't want to do only the 100 kms needed to get the compostela, because i'll do it for personal reasons, not for religious ones. I was thinking along the lines of Maladict, of getting far and away for some time every year; i'm studying the possibility of doing the Via Francigena from Canterbury to Rome, but it would require at least three months of commitment (only the italian part, starting from Aosta, is almost 1000 kms...) Your offer for a beer is a welcome one, when I'll be in Galicia :cheers: Oh, about Santiago day: I completely forgot about it, but my subconscious brain was at work it seems :D
@ Meri: glad to see someone else is going to do it, at least in part; let me know which part of the Camino you're going to hike, and from what I've read be very careful about the weather, because in October it's not unusual getting snow in the Pyrenees. Keep me updated!
L.
Quote from: Pedrito on July 26, 2019, 06:04:41 AM
About your trip, should you decide to pass through or near Padua, I'll be more than happy to walk some miles with you, and exchange a couple of beers. If you're interested, I've read good things about the Via degli Dei, about 100 kms across the Appennines from Bologna to Florence. If you need some info, just ask, because I'm thinking about doing it next year around Easter time, as a training for Santiago. And if you need info about some mountain trekking in the Dolomites, too.
I will definitely take you up on all of that :)
Someday I fancy doing the pilgrim trail in Shikoku.
The catholic church should introduce goshuin.
Sounds awesome though, wonderful to have the time for it
The only advice I can give, not having done the Camino myself, is to look up a former colleague of mine, Georges Greenia, one of the foremost expert on the Camino. You may also stumble upon him there - he does some part of the camino every year or so.
Quote from: Tyr on July 27, 2019, 04:01:39 PMThe catholic church should introduce goshuin.
If you mean a seal system to prove you've done the pilgrimage, there's one in place. If you mean fancy caligraphic seals, yeah no.
Pedrito, what do you use for navigation?
Quote from: Maladict on July 28, 2019, 08:24:59 AM
Pedrito, what do you use for navigation?
This is a great question.
Four of my partners did it. Two in their early 60s and two in their later 60s. All enjoyed it immensely and found it not difficult at all. Basically you can make it as hard or easy as you want - just plan your stays along the route accordingly. :)
Edit: I should say Mrs. CC did the route from Portugal with a group of her friends and they also had a very enjoyable time.
Should a pilgrimage be "enjoyable"? Shouldn't it be a time of pious introspection?
Quote from: Syt on July 29, 2019, 04:07:55 PM
Should a pilgrimage be "enjoyable"? Shouldn't it be a time of pious introspection?
Not if you ask Chaucer.
Quote from: Syt on July 29, 2019, 04:07:55 PM
Should a pilgrimage be "enjoyable"? Shouldn't it be a time of pious introspection?
I like Greenia's simple definition of a pilgrimage: travel for transformation. How it happens, and what the scope of that transformation is, varies tremendously.
Quote from: Oexmelin on July 29, 2019, 04:58:13 PM
Quote from: Syt on July 29, 2019, 04:07:55 PM
Should a pilgrimage be "enjoyable"? Shouldn't it be a time of pious introspection?
I like Greenia's simple definition of a pilgrimage: travel for transformation. How it happens, and what the scope of that transformation is, varies tremendously.
That is a nice way of putting it.
Quote from: Syt on July 29, 2019, 04:07:55 PM
Should a pilgrimage be "enjoyable"? Shouldn't it be a time of pious introspection?
There is plenty of time for both when you're alone with just your thoughts and the scenery for 8+ hours a day.
Quote from: Maladict on July 28, 2019, 08:24:59 AM
Pedrito, what do you use for navigation?
Usually I have the View Ranger app installed, it's well done and useful for mountain trekking. I dunno if it covers the Camino route and if it can signal accommodations and other info.
A friend of mine swears OruxMaps is the best navigation map out there, I've yet to try it.
More specifically about the Camino, I've bought an Italian paper guide (from the same publisher I've named in Mal's thread), with a lot of info: maps, height charts, hostels, possible alternative routes, etc.
There's a good app, Buen Camino, that gives lots of info, and can help you plan the daily route. It gives info about all the different routes (Frances, del Norte, Aragones, etc.), and one needs to pay for the route he wants, but I did not pay anything and had the Camino Frances already active, so better for me :D
L
I don't really think you need so much stuff for the Camino. At least the Spanish stages are tipically well signalled, the stages are pretty standard and there are plenty of pilgrim hostels all around.
Quote from: Oexmelin on July 27, 2019, 05:05:58 PM
The only advice I can give, not having done the Camino myself, is to look up a former colleague of mine, Georges Greenia, one of the foremost expert on the Camino. You may also stumble upon him there - he does some part of the camino every year or so.
Thanks Oex for the info, I did not know the guy. His definition of pilgrimage is really spot-on for how I intend it to be, should I find some of his texts I'll read more from him.
L.
Quote from: Pedrito on July 30, 2019, 05:45:36 AM
Usually I have the View Ranger app installed, it's well done and useful for mountain trekking. I dunno if it covers the Camino route and if it can signal accommodations and other info.
A friend of mine swears OruxMaps is the best navigation map out there, I've yet to try it.
More specifically about the Camino, I've bought an Italian paper guide (from the same publisher I've named in Mal's thread), with a lot of info: maps, height charts, hostels, possible alternative routes, etc.
There's a good app, Buen Camino, that gives lots of info, and can help you plan the daily route. It gives info about all the different routes (Frances, del Norte, Aragones, etc.), and one needs to pay for the route he wants, but I did not pay anything and had the Camino Frances already active, so better for me :D
L
I've gone full digital too, using the Komoot app which allows for offline voice navigation on OSM maps. Pretty happy with it, but I'm wondering if it would be too risky in sparsely inhabited areas. If I drop the phone I'm screwed.
My friend Thibaud did it 2 years ago started in Pau, his hometown. He plans on doing it again next year or 2.
He's a party animal so somedays had almost no progress because he was too hung over.
Quote from: Maladict on July 30, 2019, 09:03:21 AM
Quote from: Pedrito on July 30, 2019, 05:45:36 AM
Usually I have the View Ranger app installed, it's well done and useful for mountain trekking. I dunno if it covers the Camino route and if it can signal accommodations and other info.
A friend of mine swears OruxMaps is the best navigation map out there, I've yet to try it.
More specifically about the Camino, I've bought an Italian paper guide (from the same publisher I've named in Mal's thread), with a lot of info: maps, height charts, hostels, possible alternative routes, etc.
There's a good app, Buen Camino, that gives lots of info, and can help you plan the daily route. It gives info about all the different routes (Frances, del Norte, Aragones, etc.), and one needs to pay for the route he wants, but I did not pay anything and had the Camino Frances already active, so better for me :D
L
I've gone full digital too, using the Komoot app which allows for offline voice navigation on OSM maps. Pretty happy with it, but I'm wondering if it would be too risky in sparsely inhabited areas. If I drop the phone I'm screwed.
That's why, especially in the mountains, I *always* have with me a physical map of the area, and often a compass, too. It happens rarely that I stray from the beaten paths, but I want to be prepared. For north-eastern Alps region, Tabacco or Kompass are the most reliable maps out there; I prefer Tabacco maps, but it's simply because I use them since I was young.
I'm sure that on the Camino map&compass are not needed, but I prefer having with me a paper guide nonetheless.
L.
Quote from: Grey Fox on July 30, 2019, 09:41:52 AM
My friend Thibaud did it 2 years ago started in Pau, his hometown. He plans on doing it again next year or 2.
He's a party animal so somedays had almost no progress because he was too hung over.
:lol: I bet for someone it's a great way to spend one month! Catholic girls, way of atonement, ya know what I mean, wink wink nudge nudge.
L.
Quote from: Pedrito on July 30, 2019, 05:45:36 AM
Quote from: Maladict on July 28, 2019, 08:24:59 AM
Pedrito, what do you use for navigation?
Usually I have the View Ranger app installed, it's well done and useful for mountain trekking. I dunno if it covers the Camino route and if it can signal accommodations and other info.
A friend of mine swears OruxMaps is the best navigation map out there, I've yet to try it.
More specifically about the Camino, I've bought an Italian paper guide (from the same publisher I've named in Mal's thread), with a lot of info: maps, height charts, hostels, possible alternative routes, etc.
There's a good app, Buen Camino, that gives lots of info, and can help you plan the daily route. It gives info about all the different routes (Frances, del Norte, Aragones, etc.), and one needs to pay for the route he wants, but I did not pay anything and had the Camino Frances already active, so better for me :D
L
For the Camino you just follow the well marked route. If in doubt ask someone around you. This is not so much a wilderness trek as a group experience.
Quote from: Pedrito on July 30, 2019, 09:44:58 AM
That's why, especially in the mountains, I *always* have with me a physical map of the area, and often a compass, too. It happens rarely that I stray from the beaten paths, but I want to be prepared. For north-eastern Alps region, Tabacco or Kompass are the most reliable maps out there; I prefer Tabacco maps, but it's simply because I use them since I was young.
I'm sure that on the Camino map&compass are not needed, but I prefer having with me a paper guide nonetheless.
L.
Yeah, I'll probably get some paper maps. They're cool, if nothing else.
It's absolutely impossible to get lost in this country and not stumble into inhabited areas within an hour or so. I remember walking a few minutes into some forest in Alberta and being creeped out by the idea there might be no signs of human life ahead for a dozens of miles.
Quote from: Maladict on July 30, 2019, 10:54:22 AM
Quote from: Pedrito on July 30, 2019, 09:44:58 AM
That's why, especially in the mountains, I *always* have with me a physical map of the area, and often a compass, too. It happens rarely that I stray from the beaten paths, but I want to be prepared. For north-eastern Alps region, Tabacco or Kompass are the most reliable maps out there; I prefer Tabacco maps, but it's simply because I use them since I was young.
I'm sure that on the Camino map&compass are not needed, but I prefer having with me a paper guide nonetheless.
L.
Yeah, I'll probably get some paper maps. They're cool, if nothing else.
It's absolutely impossible to get lost in this country and not stumble into inhabited areas within an hour or so. I remember walking a few minutes into some forest in Alberta and being creeped out by the idea there might be no signs of human life ahead for a dozens of miles.
My relatives once invited a French exchange student up to our cabin in northern Quebec - and had to come back early, because she found the isolation too frightening.
Quote from: Malthus on July 30, 2019, 01:54:13 PM
My relatives once invited a French exchange student up to our cabin in northern Quebec - and had to come back early, because she found the isolation too frightening.
For me it was idea of walking into the woods, losing your way and never being heard from again. I can see how that could lead to a crushing feeling of isolation. It's just something I had never considered previously.
Kind of ties in with this: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/21/world/europe/netherlands-dropping-children.html
The NYT freaked out over the Dutch tradition of children's parties (actually they only mention scouting groups), where kids are dropped in the woods at night without knowing where they are and left to make their way home by themselves. Predictable outrage ensues, of course, but the risks are pretty low in this part of the world. I've been on one where after a few hours we figured out we had been dropped in Germany, took six hours to walk back. That was a bit much for some of the parents, but it was a pretty awesome experience.
Quote from: Maladict on July 30, 2019, 02:45:31 PM
Quote from: Malthus on July 30, 2019, 01:54:13 PM
My relatives once invited a French exchange student up to our cabin in northern Quebec - and had to come back early, because she found the isolation too frightening.
For me it was idea of walking into the woods, losing your way and never being heard from again. I can see how that could lead to a crushing feeling of isolation. It's just something I had never considered previously.
Kind of ties in with this: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/21/world/europe/netherlands-dropping-children.html
The NYT freaked out over the Dutch tradition of children's parties (actually they only mention scouting groups), where kids are dropped in the woods at night without knowing where they are and left to make their way home by themselves. Predictable outrage ensues, of course, but the risks are pretty low in this part of the world. I've been on one where after a few hours we figured out we had been dropped in Germany, took six hours to walk back. That was a bit much for some of the parents, but it was a pretty awesome experience.
My dad liked to do something like this, only "for real". And he was along for the ride. :lol:
What he did, was plan "fly in, canoe out" canoe trips in Northern Quebec. He'd figure out our route on topographic maps, hire a bush pilot to fly us in, and then we had to make it out with map and compass.
We did this every year from when I was pretty young, to when I was in my mid teens. Some of those trips were pretty intense. Sometimes the route, chosen based purely on topo maps, took us down rivers that only existed part of the year, so we ended up travelling up to out waists in swamps (often covered with leeches and mosquitoes). On one memorable trip, we ran out of food, and if we hadn't been able to catch fish we may not have made it at all. Most of the routes were through areas only reachable by canoe and remote from the usual canoe routes, so we never saw anyone else - probably no-one ever passed through there except hunters and trappers.
The plus side was that the fishing was excellent.
Part of the reason northern Quebec is scary is something you have to go there to really understand, and it is this: the place is filled with irregular lakes and forest, and everywhere looks sort of the same; it is really, really easy to get lost.
Quote from: crazy canuck on July 30, 2019, 09:58:35 AM
Quote from: Pedrito on July 30, 2019, 05:45:36 AM
Quote from: Maladict on July 28, 2019, 08:24:59 AM
Pedrito, what do you use for navigation?
Usually I have the View Ranger app installed, it's well done and useful for mountain trekking. I dunno if it covers the Camino route and if it can signal accommodations and other info.
A friend of mine swears OruxMaps is the best navigation map out there, I've yet to try it.
More specifically about the Camino, I've bought an Italian paper guide (from the same publisher I've named in Mal's thread), with a lot of info: maps, height charts, hostels, possible alternative routes, etc.
There's a good app, Buen Camino, that gives lots of info, and can help you plan the daily route. It gives info about all the different routes (Frances, del Norte, Aragones, etc.), and one needs to pay for the route he wants, but I did not pay anything and had the Camino Frances already active, so better for me :D
L
For the Camino you just follow the well marked route. If in doubt ask someone around you. This is not so much a wilderness trek as a group experience.
Yeah, there's not really much chance of getting lost while doing the Camino, a guide would be more useful to find the best restaurants along the way. :P
Quote from: Malthus on July 30, 2019, 02:59:51 PM
My dad liked to do something like this, only "for real". And he was along for the ride. :lol:
What he did, was plan "fly in, canoe out" canoe trips in Northern Quebec. He'd figure out our route on topographic maps, hire a bush pilot to fly us in, and then we had to make it out with map and compass.
We did this every year from when I was pretty young, to when I was in my mid teens. Some of those trips were pretty intense. Sometimes the route, chosen based purely on topo maps, took us down rivers that only existed part of the year, so we ended up travelling up to out waists in swamps (often covered with leeches and mosquitoes). On one memorable trip, we ran out of food, and if we hadn't been able to catch fish we may not have made it at all. Most of the routes were through areas only reachable by canoe and remote from the usual canoe routes, so we never saw anyone else - probably no-one ever passed through there except hunters and trappers.
The plus side was that the fishing was excellent.
Part of the reason northern Quebec is scary is something you have to go there to really understand, and it is this: the place is filled with irregular lakes and forest, and everywhere looks sort of the same; it is really, really easy to get lost.
That's awesome :cool:
Wish we had more of that here.