St Jean? Somport? Re: Re: Best and Worst of the Camino

[Polly Helm]

Thank you Jorge.  Can you comment on which route is the most arduous.
Recently someone reported that it takes 8 hours from St Jean, but I
wondered, 8 hours to where?  Roncevalles?  Is it a trek that one must make
in one day or risk sleeping outside?  Are there refugios anywhere along the
8 hour trek?  I had planned on starting at St. Jean but am curious now about
starting in Somport........any details you give in terms of comparison would
be much appreciated.  Thank you again.
Polly
----- Original Message -----
From: "Donald Schell" <djschelaATTGLOBAL.NET>
To: <GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2002 9:12 AM
Subject: Re: Best and Worst of the Camino


> Jorge,
>
> Somport to Puenta La Reina is wonderful.  It is distinct from what is
> currently the most traveled arm of the Camino Frances until just before
> Puenta la Reina.  First time I walked from St. Jean Pied de Port.  This
past
> May I did the Somport crossing of the Pyrenees and I'm planning to do it
> again this June.   The moutnains were quite spectacular.  Jaca was a
> delight.  The museum of frescoes that's attached to the Cathedral in Jaca
is
> well worth the visit (and the frescoes are from a number of hermitas you
> will pass after Jaca).   Before Puenta this route also passes by the much
> photographed, mysterious and beautiful pilgrim church at Eunate.  There
are
> other delights on the route from St. Jean.  It's a hard choice.
>
> love,
> donald
>