Specifics About Beginning in St. Jean Pied de Port

[Tom Priestly]

Melissa,
The very helpful tourist office in SJPP sent me useful details of the
walk to Roncesvalles: a map of the two routes [in French & Basque],
an 'elevation' sketch, and a description of the route in French,
Spanish, English and German. It begins:
"LEAVE EARLY. The stage from here to Roncesvalles is 27 km long, and
involves climbing and descending a total of 1250 m. With a rucksack
weighing 7-12 kg, allow about 8 hours. Bad weather or fog can set in
without warning, making route-finding difficult. It's essential to
start early: aboout 7:00a.m., or at the latest at 8:00 a.m."
The map shows Huntto, about 2 hours from SJPP, and mentions  'gîte'
[hostel] , 'chambres' [rooms] and  'ferme' [farm].
List-members can tell you (a) whether the above info is correct and
(b) what there is, exactly, at Huntto, which sounds like a
possibility for you (tho' don't count on a train getting you
fromParis, after you get to the right station, to SJPP before
sundown!)
If you or anyone would like a copy of the map & sketch and/or the
description of the route, I can scan them and send them as
attachments.
Ultreya!
Tom

PS: for the metrically-deprived:
27 km = 16.9 miles
1250 m = 4100 feet
12 kg = 26 lb.


>Last week I emailed an inn to find out how close they are to SJPP,
>transportation, etc. They haven't replied. Can someone give some
>specifics on beginning from SJPP? By specific, I mean, how close is
>closest lodging? I'm flying into Paris at about 9:30 am (May 15),
>and will take a train to the closest location possible to begin my
>journey, but won't have a full day left to walk. I'd like to reserve
>a room ahead of time to eliminate stressing about it.
>
>I want to begin first thing next morning. What is an average time to
>allow for walking from SJPP to Roncevalles, arriving before dark?
>All I have read about it is that it is the hardest day's journey of
>all. Naturally, I want to be as prepared as possible. For the next
>90 days I'm doing cardiovascular endurance training at my local gym.
>
>I'm grateful for any assistance on this, and others will be, too. Thank you.
>
>Melissa
>
>
>
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--
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Tom Priestly
9215-69 Street
Edmonton AB
Canada T6B 1V8
phone 780-469-2920
fax 780-492-9106
e-mail: tom.priestlyaualberta.ca
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