[Gocamino] Leon - Santiago

[Grant Spangler]

Devon,

It's do-able, but perhaps a bit entusiastic. Here are a series of etapas 
that, if adhered to, will get you there in 9 walking days. These are the 
elevation profiles of the Camino Frances from Roncesvalles to Santiago; for 
Leon onwards, look at days 19 through 27.

http://groups.msn.com/ElCaminoSantiago/camino27etapas.msnw

Clicking on the image will download the two page PDF. Print page two and 
take it with you.

Now about the training. A stairmaster is not the same as walking on streets 
and trails with a pack on your back. Step AWAY from the treadmill, and put 
on your pilgrim duds. Put on your Camino shoes, socks, pants, shirt and that 
loaded pack. Now go walk a real-world 22 miles on Saturday. Walk another 20 
on Sunday. How are you holding up? Could you do this for 10-15 days?

Leon to Santiago is just short of 200 miles (310.6 km); Astorga to Santiago 
is about 160 miles (258.7 km). That's three 'regular' days, or two 'push 
hard' days difference in walking. I've started from Astorga, and it's a nice 
place to begin. RENFE shows up there from Madrid, as do buses. You have two 
sets of 'mountains' to go over, the Montes de Leon and the Cordillera 
Cantabrica, so it's a bit un-Florida-like. The Montes de Leon are a very 
gradual incline/descent, the last leg of going from Villafranca to O 
Cebreiro (las Cantabricas) is pretty steep. See the profiles to help plot 
your days.

Another way of gaining an advantage is to travel super-light. In the end, we 
really don't need most of the stuff we think we do. I planned doing a full 
Camino using a lumbar pack, but switched to my regular pack at the last 
minute.

Keep at it. Your Camino has actually already begun, you're just not in Spain 
yet.

Buen Camino,

Grant

Grant Spangler
GASpangler at hotmail.com
http://groups.msn.com/ElCaminoSantiago
http://community.webshots.com/user/ElCaminoSantiago