[Gocamino] Crowds on the Camino

[Tim]

Hi again,
    I think that the publicity certainly has had some negative effects 
but that the weather is the biggest culprit.  It started with the snow 
and more snow no one, or very very few, left Le Puy before mid April 
because up intil then there had been 60 cms (2 feet) of snow in the 
region.  Down here in St Jean we were still sending people up the 
Valcarlos route in mid May because the pass was still closed, the snow 
only melted on the Iraty massif at the end of May. It then rained and 
rained in late May June and I have heard from guests staying with me 
that more than a few gave up the unequal struggle and went home.  This 
all had a knock on effect and so while there are no doubt more people 
starting in Spain the numbers starting from France are definitely less 
than last year.
Tim


Rebekah Scott wrote:
> We spent yesterday (Weds. 23 June) visiting albergues and casas rurales in Pedredo, Rabanal, El Acebo, and Ponferrada, well west along the camino. All agree, the numbers are the same as "normal" years, and in some cases even lower than normal. 
>  
> Everyone hopes things improve as the schools close for the summer. But everyone was hoping May would be better, too. Perhaps all the Áño Santo hype has had the opposite effect everyone hoped for? 
>
> Rebekah Scott 
>
> Rebekah Scott 
> www.moratinoslife.blogspot.com
>
> "When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist." 
> Dom Helder Camara, archbishop of Recife
>
> --- On Thu, 6/24/10, Susan Alcorn <backpack45 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> From: Susan Alcorn <backpack45 at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [Gocamino] Crowds on the Camino
> To: gocamino at oakapple.net
> Date: Thursday, June 24, 2010, 5:14 AM
>
>
> Whether it is crowded on the Camino or not depends on where you are. Ralph and I just finished a portion (180 miles) of the Arles Route/Camino Aragones (GR653) from Oloron St. Marie, FR to Logrono, SP and there were some days that we were the only ones staying in the hostals/private facilities and saw no other pilgrims on the trails. We were hiking from June 3-19.
> Once we linked up with the Camino Frances (at Obanos), we definitely met more, but we still had no difficulty finding a bed in the albergues. 
>
> Clearly it gets more crowded the closer one gets to Santiago, so if pilgrims wish to avoid crowds, they might do a portion of a route more distant from Santiago. 
> Buen Camino,
> Susan and Ralph Alcorn
> www.backpack45.com 
> Publishers of two award-winning books: Camino Chronicle: Walking to Santiago and We're in the Mountains Not over the Hill: Tales and Tips from Seasoned Women Backpackers.
>
>
>
>
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