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In my own case, I got there by walking. As far as I could tell, there is
nothing at Somport, but a closed up border station. I walked on past and
down the hill four or five kilometers to Confranc Estacion, where I spent
the night in an inexpensive hotel. I believe that there is also a refugio
there and I got the impression that many Spanish pilgrims take the daily
train from Jaca to Canfranc Estacion and then start their pilgrimages from
there. Perhaps some of them do a round trip up to the pass, just to start
the pilgrimage from the border itself. It is an easy 20 km downhill from
Canfranc Estacion to Jaca. (Note that there is also a Canfranc, a hamlet
a few kilometers down the road - it should not be confused with Canfranc
Estacion, which has the large railway station with the cavernous, unused
custom rooms.)
<p>After Jaca, my stops were Puenta de la Reina de Jaca, Artrieda, Yesa,
Monreal, and Pamplona. The regular route goes directly west from Monreal
to Puenta de la Reina (NOT de Jaca), bypassing Pamplona. I needed to go
through Pamplona for logistical reasons, shoe repair, mailing, and avoiding
a 30 km day. I did the two 20 km legs of the Monreal, Pamplona, Puenta
de la Reina triangle.
<p>As I remember, the pass at Somport was about 1600 m. I heeded the warnings
in the confraternity guide and stuck to the main road, so the climb was
gradual and steady and the same with the descent on the Spanish side.
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<p>Donald Schell wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE>Dear pilgrims,
<p>Next month my wife and I are planning to walk two weeks toward Santiago,
beginning either at St. Jean or at Somport. My wife has not
walked the Camino before, though we've traveled together in Spain.
I know how to get to St. Jean and can plan that route from previous experience,
but I think I'd like us to begin Somport and walk through the Somport Pass.
I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has gone that way.
<p>I have our 1998 copy of Lozano's <i>A Practical Guide for Pilgrims</i>.
The photos of the pass look beautiful, but <i>A Practical Guide</i> doesn't
give altitude maps for this branch of the Camino. How much altitude
change is there over Somport Pass? I'd also welcome suggestions from
experience of how to break those opening days (Somport-Jaca-Sanguesa).
We were not planning to carry camping equipment. Also helpful would
be experience of the alternate route from Jaca via Monasterio de S. Juan
de la Pena, and of either of the two routes from Puenta la Reina de Jaca
to Sanguesa.
<p>If we start in Somport, I'd also welcome recommendations for (or against)
ways of getting there. We're flying to London and were thinking to
take either train to France and through France to the border or boat from
England to Spain (Santander) and then. . ? What are practical combinations
of train (or bus?) to Somport? Thank you.
<p>Donald Schell
<br>Saint Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church
<br>San Francisco, California</blockquote>
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