From Saint Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles… now! (February 2017)

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In Saint Jean Pied de Port, the number of pilgrims slowly increases. For now, all walk through Valcarlos because the high route is still closed… But you can feel it: pilgrimage season is about to start!

What if, in this post, I’ll take you on a walk to help us wait? Let’s go on the Camino between Saint Jean Pied de Port and Roncesvalles… through Valcarlos and the high route!

 

Croix thibaud saint jean pied de port roncesvalles
On the high route, the Camino leaves the road and goes into the mountains

 

From Saint Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles through Valcarlos

At the moment, this itinerary is the only one that is legally open on its full length. It first goes along the Nive of Arnéguy, until Arnéguy and Valcarlos. A zigzag route rises then to the Ibañeta pass, before it goes down to Roncesvalles. Despite winter, there are pilgrims giving their best all along the way!

Roncesvalles is very quiet: there are very few pilgrims or visitors there…

valley Valcarlos Ibaneta pass
Scenic view on the valley of Valcarlos from the Ibañeta pass
Valcarlos pilgrim Camino
Camino sign on Valcarlos route: pilgrims ahead!
Valcarlos sign
Arriving in Valcarlos
Valcarlos pilgrim
Valcarlos pilgrims climbing towards Roncesvalles
Roncevalles collegiate church
Very quiet collegiate church of Roncesvalles!
Roncesvalles church
Roncesvalles’ church under a winter sun

 

From Saint Jean Pied de Port to the Thibaud cross

Even before leaving Saint Jean Pied de Port, signs remind me that the high route is closed. (It is until March 31st! 😉 ) The road is closed for real… Local people assured me that the road is ok now to take by car: and off I am!

I slowly rise to the gîte of Orisson, still closed for now. The route weaves from one side of the mountain to the next. I reach the Virgin of Baikorri and a bit later, the Thibaud cross. There, the Camino leaves the road and invite me to follow its small path through the pastures. Today, I’ll just stop there. With the névés, the smoke and the fog, I”m actually not so tempted. And it wouldn’t be really safe anyway!

winter closure sign saint jean pied de port roncesvalles
The high route to Roncesvalles is still closed…
road closed sign
“Road closed” ~ A reminder a few kilometers after Saint Jean pied de Port: the high route *really* is closed!
mist mountain toward orisson
Towards Orisson, mountain and mist
Orisson
No one at Orisson’s refuge: it’s still closed for now…
Virgen of Baikorri
The Virgen of Baikorri, alone in the mountain for still a month
Croix Thibaud
At the Croix Thibaud, the Camino leaves the road and goes on mountain paths

 

And on these 2 Caminos, fog, snow and slash-and-burn!

In the Basque Country right now, the weather can be foggy… to the point one can’t see really far ahead! Thankfully, the fog was quite thin during my walk.

At altitude, stakes are still high to get snow. On the last weeks, a mild spell left mostly névés and snowdrifts. The paths seem clear, but caution is yet not an option!

Finally, the slash-and-burn tradition (pastoral fires) make hiking quite unpleasant. As long as one sees the fires from far away, it can be beautiful. But it only takes to be around the burned area or to get some smoke in the face to think the opposite! On the high route of the Camino, burned pastures, dense smoke and stifling air just made me turn around… It’s a good thing the fires will be over when the route opens again!

Basque mountain
The Basque mountain with snow, fog and smoke at the end of winter, on the high route after Saint Jean Pied de Port
misty view Camino mountain
At altitude, the view is veiled by the mist
sooty névés fog camino
Névés colored by soot and fog after Saint Jean Pied de Port
burned soil slash and burn tradition Camino
After the slash-and-burn tradition, on high route of the Camino
fog slash and burn smoke smell camino
No doubt thanks to the strong burning smell! It’s no fog, but slash-and-burn smoke!
slash and burn tradition basque country
Slash-and-burn tradition in the Basque Country: still a beautiful show… from far away!

 

I hope you enjoyed the walk! See you soon on the Camino! 😉

 

 

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