• Kate PritchettCamino de Santiago 2023/2025Traveler
    The walk out of Pamplona
    Low clouds obscured the mountains in the morning1Love this shade of red. Would stage a Wiz of Oz photo if I thought I could get back up.Angela found her European pied de terre.Each village has its imposing church, complete with real bells. Not what I'm used to!Alto de Perdon with its pilgrim statues. So happy to see it in person! Loud wind turbines nearby.1Cameras can't do these vistas justice but we keep trying.The path was just lined with wildflowers.More poppies and wheat. I can see why Monet was inspired.Hills near town. Maybe forest fire damage from last year?

    Day 7: Pamplona to Puenta la Reina

    May 24, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F

    Mileage: 15 miles
    Altitude gain: 1,565
    Altitude loss: 1,824
    Weather: cloudy to start, sunny to finish, with the cool wind miraculously at our backs
    Total mileage: 54.5

    We left Pamplona early (7:00) since it was going to be the longest day yet for me. I’ve been worried for a long time about Alto del Perdon, the mountain in the middle of the stage. The word was that the ascent isn’t too bad, but that the descent is steep, rocky, and tricky. Well, as with many things on this journey so far, I discovered that my worry was outsized. The ascent wasn’t bad at all, and the descent was easier than the one from Col Lepoeder the other day. What a relief! That said, I am very grateful to have not walked down that rocky hill in the rain/mud!

    This was my first full guidebook “stage,” and therefore my longest walk yet. I was thankful for company! Hopefully I’ll get used to this kind of mileage, but this first long day was tough both mentally and physically, and I was glad for the giggling breaks along the way!    Read more