My family went out of town on Easter and I found myself with some time to hike. I hadn't brought any "gear" but I was wearing my magic shoes and sufficient clothing to get some decent trail time. So with a bottled water in hand, off I went. About 80 minutes later I hit the … Continue reading 16k: A Pretty, Rough Day
I have been out of the United States three times. The first was with another cousin on a month-long Europe trip after college where we visited 10 countries: England, France, Italy, Vatican City (it counts!), Switzerland, Austria, Czechia, Germany, Netherlands, and Belgium. Years later, my wife and I took a road trip that included a … Continue reading Camino Road Trip?
The purpose of gaiters is to keep water and dirt from getting into your footwear from the top. I've used full sized gaiters when hiking in snow, but they're a bit much for the Camino. Because it is very hard to keep dry even with "waterproof" clothing, I thought these might be a good addition … Continue reading Gaiter Test
So, rain pants are great in theory. The problem is they're difficult to put on / take off fast because they generally require removing/replacing shoes plus a full pack drop (possibly in the rain and mud). Then there's the limited success they have in keeping your waist and legs dry anyway (often failing to keep … Continue reading Skirting: The Issue
As I've said before, I really dislike being wet unless I am showering or swimming. So, even though I've had wet weather gear for years, I've never really stress tested it because that would mean getting wet while hiking which never sounds fun to me. I knew I needed to though - because the last … Continue reading Water – “Proof” or “Resistant”?
The Primitivo is known for being the most difficult of all Camino paths. Some of the daily elevation changes are intimidating. How the various stages work out will depend on the walker's plans, of course - but the Primitivo has fewer options than the more popular Frances, so there is only so much one can … Continue reading Elevation Gains
I love watching thru-hiker gear reviews (two of my favorites are Darwin onthetrail and Homemade Wanderlust). After hiking literally thousands of miles and trying out many different products, these thru-hikers really know their stuff. As helpful as their knowledge is, though, it is important to realize that walking the Camino is almost nothing like a … Continue reading Ultralight Gear?
Camino Indulgence No, I am not talking about a mid-Camino spa day! Rather, this post is about the granting of Indulgences, which is part of the overall salvation theology of the Catholic Church. Although often confused with "Tickets to Heaven" or "Get Out of Hell Free Cards," indulgences really only have to do with the … Continue reading The Ultimate Indulgence
Although I love planning and making lists, I've made several mistakes during my Camino planning and I hope listing them will help others avoid them. Here they are in roughly chronological order. (Check back often, as this list will likely grow!) Storing Gear in the Heat For various reasons, I've had to store my camping … Continue reading Muh Dumb Mistakes
In the beginning, Camino pilgrims brought back a scallop shell back from Santiago as proof of their pilgrimage. Once people started scalping (scalloping?) them, though, more authoritative means were required for proof. This began as letters of authentication which eventually evolved to certificates of completion of which there are now many. To make things more … Continue reading Compostelas, Credencials, and Certificates
Backcountry Pilgrim 