Normally, truth be told, I have my pack ready to go (for the most part) long before 40 days out. I’m one of those people who loves a checklist and wants to make sure packing is not left to last minute. A prior year’s complete list is here: https://morelaterfromelsewhere.com/2024/06/16/40-days-out-pack-list/
But this year, between several work projects that have kept me very busy and a recent 10-day visit by a Great Dane – it was pointless to even start. I didn’t have the time to focus on it and didn’t want my halfway-done pack out where a 90 pound puppy might be tempted to chew it or haul mission-critical pieces into a corner where they’d be dropped until I realized somewhere on the trail that whatever it was had gone missing.
Recently, one of the work projects has just finished and my canine friend has gone back to her home. My packing can now commence.
A couple considerations:
- My trip this year will start with a smaller backpack. I’m taking the plunge with a new 38 liter Osprey to try to make myself be more disciplined and pack lighter.
- And, I’m also starting my trip with 10 days in Switzerland to visit my daughter and son-in-law.
Clothing: The combination of these two factors means that everything I pack will need to be extremely versatile. Quick-dry. Light weight. Compact-able. And everything needs to work for travel, city life, hiking, and also (possibly) sleeping. While the Camino is definitely not a fashion show – the capsule wardrobe I’m bringing will, ideally, be inconspicuous in the city. In Switzerland, I’ll want to be able to visit museums, markets, and fairs with my hosts without potentially embarrassing them by standing out too much like a tourist. Hiking clothes can be made to blend in a bit more if they’re not in fluorescent colors and don’t emblazon flashy name brand labels. In the past couple hikes I’ve gravitated toward ‘sunset colors’. But this time, the brightest of those colors might just be ‘a bit much’.
I also need to have layers – lots of layers. The ‘shoulder season’ in the Pyrenees when I start my hike can still be quite cool and / or rainy. There may be days when I’m wearing most of the contents of my pack all at once just to keep warm.
So, I did what seemed logical in the moment – I pulled out all of the clothes I own that are potentially good hiking clothes to see what might also be made to work well in the city. ALL the clothes. I found that I was, as Americans often are, spoiled for choice. It was a bit overwhelming.
However, using the criteria I’ve mentioned, I weeded out the brightest colors and was drawn to a common palette that I found in a sleeveless shirt that had been gifted to me by my friend Susie. Blues and purples – both of which coordinate with a basic travel favorite – black. I picked two long, convertible hiking Macabi skirts (one in a muted blue, one in black), a pair of lightweight black knee-length trousers, and a pair of mid-thigh blue hiking shorts that all coordinated with that shirt. And then other shirts I selected from some I already owned coordinated with all of those bottom pieces. All of the tops I’m taking must also fit the criteria that they’re comfortable enough to be slept in, depending on the weather at the time.
Outerwear: I was originally thinking that a light windbreaker and fleece might do just fine – that’s what I’ve taken the last three hikes. But I remembered the last three hikes were all in August. Temps could be much cooler this time, particularly in the mountains.
I got online and ordered a 3-in-1 lilac jacket from Columbia – amazingly inexpensive when purchased from eBay. One typically haggles on eBay – but this time the jacket was perfect and, honestly, inexpensive enough that I didn’t want to waste my time nor theirs. Sold!
I’d had a similar jacket on my very first Camino (in May / June that year) and it worked perfectly. 3-in-1 because it can be a heavier coat, just a water-resistant windbreaker, or just a fleece, depending on the configuration. At one point towards the end of that first hike I left the interior fleece part behind somewhere. But, until that unfortunate parting – it was an absolute gem.
I have a teal blue non-waterproof windbreaker that will find a new home once the Columbia jacket arrives. One in, one out.
Footwear: I realized that last year’s Hokas still have some life in them but are way too trashed to hike another 280 km in spring weather, which can be brutal. So glad I’m not finding that out the night before I’m leaving! I now have a fresh pair of Hoka Speedgoat 6s on the way and shall endeavor to break them in during this next month. I’ll save the older pair for local walks and workdays when I’m on my feet all day.
For days in the city at the start of this trip – I’m bringing a pair of basic black espadrilles that are nearing the end of their life. I intend to get that last bit of use out of them and then give them a proper burial before I leave Switzerland. I’m also swapping out my trusted Oofos sandals this trip for a pair of really light-weight Teva hiking sandals. Very much hoping that’s not a mistake.
Seeing the purple I’m bringing does remind me of the poem “Warning” by Jenny Joseph. And, though I don’t feel like an old woman at the moment, perhaps I’m practicing – so that friends who know me aren’t too shocked and surprised when I am actually old and start to wear purple, in earnest.
Misc.: My other supplies this trip are much like prior trips. Only, this time I’m hoping that I can significantly reduce the quantity of ‘just in case’ medications and other toiletries. Spain has excellent pharmacies. Always a good goal – hoping I can actually do it!
I think the only other thing I need to actually find is a half-roll of Duck brand duct tape (for my feet). Any design. 😄. Off-brands don’t hold. And a full roll is too heavy and I won’t go through it. I have some time to find one.
More later…
This year I’ll be walking again to raise funds for charity:water. Please consider joining me!
https://www.charitywater.org/marilyn-peterson/marilyn-s-camino-for-water-2026
Thank you!!