Baggage on the Camino
Aug. 30, 2012
I’ve read thousands of opinions in forums and guidebooks about the weight of the pack one should take on the Camino. When you’re walking 800 kilometers, every ounce matters. It’s why Peregrinos will rip pages from guidebooks as they move on from place to place.
My pack weighs about 25 pounds, with my water bladder filled. That’s very heavy compared to some, but I wrestled with getting the weight down and decided this would be my burden.
That doesn’t mean I haven’t shed things. On a mountain just across the border in France I left my Mizuno trainers and a couple of other small things, hoping another Peregrino might find them useful. The shoes that were comfortable on the flight to Europe had become unnecessary, and I was struggling at that point. The wind seemed determined to push me back and I could feel every item pushing me down. I was desperate to get rid of anything.
It is not unusual to shed things on the Camino. The reality becomes that we get used to living with less. It also makes the walk simpler. As I gather up my belongings in Pamplona and prepare to head for Puenta de la Reina I realize how having less makes life simpler. You can’t worry about leaving behind possessions you don’t have with you.
Besides, we’re all carrying other baggage from our lives. The reasons for doing the Camino vary, but everyone leaves some of themselves behind. My prayer is that we all return return home with a lighter burden.

