November 2025

One would think walking downhill would be easier on the body, the legs, and be less strenuous. Not true.  From Cruz de Ferro, at an elevation higher than the Pyrenees, to the town of Molinaseca there is a brutal nine hundred meter (just under three thousand feet) descent over twenty kilometers (roughly twelve and a half miles).    Many stretches have a grade of six percent.  In other places, the trail hugs the hillside with a sheer drop off with hundreds of kilometers (feet) below.

The historical origin of this “not-to-be-missed” spot on the Camino adds to the fascination of this shrine. The focal point: a wooden pole standing roughly seven meters (twenty plus feet) high, anchored in an impressive mound of small stones of about half its height.  Affixed atop is a Christian cross made of iron.  It is unique in its raw simplicity, and at the same time its origin is claimed by many faiths.

It is not unusual to find trailside vendors selling light snacks and fruits to exhausted pilgrims. For several years now, one noteworthy vendor has gained great attention, and for good reason. David, a young man in his early thirties, completed the Camino himself and afterwards determined to give his life in service for pilgrims along The Way.