Camino del Norte to Chimayó

An effort was made in the summer of 2012 to create a pilgrim route to the Santuario de Chimayó in northern New Mexico beginning in Denver, Colorado. Chimayó is a popular pilgrim destination in the US with tens of thousands of pilgrims making the pilgrimage by foot every year, particularly during Holy Week. For information about this destination, follow the links in the side panel.

A series of three existing routes were used to lead pilgrims between Denver and Chimayó: first, a miner’s route connecting Denver with the silver mining area of Cripple Creek; second, the Ute Indian migration path between the Front Range and the San Luis Valley that was also used by Zebulon Pike during his early exploration of the region following the Louisiana Purchase; finally, the upper reaches of the Rio Grande river used by the Franciscan Missionaries during the time of the Spanish Colonials. Most of the route is made up of graded forest roads, with the remainder on paved country roads. The route would be suitable for foot, off-road wheelchair and mountain bike.

Unlike the caminos in Spain, no network of pilgrim houses exists appropriately spaced to facilitate the pilgrimage. The feasibility of a pilgrim house system in Colorado and northern New Mexico was tested in the pioneer effort. The route originates in Denver, crosses the mountains between Monument and Woodland Park, again at Cripple Creek to Canon City, and into the San Luis Valley at Pass Creek Pass. Although the route passes through some villages and towns, shade and water stations were set up to support pilgrims with refreshments.

The pioneer pilgrims who made the pilgrimage along this Camino del Norte a Chimayo varied widely in background and level of experience. The success of the journey was overwhelming. It was a challenge for most, far beyond any effort they had previously attempted. There was general consensus that the most difficult part was that the distances were beyond the comfort level of most. The spacing of towns cannot be changed, so it is what it is. Perhaps in the future, interim stations would be established to make the stages a bit shorter though it would extend the number of days of the pilgrimage.

Advice to others interested in making the pilgrimage reasonably includes being well prepared both physically - to be able to walk 20 miles without getting blisters - and mentally - to be able to spend hours on end alone and unattached to electronic devices. The scenery, history and culture that the camino passes through is remarkable. The camino is real.

Anyone interested in making this pilgrimage is encouraged to contact the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish at 303 477 1402 or the Santuario de Chimayo at 505 351 9961. Alternatively, an email inquiry can be sent through the link above.

Tips for Footwear Selection

Next to the possession of an enduring spirit, which enables a pilgrim to continue walking all day, every day, the most important piece of equipment in the pilgrim's kit is arguably the footwear.  In preparation for the pilgrimage, it carries that the footwear must be selected with thought and be broken in.  If shoes are not comfortable from the moment they first embrace the feet, they are not the ones to walk 350 miles in.  The factors for selection include:
  • weight - Lighter is better.  There's a noticeable difference between swinging 1 pound on the far end of each leg all day long and swinging 2 pounds.  Hiking sandals weigh just under a pound apiece - the equivalent of about a half liter of water.  Leather hiking boots weigh a bit more than two. 
  • flexibility - While soft soles feel nice at the beginning, the thinner they are, the less they protect the feet.  For day-long walks on gravel roads, thicker, and therefore stiffer, soles are better or else each one of those pebbles will be felt.  Thicker soles are heavier, so this factor is in conflict with the previous one.  The right balance is personal to the pilgrim.
  • arch support - Foot fatigue and back ache can both be blamed on insufficient arch support.  Molded foot beds are important for foot comfort, as long as the molded foot bed conforms with the shape of the foot.  A bad fit can mean blisters.
  • breathability - Heat is the enemy of happy feet.  On the one extreme, leather boots trap the heat produced by feet as they work; on the opposite extreme, hiking sandals keep feet well aerated.  In summer, boots-off breaks are recommended to allow feet to cool... the hotter the day, the more frequent the number of breaks.  A ten-minute break is enough to bring the temperature down and recover from the swelling that invariably accompanies overheated feet.  Hot, swollen feet hurt; cool, rested feet are happy feet.  Keeping feet cool while walking is as important as getting them cool during breaks.  Hiking sandals and mesh hiking shoes are better at keeping feet cool while walking but aren't as good at keeping them dry when it's raining.  Soggy feet are not high on the comfort list either.  Pilgrim's choice.
  • energy absorption - nearly all soles on walking shoes are synthetic.  They're are engineered to be durable and to absorb energy from the repeated impact of the body's weight bearing down on the ground on the ball of one foot.  Squishiness or sponginess is good at absorbing some of this energy, but too squishy or spongy and every irregularity of the surface will be felt.  Energy absorption can be increased with inserts made of gel, but that may alter the shape and fit of the foot bed.  To each his own. 
  • fit - Every foot is different.  The most important factor in footwear selection is fit.  If a sandal/shoe/boot is comfortable from the first moment, it's a strong candidate for selection.  If not, it's immediately eliminated from the running.  Simple.  If several styles are equally comfortable, choose ones that are light weight, moderately flexible, offer stable arch support, and are highly breathable.
Given everything, for the pilgrimage from Denver to Chimayó on graded gravel or paved roads in summer, lightweight, closed-toe hiking sandals or mesh hiking shoes are strong contenders for the highest recommendation.  Sand and pebbles may enter more easily, but they fall out easily, too.  When a grain of sand finds its way into a leather boot - and it will - the boot has to be untied and removed to get the grain of sand out.
  • Running shoes don't offer much sole protection - feet will be tender to the touch after many hours of walking.
  • Open-toe sandals allow a lot of sand in and don't protect the toes.
  • Cowboy boots don't offer much traction or arch support and the soles don't absorb much energy.

Feet will hurt after hours of walking - and time far more than distance is the greater factor when it comes to how much the hurt will be.  Pain is inevitable but suffering is optional.  Feet are worth pampering!

UPDATE:
There's no sponsorship of this web page, but naming brandnames is useful as guidance but should not be taken as endorsements.

shoeClosed-toe Sandals are an excellent choice for the climate and terrain of this pilgrim route.  Abeo brand from The Walking Company (shown right) are an excellent high-end option for men or women with semi-custom arch support and energy-absorbing insole.
Keen Turia Sandals - Women'sKeen (shown left) makes a similar version, though without the options for arch support.  All types of hiking sandals can be worn with or without socks and minimize the possibility of blisters by reducing the friction points and keeping feet as cool as possible.  There is no need to have waterproof shoes on this pilgrimage.

KEEN Voyageur Hiking Shoe - Men'sShoes with fabric closing the panels won't keep feet as cool but will reduce the number of pebbles and sand grains that enter.  Suitable shoes include something similar to Keen's summer hikers shown right.  Although they may look like beefy tennis shoes, they have a stiffer and more durable outer sole, both of which preserve the tenderness of the feet by day's end.

 

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