Icelandic women brave 40-degree heat on Camino de Santiago walk

Despite a scorching heatwave in Spain, a group of Icelandic women is determinedly continuing their trek along the famed Camino de Santiago. Temperatures have soared above 40 degrees Celsius, creating challenging conditions for the hikers.

"It was like the parable of the wolf and the lamb," said Margrét Jónsdóttir Norðfjörð, the group's guide. "The lamb started waking up earlier and earlier at night to stay ahead of the wolf, and you could say we did the same. Since the walk began, we've started waking up earlier and earlier to stay ahead of the heat, and we're now getting up just after five in the morning."

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It was like the parable of the wolf and the lamb. The lamb started waking up earlier and earlier at night to stay ahead of the wolf, and you could say we did the same. Since the walk began, we've started waking up earlier and earlier to stay ahead of the heat, and we're now getting up just after five in the morning.

The group, organized by the travel agency Mundó, covers 20 to 30 kilometers each day. Even with their adjusted schedule, they have had to walk in extreme heat, which Margrét described as "like having a hairdryer on the hottest setting blowing in your face." She noted that walking after midday has been nearly impossible due to the intense heat.

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We haven't entirely escaped the heat, and we've had to walk in 40-degree heat. It was like having a hairdryer on the hottest setting blowing in your face, it was so hot and it has really not been possible to walk anywhere after midday.

Margrét, an experienced guide who has walked the Camino annually for years, stated she has never encountered such extreme heat in the region before. She is accompanied by co-guides Elínborg Sturludóttir, Þórhalla Andrésdóttir, and Anna Ingadóttir. The group is currently on their eighth day of walking and is in the town of Castildelgado. Margrét expressed hope for cooler weather, as rain is forecast for the coming days.

The Camino de Santiago, one of the world's most famous walking routes, was once a primary pilgrimage path for Christians in Europe. The route is also associated with various miracles and is named after Saint James, a disciple of Jesus Christ who proselytized in the area about 2,000 years ago. "The remains of James were found here," Margrét explained. "In the 9th century, this was the border between Christians and the Moors who had taken over the entire Iberian Peninsula. It was dangerous to be here, but when the Iberian Peninsula was reclaimed, the remains of Saint James were found, and the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela was built there."

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The remains of James were found here. In the 9th century, this was the border between Christians and the Moors who had taken over the entire Iberian Peninsula. It was dangerous to be here, but when the Iberian Peninsula was reclaimed, the remains of Saint James were found, and the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela was built there.

She added that many people began visiting, and in Catholic tradition, proof of divinity is important, leading to the construction of numerous churches linked to miracles. Among those who walked the Camino in medieval times was Hrafn Sveinbjarnarson from Iceland, who gained significant medical knowledge and published a book on healing upon his return. "So it can certainly be said that this is still a relevant route," she concluded.

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So it can certainly be said that this is still a relevant route.