Three Pilgrims, or "Peregrinos" as they are called, taking the first steps of their 500 mile journey.

       Fewer than 10% of hikers walk the entire Camino from St. Jean Pied-De-Port to Santiago De Compostela. I've hiked about 300 miles of the Camino on two different occasions, but these 3 hikers (my sister-in-law, father-in-law, and daughter) are captured here in the first few moments of their 5 week trek to Santiago De Compostela. My 74 year old father-in-law has walked the entire 500 mile Camino Frances route twice, the first time being with my son 4 years ago. He has hiked the 450 mile Le Puy Route through France as well!

    Many consider the first day of the hike to be the hardest. The adrenaline is pumping since many hikers have been planning this for months, or even years, but it is a challenging day. Within a few hours we had ascended nearly 2000 feet into the Pyrenees.