Just consider that the first ten attempts to summit Mount Everest in Nepal were by British expeditions. George Mallary (who probably was the first person to summit Everest, but died on the way down in 1923), when asked why he attempted it, responded, “Because it’s there.” Other British parties have been notable as well. Edmund Hillary, a subject of the British crown, was the first person to ever summit the world’s highest peak, along with his famous Sherpa, Tenzig Norgay. Allison Hargreaves of Scotland became the first woman to ever do an unassisted, unsupported (no oxygen) summit of Everest in 1995, only to die later that summer descending K-2 in Pakistan. So the British have quite a history in the world’s greatest mountain range.

The Annapurna Circuit in Nepal is Asia’s most popular footpath, and a great way for the average person to directly experience the Himalayas. To be sure, it is not a fraction as difficult as the climbs mentioned above. Nonetheless, trekkers do reach 17,768 feet at Thorung La Pass; and at one point the trekker stands looking directly at four of the world’s 16 highest peaks. So it is a great journey, and my hat is off to the British for participating so readily. Of course, given their history as explorers, it is not a great surprise to see British anywhere you go. And they tend to bring their own cooly assessing eyes and understated style on these ventures. You take the good with the bad, but I like their company.

What has come as a surprise to me has been that on my three pilgrimages on the wildly popular El Camino de Santiago, which is far and away Europe’s most popular footpath, is the dearth of British pilgrims. This contrasts with the multitudes of pilgrims from all other European nations, especially the French, Germans, Italians, and Spanish. Why is this the case?

I have actually discussed this with other Brits. There is no one answer, but here is my best educated guess. First, related to the above, the Brits prefer far-reaching, pathbreaking journeys. They much prefer the Scottish Highlands, New Zealand Alps, Australian outback, or Himalayas, for that matter, to a leisurely jaunt across the Spanish countryside. Actually the Camino is a bit more than that. There is an element of struggle to it. But it is certainly a more balanced journey than the Appalachian Trail or Pacific Crest Trail. The British are actually quite well represented in the resorts of southern Spain. It’s just that when they go for outdoor adventures, they prefer to go far, far away, and often very high.

The second reason, though, that the British are not better represented on the Camino has to do with their history. Great Britain, of course, used to be one of the most Catholic countries in the world. But, of course, Henry VIII broke from the Church in order to get divorced and remarried. So along with the northern Germans, the British are among the first Protestants. This may seem strange and superstitious, but it is actually instructive for the Camino, in its very essence, is a walk through history. It’s just too bad that more British don’t choose to partake; their Irish cousins are everywhere. My guess is that, with the pilgrimage attaining such eminence, that these northern Islanders will reluctantly begin to participate in this storied pilgrimage again in significant numbers, for the first time since the late Middle Ages. And that will be a good thing for everyone concerned. As that great chronicler of early Christianity–St. Augustine–wrote, “Solvitur ambulando (Walking solves all).”

Bill Walker is the author of Getting High–The Annapurna Circuit in Nepal (2013), as well as The Best Way–El Camino de Santiago (2014). He is also the author of Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail and Skywalker–Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail.

I reckon for two reasons. One is that both routes are inordinately gorgeous. I personally did the Le Puy route in France last year and was blown away by the scenery and grandeur of southern France, passing through such villages as Estaing, St. Come de Olt, Aumont Aubra, Figeac, and Moissac. Then they gave a slide presentation on the lesser known Arles route, which featured stunning mountainous scenery reminiscent of the Pacific Crest Trail in America. Actually, students of the Camino are well aware that it was overwhelmingly popular during medieval times; and the vast majority of pilgrims passed through France. Thus it should be no great surprise that France has good Camino routes, now that the Camino has experienced a resurgence in popularity these last twenty years.

But I reckon Carlos and Lisa had another more subtle purpose as well. The principal route, the Camino Frances, is now swelling to such proportions that during high summer it virtually resembles a refugee crisis. Carlos and Lisa are probably operating under the logic that more pilgrims–especially those who are averse to crowds–would maximize their utility on some of the scenic routes in France. It is not taking away anything from the Camino Frances, which is also immaculately laid out. But it never hurts to have options. Further, so many pilgrims return from their journeys flush with fulfillment, it is only logical that they consider returning to the Camino. I never imagined I’d return, yet I’ve now done it three times. The French routes, along with the Camino del Norte, are great options. However, Carlos did utter one particularly interesting statistic. Whereas the Le Puy route–which is the main route–has 50,000 pilgrims per year, the mountainous Arles route only hosts 1,500 pilgrims per year. This could be enticing for those intrepid Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail types who seek more pristine nature experiences.

Yes, the Camino de Santiago looks like it has something for us all; and I thank Carlos and Lisa for enlightening us as to some of its further delights.

Bill Walker is the author of The Best Way–El Camino de Santiago (2012). He is also the author of Getting High–The Annapurna Circuit in Nepal, Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail, and Skywalker–Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail. Walker, who is 7-feet tall, is currently working on a whimsical book on the subject of height.

I walked the Annapurna Circuit last year and was struck by some of its similarities with El Camino de Santiago. For starters, it had the same international cast of characters as one encounters on the Camino de Santiago; only they are called ‘trekkers’ instead of ‘pilgrims’. This exotic mix of nationalities inevitably creates a bit of a buzz. One of the main facets of the Camino I had enjoyed was trying to guess the nationality of all the pilgrims. Yes, you greeted everybody with the same, ‘Buen camino’. But from there you analyzed their accent and style, before trying to meet people more deeply. The Annapurna Circuit obviously has less Spaniards, and less Italians as well. On the other hand, there are more Austrians, Israelis, British, and Chinese. It is indeed the most popular footpath in Asia. Also, there was a common greeting amongst trekkers–’Namaste‘–at which point it was common to try to probe more deeply in conversation (usually starting in English, even if they appeared to be Asian). The matrices of nationalities can be quite interesting, especially when considering the drama of history that has so often unfolded between these nations. But the great thing about life on the Camino is the way pilgrims and trekkers are almost always able to transcend history. Countless times I have witnessed Germans and French, Russians and Americans, Koreans and Japanese, and people from many other nations with hostile wars of destruction in their pasts against each other, engaging in authentic displays of civility and camaraderie. This is one of the main reasons I choose both the Camino and Annapurna ways of traveling–the routine (walking together, taking breaks simultaneously, sharing information in the search for places to stay, queuing up for showers, eating in the same establishments) is such that authentic relations between fellow pilgrims and trekkers is virtually inevitable.

Pilgrims on El Camino stay in albergues, while Annapurna Circuit trekkers stay in teahouses. The price is usually either 5 or 10 Euros for a bed in an albergue, while it is around $2 for a room in a teahouse (but you are expected to eat dinner at the teahouse). As one can see, both are quite economical journeys when compared to the cost of accomodations in other overseas travel.

Finally, the difficulty of the Camino de Santiago and Annapurna Circuit (a bit more difficult, especially as one gets tot he highest elevations) is moderate in both cases. This differs with the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail, both of which are more demanding hikes. Many people can only read about these hikes and do small sections of them. But that same group of people might be able to successfully undertake El Camino de Santiago. More sexagenarians and even septuagenarians undertake these two international treks. Women are also more heavily represented (fully 50% of Camino pilgrims); given that women–especially middle-aged and post middle-aged women–are the fastest growing segment of adventure travel, both the Camino and the Annapurna Circuit would seem to have especially bright futures.

But back to my original question of whether the Annapurna Circuit will ever become as popular as El Camino de Santiago, which is bursting at the seams with pilgrims and far and away Europe’s most popular footpath (Note: The number of American pilgrims on the Camino was up 90% from 2011 to 2012 according to the Pilgrims Office in Santiago de Compostela). The number of trekkers on the Annapurna Circuit was up 30% from 2011 to 2012. Clearly it is increasing in popularity; further Americans are just discovering it in significant numbers. It is probably no coincidence that this is happening on the heels of the explosion of American pilgrims onto the Camino. People see that this form of travel–something between the naked exposure to nature of the Pacific Crest Trail on the one hand, and a handheld guided tour on the other–strikes a rich vein.

I highly recommend the Annapurna Circuit because it allows the average person such as myself to wind himself or herself deep up into the Himalayas without having to do anything terribly dangerous or technical. It is an experience the likes of which I never thought I would get. However, it seems unlikely it can achieve the overwhelming popularity that the Camino has attained, just in recent years. The idea of Nepal and the Himalayas is simply overly daunting to many. And then there is the sheer cost of getting to Nepal, which lies on the other side of the world from Americans and a significant journey for Europeans as well. Fortunately–and this is nothing but a positive development, believe me–, the Chinese, who come from next door to Nepal, are beginning to do the Circuit in significant numbers. In fact, given that the Circuit is in Asia it would be nice if it developed a more mixed character of Asians, Europeans, and Americans, as opposed to its current principally European population. In any event the Annapurna Circuit is another great foreign trek open to the masses of us hikers; while it may not attract quite the multitudes of the Camino, one can expect to hear much more about it in the future.

Bill Walker is the author of Getting High–The Annapurna Circuit in Nepal (2013). He is also the author of The Best Way–El Camino de Santiago (2012), Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail, and Skywalker–Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail. Walker, who is 7-feet tall, is currently working on a whimsical book on the subject of height.

“But I don’t think you are allowed to,” the priest informed me. “You have to be Muslim.”

“Bummer.”

My nephew Gavin and I were within a few kilometers of Santiago de Compostela on the Camino pilgrimage. Masses of pilgrims from nations around the world were swarming all around us, everyone attempting to get to the great Gothic cathedral there in Plaza Obradoira where legend holds that the body of St. James the Greater lies. The excitement bordered on ecstatic. The number of American pilgrims on the Camino was up 90% from the previous years. Like many pilgrims I had had the revelation: “This (pilgrimage) is the way to travel.” It is an enormously fulfilling way to travel.

Gavin and I were talking with a priest from New Zealand who had impressed us with his keen observations. That is when I had made my remark. I have since looked into it, and he was correct. To do the pilgrimage from Medina to Mecca, a person must be of the Islamic faith. This compares with the Christian pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, which is the ultimate ecumenical experience. For example, I enjoyed hiking with Israelis for a few days. In  medieval times at the height of this pilgrimage, Muslims routinely participated. And the Camino is swarming these days despite the fact that modern Europe is the by far the world’s least religious continent. Many of these people admit to being non-believers. Yet they are treated the same, whether it be in parochial albergues or any of the services they might choose to attend.

Now please let me say that the purpose of this blog is NOT to denigrate the Islamic religion. I honestly think it is a wonderful faith and provides wholeness to many millions, if not billions, the world over. In fact, I will say that Islamic people seem to be the least materialistic people of all the major religions, which is no small accomplishment. And no doubt the pilgrimage to Mecca has helped people maintain their faith. But on this one score, I greatly prefer the Christian approach. From the beginning, Christianity has been a religion of the masses and the idea of widespread participation fits into the mission.

Pilgrimage is a great unifier. The more people who do a pilgrimage, from  the most possible backgrounds, the better off everyone will be. I would like to encourage people from all faiths around the world, and those of no organized faith at all, to consider walking the Camino de Santiago. It is an unforgettable experience.

Buen Camino.

Bill Walker is the author of The Best Way–El Camino de Santiago (2012). He is also the author of Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail, Skywalker–Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail, and Getting High–The Annapurna Circuit in Nepal (2013). Walker, who is nearly 7-feet tall, is currently working on a whimsical book on the subject of height.

The book will be available for free upload on Amazon Kindle devices, as well as most personal computers. The promotional dates are for Saturday and Sunday, April 26 and 27.

Bill Walker is also the author of Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail, Skywalker–Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail, and The Best Way–El Camino de Santiago.