The Via Alpina – Stage 5 – Blue Trail



Monte Rosa ("Dufourspitze") on the border between Switzerland and Italy,
elevation 4,634 m (15,203 feet)

Now for our final journey through the Via Alpina, we’ll traverse the Blue Trail, the fifth of the international trails.

It passes through Italy, Switzerland and France, and consists of 61 costal and inland stages ranging between 7.3km and 25.3km in length. Walkers and hikers will discover quaint villages with intriguing culture, historical ruins and icons, national parks and some of the Alps most massive peaks as they trek from Riale, Italy to Sospel France.

Much of the Blue Trail incorporates the Grande Traversata delle Alpi (the Great Alpine Crossing or GTA). The GTA consists of varied landscapes, from alpine pastures and waterfalls to sea-level deserts. The Piedmont region boasts Monte Rosa, the Alps second highest mountain and the highest peak in Switzerland. The western and northern sides of the mount are covered with awe-inspiring everlasting glaciers. The Walser people colonized the southern slopes of Monte Rosa as far back as the 12th century. Today this culture still speaks its own, unique dialect of German.

Several national parks are highlighted along the Blue Trail including Gran Paradiso. This was the first national park to be established in Italy for the purpose of protecting the endangered Alpine ibex. Today there are several thousand of the wild goats within the sanctuary’s boundaries.

The Via Alpina Organization calls Monte Rosa, Gran Paradiso and also Monte Viso the mythical summits, perhaps because of their powerful statures which provoke observers to no longer acknowledge the passage of time.

Via Alpina’s Facebook page offers a photo gallery of some portions of the Blue Trail that would encourage any walker to embark on the trek as soon as possible. The iconic statue Madonna del Rocciamelone, the clear waters of lakes in the Germanasca valley, fortress ruins in Mercantour National Park, the Po Valley in colourful bloom – these are just some of the views that spark the imagination.

The Via Alpina organization has also granted travel fellowships to groups hiking the Blue Trail in the coming months. Éléonore Petit, Joël Percheron and his son William will trek portions of the trail with their canine companions to work out the most dog-friendly terrains of the trail. Also a group of at least 12 hikers will be mapping portions of both the Blue and Red Trail using OpenStreetMap. You will be able to read each group’s reports on the Via Alpina’s website.

Whether you decide to walk a small section of the Blue Trail, or all five international trails, the Via Alpina website is a grand resource with stage-to-stage descriptions, hiker’s comments and recommended highlights of culture, natural diversity and history. Make your own history by planning your next hiking journey around the splendour of the Alps’ mountain ranges.



 

The Via Alpina – Stage 4 – Green Trail

The Eiger (3,970m/3,025ft), Bernese Alps, Switzerland

Via Alpina’s Green Trail Offers the Best Hike in the World!

We’ve tested our endurance on the Red Trail, explored historical landmarks on the Purple Trail and marvelled at geological wonders on the Yellow Trail. Now it’s time to trek through Liechtenstein and Switzerland on Via Alpina’s shortest of the five international trails.

Despite its relatively abbreviated distance, the Green Trail still consists of 14 stages totalling roughly 286 km (178 miles) or almost 110 hours of walking. In 2010, Backpacker Magazine bestowed a section of the trail with the most praiseworthy of titles. It named its 100 mile-segment between Kandersteg and Altdorf the World’s Best Hike! “The chocolate, historic villages, on-time trains and luxury hut system are pure gravy,” described Backpacker’s Steve Howe the trek. Howe further recommended hikers visit the trail in October for the ultimate sense of serene solitude.

The Green Trail’s fourteen stages range from 12 to 28 km in length and moderate to medium levels of difficulty. An avid hiker may complete the entire trek in fifteen days; those who prefer a more leisurely approach can take their time and take advantage of the numerous intermediate accommodations along the way.

The first stage of the Green Trail begins in Liechtenstein where walkers will be pleasantly surprised when they pass through the Rhine Valley. According to National Geographic, this particular landscape boasts approximately 1,600 species of flora.

While in Liechtenstein you can visit the cheese dairy in Sücka, see the Vaduz castle where the prince of the principality resides and experience a unique culture of arts and charm in the country’s cosy towns.

A true highlight of the Green Trail is seeing the Eiger mountain in the Bernese Alps region of Switzerland. Its iconic peak is 3,970 m (13,025 feet) tall; its limestone body projects from a granite base, flanked with glaciers to create a beautiful contrast of colours. From Grieslap to Kandersteg, you will have the chance to hike up to the highest portion of the Swiss Alps, the Hohtürli pass. The climb is well worth the effort as just below is Öschinensee lake, a glacial body with some of the bluest waters you’ll ever encounter.

You can celebrate your completion of the Green Trail as you end up in Lenk, a resort area amidst the Simmen Valley with beautiful views of Wildstrubel massif looming as a backdrop.

Although this fourth of the international trails is the shortest, it undoubtedly offers gems for novice and veteran walkers alike. Experience for yourself why Backpacker’s Magazine named it the best hike in the world!

The Via Alpina – Stage 3 - Yellow Trail

Discover the Dolomites and Ötzi the Iceman in Bolzano (Bozen)

Last week we walked through Slovenia, Austria and Germany by way of The Via Alpina. Today we’ll include a large portion of Italian Alps and explore The Yellow Trail, which connects with the previously discussed Purple and Red Trails.

The Yellow Trail begins in Trieste, Italy, passes through Austria and ends in Germany’s Bavarian region. It consists of 40 stages ranging from 8 to 48 km in length. (You can consult the Yellow Trail’s interactive map for exact details on each stage).

According to the Via Alpina website, the Yellow Trail is a “journey full of contrasts” consisting of both coastal and inland landscapes, geologic wonders and lush green meadows, cultural hubs and pristine environs. Its elevations range from sea level or 0 metres at Trieste to 3,019 m at the Niederjoch pass, the highest of all the Via Alpina cols. It is said that researchers found Ötzi the Iceman (a preserved mummy circa 3300 BC) in the vicinity of Niederjoch.

The Dolomites, a mountain range in the northern Italian portion of the Alps, are a true highlight of the Yellow Trail. They were named a UNESCO World Heritage site and are known as one the most beautiful mountainous landscapes in the entire world. The Dolomites are a geological work of art. “Their intrinsic beauty derives from a variety of spectacular vertical forms such as pinnacles, spires and towers, with contrasting horizontal surfaces including ledges, crags and plateaux, all of which rise abruptly above extensive talus deposits and more gentle foothills. A great diversity of colours is provided by the contrasts between the bare pale-coloured rock surfaces and the forests and meadows below”, describes UNESCO. Bolzano, known as the capital city of the Alps, offers a rich hub of multi-cultures and is your ideal entryway to the Dolomites.

In Austria, the Yellow Trail passes through the Ötztal, the largest glacier massif in the Alps and Lechtal, a massif left relatively pristine with diverse forms throughout. The international trail finishes at Oberstdorf, Germany a picturesque village that offers attractions and activities for everyone’s tastes. The second last stage of the Yellow Trail has hikers crossing the Austrian-German border and following the Hohenbach stream, past the vibrant Simms waterfall.

As with the other Via Alpina international trails, the Yellow Trail offers intermediary accommodations and huts along the stages and often there are small towns and villages where you can stop to rest, relax and enjoy.

Whether you decide to hike a few stages or the entire Yellow Trail, see what contrasts you perceive on your own personal journey.

The Via Alpina - Stage 2 - Purple Trail

Via Alpina Stage 2

Last week we introduced the Via Alpina, a series of long distance footpaths that connect the eight European countries that surround the Alps. The network of walking and hiking opportunities consists of five international trails. The longest of the tracks, The Red Trail, was described in our first blog post, An Alpine Walker’s Dream. Today we will stride through The Purple Trail.

The Purple Trail

The Purple Trail crosses through Slovenia, Austria and Germany and consists of 66 stages that range between 7 and 35 km long (or between 2 and 10 hours long on foot). Walkers can select sections of the trail based on their endurance levels and many of the stages pass through towns, villages or intermediate accommodations. All parts of The Purple Trail are relatively undemanding in terms of terrain, although steep climbs exist in some sections.

Via Alpina’s website offers an interactive map that briefly describes the highlights of each stage: For example, Stage A6, an 8.1 km path through Slovenia, involves walking down to the Preval Pass where hikers can visit a shepherd’s hut for milk in preparation for their upcoming climb. Stage A10, a 25km track which crosses through Slovenia and Austria, includes passage over the Kärntner Storschitz peak (1,759 m) and through the Trögerner Klamm gorge’s nature reserve. In Germany, the A46 Stage (21.9 km) offers an ascent, either by foot or cable car, to Bavaria’s most stunning mountaintop views.

Throughout The Purple Trail, there seems to be a reoccurring theme – a passage back in time. Sites of cultural and historical significance are found throughout. For example, Stage 24 ends at the Abbey of Admont (Austria) which has the world’s largest monastic library collection. Also in Austria, Hallstatt-Dachstein, a World Cultural Heritage site, may be accessed via Stage 31. In Germany, walkers trekking Stage 62 will marvel at the Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles that belonged to Ludwig II of Bavaria.

The Purple Trail’s natural wonders are equally striking. The Stage 40 section of the trail crosses over the Austrian-German border via the Steinernen Meer plateau. “The plateau is a famous example of karst, a landscape where underground streams carve out passages and caves that make the area the most important in Germany for speleologists,” describes Richard Sale in The Great Walks of Europe. The Purple Trail’s varied landscapes offer slopes and valleys, wildflower meadows and lush woodlands, glaciers and amazing massifs, such as Karawanken, Dachstein and the Ammergau Alps.

Whether you would like to hike a long distance or take a two-hour stroll, are a history buff or a nature enthusiast, are looking for cultural immersion or a sense of serenity, The Purple Trail offers a stage and an experience for everyone.

The Via Alpina - Stage 1 - Red Trail

An Alpine Walker’s Dream

The Via Alpina, once discovered, is not only a hiker’s dream – it is also symbolic of a treaty formed between the eight countries that communally share the Alps mountain range. Just over a decade ago, a vision to formally unite Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Monaco, Slovenia, Liechtenstein and France via a transalpine hiking and walking trail was born. With five trails, totalling 5,000 km and comprised of 342 stages, those who decide to complete partial treks or the full journey are treated to a natural and cultural immersion across European borders. None of The Via Alpina paths are particularly difficult, unless you decide to walk during the winter months (which is not recommended). You can either approach one of the trails as a test of endurance or as a leisurely stroll with frequents stops at adjoining towns along the way.

In a series of five blog posts, we will describe each of the international trails. Let us start with the longest of the treks – The Red Trail.

The Red Trail

The Red Trail is the only one of the five routes to cross all eight alpine countries; its 2,414 km course, from Trieste to Monaco, involves 44 border crossings and 161 mountain stages.

Maurice Chazalet from France had been dreaming for some time to complete a trek through the entire Alps but was overwhelmed with researching individual guidebooks for each country. In 2005, when all of the Red Trail signage was installed and maps completed, Chazalet had clear direction for completing his aspired journey in a three-month period. (Note: For the leisure walker, this timeline is not so realistic). Along the Red Trail, Chazalet would have experienced almost all of The Alps’ major peaks, such as Triglav, Tre Cime of Lavaredo, Zugspitze, Bernina, Mont Blanc, the Vanoise glaciers and Matterhorn, all over 4,000 m high. From chilly mountaintops to warm sea level beaches, the Red Trail passes through various natural biomes as well as cultural alcoves. “While hiking in Austria, I saw a father and his daughter reaping a field by hand on a very high slope. Nobody in France works land like that anymore,” shared Chazalet (National Geographic). Imagine directly observing countryside and city life, and their unique sense of history, in each of the regions you pass!

Some walkers and hikers trekking the Red Trail choose to travel from hut to hut, while others stay in more comfortable accommodations in nearby towns. You can search Touching Nature’s walker-friendly accommodations database to plan your sleeping arrangements for your Via Alpina adventures.

Whether you chose to complete the Red Trail from start to finish in one go or over a series of holidays, you will experience a sense of such accomplishment and a journey-by-foot of a lifetime!