Do you know the Via Alpina?
After decades of hiking some of the world’s great trails, über-adventurer Brandon Wilson heard about the Via Alpina, paths running the length of the Alps across eight countries. Besides offering immersion into Alpine life and wilderness, it’d be the ultimate physical challenge. It meant climbing nearly 700,000 feet from valley to peak—over 111 days and more than 1200 miles.
Intrigued, he imagined it was a sort-of European Appalachian Trail, only with better wine.
Brandon and his wife in 2009 did 111 days across 8 countries.
Their adventures are chronicled in a new book, Over the Top & Back Again: Hiking X the Alps.
Sounds GREAT.
Read some review excerpts.
Why have I not heard of this author?
Backpacking Light has a new review with terrific photos – Via Alpina: Not Another Walk in the Woods
Brandon’s the award winning author of Along the Templar Trail. I’m adding both to my TO READ list.
Check out his website for photos and info.
UPDATE: “Over the Top & Back Again: Hiking X the Alps” received the 2010 Book of the Year Bronze Award (travel essay category) from ForeWord Reviews at the American Library Association conference in New Orleans.
For everyone who has gone digital, it has also just been released on Amazon Kindle (lighter to pack that way!).
besthike.com 
Hi Rick:
Thanks so much for taking the time to mention my book and trans-Alpine hike on the Via Alpina. One update: “Over the Top & Back Again: Hiking X the Alps” just received the 2010 Book of the Year Bronze Award (travel essay category) from ForeWord Reviews at the American Library Association conference in New Orleans.
For everyone who has gone digital, it has also just been released on Amazon Kindle (lighter to pack that way!). Happy travels.