To cover at least 200 kilometres on the Via Alpina, enjoy nature and tell others about it: this was the mission of the nine winners of the competition organised by CIPRA International. The Via Alpina Explorers covered a total of 7,300 km, with each supported by the VAUDE Sport Albrecht von Dewitz Foundation with a scholarship of 1,500 euros. In the words of participant Soninke Combrinck: “Spending days and nights on end surrounded by nature, getting to know Swiss food and culture and sleeping in the presence of glaciers – that was breathtaking!” Encounters with other hikers, making new friends and the opportunities for self-reflection were also cited as highlights by the explorers. “Along the way I felt an inner peace, a strong connection to myself and a strong feeling of self-confidence”, says Julien Defois, who walked the entire route.

During AlpWeek, held at the beginning of September 2022 in Brig-Glis/CH, the explorers celebrated the 20^th anniversary of the Via Alpina. They presented impressive images, reported on their experiences during the long walk and made suggestions as to how the transalpine network could be improved. Their recommendations will be incorporated over the winter so that an even better online guide will be available for the next hiking season to all those interested. But beware: long-distance hiking is contagious, as participant Laura Anninger tells us: “After this summer I'm now constantly thinking about new long-distance trails!”