In 2006 I completed a continuous, non-mechanised (on foot...but also using a push bike) traverse of all the 284 Munros in Scotland (http://grahams-munro-walk.blogspot.com/). This was an extremely satisfying experience, as the key to success on such a long trip (134 days) was to enjoy it - you wouldn't keep doing it otherwise! The key was therefore to push as much as possible but never too hard, concentrating on good days out and, while being aware of, not worrying about whether one is on trak to finish. Inevitably, a few months of this and you have become super fit, and the question of longer or shorter days becomes less and less of a decision as one becomes capable of huge days without any stiffness the following morning. Ultimately therefore the experience was simultaneously one of high achievement / ambition while also being a relaxing period just bumming about in the hills.
I wasn't planning another trip in the immediate future, however I came across information on the Via Alpina path network near the end of last year and the seed was sown. Investigating, I came across a web site of an attempt on a whole cirucit like this and established, as far as I could could tell, that it has not been done previously. I could, just about, sill fit this round other commitments (thanks go to my wife Gill, also to my boss Brett) and so everything is now in place.
This is definitely a stretch target for me - compared to the Munro walk it could be about twice the distance and ascent and it will be time constrained due to the short alpine summer - no more than 1.5 times the time available compared to the Munros, depending on snow fall. However, although the Alps are high and spectacular, they are often not very remote (many huts open in summer at least), and almost always the walking will be on well developed path networks. Compared to Scotland (where often walking on is on/through pathless bogs, tussocks, scree and rocks) both the step by step process of walking and the navigation should both be a lot easier. So, while I'm not entirely sure that this is feasible, and there will be an element of luck with the snowfall, at the least I know how to do it and if I can I will.
From the Munros trip I know that it is important to stay strictly within the concept of the trip according to how I perceive it. It is hard to define up front what the rules will be, because they are psychologically determined according to what feels right. I know however that the most important is that the route will be entirely on foot, without any mechanised transport. Occasionally I will have to leave the trail, for example to meet up with my wife Gill; to attend Tony and Mags wedding in August; exceptional family circumstances; trail circumstances (e.g. for resupply (the trip is unsupported) if no food available in the vicinity; sleeping bag has been eaten by wolves etc.) and so on. These may involve travel by train or bus. However, these "time outs" will occur only for "good" reasons (generally as above) and crucially I will return to EXACTLY the same spot before returning to my reality and continuing the trail. The time out is therefore a "time freeze", after which I return to the (spatially uninterrupted) journey.
I will be going as light weight as possible, as having a light rucsac (ideally light enough that you don't even notice it) is one of the keys to enjoying the walking. Total weight carried at the start of the walk will be ~ 18 lb (8.5 kg) plus food and water, similar to the Munro trip. However, this includes items such as an ice axe, down jacket, large gloves etc, and will hopefully be reduced as the season progresses. More details to follow.
