Project

Welcome! What is "Running the Alps"? Glad you asked!
This is our goal: The Alps from one end to another... and then back!
By following

The Alps are the highest and best known mountain range in Europe. From Alpine foothills to snow covered peaks above 4000 meters, it is a great destination for nature lovers of all levels, including hikers and runners. One of the best ways to discover Alps on foot is to follow Via Alpina, a marked network of long distance trails across the mountain range. It was created in 2000 by various organizations in eight Alpine countries with the aim of supporting sustainable development in remote mountain areas and promoting the Alpine cultures and cultural exchanges. There are 342 stages that cover a distance of over 5 000 kilometers.

News

Route

Via Alpina is not a single trail. In fact, it consists of five long distance hiking trails, each named by a color:

Red, Blue, Yellow, Green and Purple Trail

With its 161 stages, the longest one is the Red Trail. It starts from Trieste in Italy and ends at Monaco (or vice versa) passing from the alpine regions of eight different countries in between (Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Slovenia and Switzerland). The shortest one is the Green Trail, which mostly stays inside Switzerland.

Running any of the Via Alpina trails is an interesting and difficult feat itself. We would like to accomplish a little bit more than that. When you look at the map below, you will notice that the Yellow, Green and Blue Trails very roughly follow and intersect with the Red Trail. It is possible to start from Trieste or Monaco and return back to the same place, completing a loop of these four trails!

Well, that is the plan :-)

DistanceAscendDescendStages
Red Trail2 632 km138 335 m137 257 m161
Blue Trail876 km61 004 m62 485 m61
Yellow Trail794 km48 528 m48 155 m40
Green Trail287 km16 938 m17 278 m14
TOTAL4 588 km264 805 m265 175 m276

For now the Purple Trail is excluded, may be another time...

We are planning to complete the route in a self-sufficient manner, i.e. carrying our own equipment and food (as much as they fit in a 20 liters backpack) with minimal support. A typical day will be getting up early in the morning, running (or walking) until sun set (sometimes later) with short breaks in between. We will be mostly bivouacking at night and from time to time stay at mountain huts or lodgings when this is not possible. Time will tell, but it is likely to be a multi-leg project spanning a year or two.


Yellow Trail
001 Muggia (Trieste) » Rifugio Premuda
002 Rifugio Premuda » Villa Opicina (Sella di Opicina) / Opčine
003 Villa Opicina (Sella di Opicina) / Opčine » Sistiana / Sesljan
004 Sistiana / Sesljan » Gorizia
005 Gorizia » Castelmonte / Stara Gora
006 Castelmonte / Stara Gora » Rif. Casoni Solarie
007 Rif. Casoni Solarie » Rif. G. Pelizzo
008 Rif. G. Pelizzo » Montemaggiore
009 Montemaggiore » Passo di Tanamea
010 Passo di Tanamea » Resiutta
011 Resiutta » Rifugio Grauzaria
012 Rifugio Grauzaria » Tolmezzo
013 Tolmezzo » Ovaro
014 Ovaro » Sauris di Sotto
015 Sauris di Sotto » Forni di Sopra
016 Forni di Sopra » Rifugio Pordenone
017 Rifugio Pordenone » Rifugio Padova
018 Rifugio Padova » Rifugio P. Galassi
019 Rifugio P. Galassi » Rif. Città di Fiume
020 Rif. Città di Fiume » Pieve di Livinallongo
021 Pieve di Livinallongo » Passo Pordoi
022 Passo Pordoi » Rifugio Contrin
023 Rifugio Contrin » Fontanazzo
024 Fontanazzo » Rifugio Antermoia
025 Rifugio Antermoia » Schlernhaus / Rifugio Bolzano
026 Schlernhaus / Rifugio Bolzano » Bozen / Bolzano
027 Bozen / Bolzano » Meraner Hütte / Rifugio Merano
028 Meraner Hütte / Rifugio Merano » Hochganghaus / Rifugio del Valico
029 Hochganghaus / Rifugio del Valico » Jausenstation Patleid
030 Jausenstation Patleid » Karthaus / Certosa
031 Karthaus / Certosa » Similaunhütte / Rifugio Similaun
032 Similaunhütte / Rifugio Similaun » Vent
033 Vent » Zwieselstein
034 Zwieselstein » Braunschweiger Hütte
035 Braunschweiger Hütte » Wenns
036 Wenns » Zams am Inn
037 Zams am Inn » Memminger Hütte
038 Memminger Hütte » Holzgau
039 Holzgau » Kemptner Hütte
040 Kemptner Hütte » Oberstdorf
Green Trail
001 Sücka » Vaduz
002 Vaduz » Sargans
003a Sargans » Weisstannen
003b Weisstannen » Elm
004 Elm » Linthal
005 Linthal » Urnerboden
006 Urnerboden » Altdorf
007 Altdorf » Engelberg
008 Engelberg » Meiringen
009 Meiringen » Grindelwald
010 Grindelwald » Lauterbrunnen
011 Lauterbrunnen » Griesalp
012 Griesalp » Kandersteg
013 Kandersteg » Adelboden
014 Adelboden » Lenk
Blue Trail
001 Riale » Alpe Vannino
002 Alpe Vannino » Alpe Devero
003 Alpe Devero » Binn
004 Binn » Rosswald
005 Rosswald » Simplonpass
006 Simplonpass » Zwischbergen
007 Zwischbergen » Alpe il Laghetto
008 Alpe il Laghetto » Rifugio Andolla
009 Rifugio Andolla » Antronapiana
010 Antronapiana » Madonna della Gurva (Molini di Calasca)
011 Madonna della Gurva (Molini di Calasca) » Campello Monti
012 Campello Monti » Santa Maria di Fobello
013 Santa Maria di Fobello » Carcoforo
014 Carcoforo » Rifugio Ferioli
015 Rifugio Ferioli » S. Antonio di Valvogna
016 S. Antonio di Valvogna » Gressoney-Saint-Jean
017 Gressoney-Saint-Jean » Piedicavallo
018 Piedicavallo » Issime
019 Issime » Challand-Saint-Victor
020 Challand-Saint-Victor » Covarey
021 Covarey » Rifugio Dondena
022 Rifugio Dondena » Alpe Péradza
023 Alpe Péradza » Bivacco Bausano
024 Bivacco Bausano » Ronco Canavese
025 Ronco Canavese » Talosio
026 Talosio » San Lorenzo
027 San Lorenzo » Noasca
028 Noasca » Ceresole Reale
029 Ceresole Reale » Pialpetta
030 Pialpetta » Balme
031 Balme » Usseglio
032 Usseglio » Rifugio Riposa
033 Rifugio Riposa » Rifugio Stellina
034 Rifugio Stellina » Refuge du Petit Mont Cenis
035 Refuge du Petit Mont Cenis » Rifugio Vaccarone
036 Rifugio Vaccarone » Rifugio Levi-Molinari
037 Rifugio Levi-Molinari » Rifugio D. Arlaud
038 Rifugio D. Arlaud » Usseaux
039 Usseaux » Balsiglia
040 Balsiglia » Ghigo di Prali
041 Ghigo di Prali » Rifugio Lago Verde
042 Rifugio Lago Verde » Le Roux
043 Le Roux » Rifugio W. Jervis
044 Rifugio W. Jervis » Rifugio Barbara Lowrie
045 Rifugio Barbara Lowrie » Pian del Re
046 Pian del Re » Refuge du Viso
047 Refuge du Viso » Rifugio Savigliano
048 Rifugio Savigliano » Chiesa di Bellino
049 Chiesa di Bellino » Serre di Val d'Elva
050 Serre di Val d'Elva » Ussolo
051 Ussolo » Chiappera
052 Chiappera » Larche
053 Larche » Bousiéyas
054 Bousiéyas » St-Etienne-de-Tinée
055 St-Etienne-de-Tinée » Roya
056 Roya » Refuge de Longon
057 Refuge de Longon » St Sauveur-sur-Tinée
058 St Sauveur-sur-Tinée » St-Martin-Vésubie
059 St-Martin-Vésubie » Belvédère
060 Belvédère » Col de Turini
061 Col de Turini » Sospel
Red Trail
001 Muggia (Trieste) » Rifugio Premuda
002 Rifugio Premuda » Matavun (Divača)
003 Matavun (Divača) » Razdrto
004 Razdrto » Predjama
005 Predjama » Črni vrh
006 Črni vrh » Idrija
007 Idrija » Planinska koča na Ermanovcu
008 Planinska koča na Ermanovcu » Porezen
009 Porezen » Črna prst
010a Črna prst » Rjava skala
010b Rjava skala » Dom na Komni
011 Dom na Komni » Koča pri Triglavskih jezerih
012 Koča pri Triglavskih jezerih » Tržaška koča na Doliču
013 Tržaška koča na Doliču » Trenta
014 Trenta » Dom v Tamarju
015 Dom v Tamarju » Thörl-Maglern
016 Thörl-Maglern » Feistritzer Alm
017 Feistritzer Alm » Egger Alm
018 Egger Alm » Naßfeld
019 Naßfeld » Zollnersee Hütte ehm. Dr. Steinwender Hütte
020 Zollnersee Hütte ehm. Dr. Steinwender Hütte » Untere Valentinalm
021 Untere Valentinalm » Wolayersee Hütte
022 Wolayersee Hütte » Hochweißsteinhaus
023 Hochweißsteinhaus » Neue Porze Hütte
024 Neue Porze Hütte » Obstansersee Hütte
025 Obstansersee Hütte » Sillianer Hütte
026 Sillianer Hütte » Drei-Zinnen-Hütte / Rifugio Locatelli
027 Drei-Zinnen-Hütte / Rifugio Locatelli » Dürrensteinhütte / Rifugio Vallandro
028 Dürrensteinhütte / Rifugio Vallandro » Seekofelhütte / Rifugio Biella
029 Seekofelhütte / Rifugio Biella » St. Martin in Gsies / S. Martino in Casies
030 St. Martin in Gsies / S. Martino in Casies » Antholz-Mittertal / Anterselva di Mezzo
031 Antholz-Mittertal / Anterselva di Mezzo » Rieserfernerhütte / Rifugio Vedrette di Ries
032 Rieserfernerhütte / Rifugio Vedrette di Ries » Ahornach / Acereto
033 Ahornach / Acereto » Chemnitzer Hütte / Rifugio G. Porro
034 Chemnitzer Hütte / Rifugio G. Porro » Dun (Pfunders / Fundres)
035 Dun (Pfunders / Fundres) » Pfitscherjoch / Passo Vizze
036 Pfitscherjoch / Passo Vizze » Ginzling
037 Ginzling » Finkenberg
038 Finkenberg » Rastkogelhütte
039 Rastkogelhütte » Loassattel
040 Loassattel » Schwaz
041 Schwaz » Lamsenjochhütte
042 Lamsenjochhütte » Falkenhütte
043 Falkenhütte » Scharnitz
044 Scharnitz » Meilerhütte
045 Meilerhütte » Reintalanger Hütte
046 Reintalanger Hütte » Coburger Hütte
047 Coburger Hütte » Wolfratshauser Hütte
048 Wolfratshauser Hütte » Weißenbach am Lech
049 Weißenbach am Lech » Prinz-Luitpold-Haus
050 Prinz-Luitpold-Haus » Oberstdorf
051 Oberstdorf » Mindelheimerhütte
052 Mindelheimerhütte » Schröcken
053 Schröcken » Buchboden
054 Buchboden » St. Gerold
055 St. Gerold » Feldkirch
056 Feldkirch » Gafadurahütte
057 Gafadurahütte » Sücka
058 Sücka » Pfälzerhütte
059 Pfälzerhütte » Schesaplana Hütte
060 Schesaplana Hütte » Carschinahütte
061 Carschinahütte » St. Antönien
062 St. Antönien » Gargellen
063 Gargellen » Tübinger Hütte
064 Tübinger Hütte » Madlener Haus
065 Madlener Haus » Jamtalhütte
066 Jamtalhütte » Scuol
067 Scuol » S-charl
068 S-charl » Taufers / Tubre
069 Taufers / Tubre » Stilfs / Stelvio
070 Stilfs / Stelvio » Stilfser Joch / Passo dello Stelvio
071 Stilfser Joch / Passo dello Stelvio » Arnoga
072 Arnoga » Eita
073 Eita » Malghera
074 Malghera » Rifugio Schiazzera
075 Rifugio Schiazzera » Tirano
076 Tirano » Poschiavo
077 Poschiavo » Rifugio Zoia (Campo Moro)
078 Rifugio Zoia (Campo Moro) » Chiareggio
079 Chiareggio » Maloja
080 Maloja » Juf
081 Juf » Innerferrera
082 Innerferrera » Isola
083 Isola » Pian San Giacomo
084 Pian San Giacomo » Selma
085 Selma » Capanna Alpe Cava
086 Capanna Alpe Cava » Biasca
087 Biasca » Capanna d'Efra
088 Capanna d'Efra » Sonogno
089 Sonogno » Prato Sornico
090 Prato Sornico » Fontana (Val Bovana)
091 Fontana (Val Bovana) » Robiei
092 Robiei » Riale
093 Riale » Ulrichen
094 Ulrichen » Fieschertal
095 Fieschertal » Riederalp
096 Riederalp » Mund
097 Mund » Gampel / Steg
098 Gampel / Steg » Leukerbad
099 Leukerbad » Schwarenbach
100 Schwarenbach » Adelboden
101 Adelboden » Lenk
102 Lenk » Lauenen
103 Lauenen » Gsteig
104 Gsteig » Godey
105 Godey » Anzeindaz
106 Anzeindaz » Col du Demècre
107 Col du Demècre » Vernayaz
108 Vernayaz » Cabane de Susanfe
109 Cabane de Susanfe » Refuge Tornay-Bostan
110 Refuge Tornay-Bostan » Salvagny
111 Salvagny » Refuge de Moëde-Anterne
112 Refuge de Moëde-Anterne » La Flégère
113 La Flégère » Trient
114 Trient » Champex
115 Champex » Bourg-St-Pierre
116 Bourg-St-Pierre » Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard
117 Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard » Cérellaz
118 Cérellaz » Valgrisenche
119 Valgrisenche » Refuge de l'Archeboc
120 Refuge de l'Archeboc » Le Monal
121 Le Monal » Le Lac de Tignes
122 Le Lac de Tignes » Refuge de La Leisse
123 Refuge de La Leisse » Termignon-la-Vanoise
124 Termignon-la-Vanoise » Modane
125 Modane » Granges de la Vallée Etroite
126 Granges de la Vallée Etroite » Névache
127 Névache » Le Monêtier-les-Bains
128 Le Monêtier-les-Bains » Vallouise
129 Vallouise » Freissinières
130 Freissinières » Mont-Dauphin (Guillestre)
131 Mont-Dauphin (Guillestre) » Refuge de Furfande
132 Refuge de Furfande » Ceillac
133 Ceillac » Maljasset
134 Maljasset » Chiappera
135 Chiappera » Chialvetta
136 Chialvetta » Pontebernardo
137 Pontebernardo » Rifugio Zanotti
138 Rifugio Zanotti » Strepeis
139 Strepeis » Sant'Anna di Vinadio
140 Sant'Anna di Vinadio » Rifugio Malinvern
141 Rifugio Malinvern » Rifugio Questa
142 Rifugio Questa » Rifugio Morelli-Buzzi
143 Rifugio Morelli-Buzzi » Rifugio Ellena-Soria
144 Rifugio Ellena-Soria » Refuge de la Madone de Fenestre
145 Refuge de la Madone de Fenestre » Refuge de Nice
146 Refuge de Nice » Refuge de Valmasque
147 Refuge de Valmasque » Castérino
148 Castérino » Limonetto
149 Limonetto » Rifugio Garelli
150 Rifugio Garelli » Rifugio Mongioie
151 Rifugio Mongioie » Ormea
152 Ormea » Garessio
153 Garessio » Caprauna
154 Caprauna » Colle di Nava
155 Colle di Nava » San Bernardo di Mendatica
156 San Bernardo di Mendatica » Colla Melosa
157 Colla Melosa » Saorge
158 Saorge » Breil-sur-Roya
159 Breil-sur-Roya » Sospel
160 Sospel » Peillon
161 Peillon » Monaco - Place du Palais

Disclaimer: The information about the stages are by Via Alpina and GTA Association.

Photos

You can click on ⊕ button to see the photos for a particular day.

Calendar

In the summer of 2018, we completed the Yellow Trail. In the summer of 2019, we traversed the Blue Trail (almost). Other stages will be added to the calendar later. Simply contact us if you want to join!

Who Are We?

Sertan

I'm a software engineer with a PhD on machine learning and artificial intelligence. Currently, I work at Google Paris as a member of the Google Brain team. The city of lights is lovely city except that it is far from the hills and mountains :-(

Serkan

I'm an environmental engineer with a PhD on environmental information systems and technological accidents. Currently, I work at the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) of University of Twente. It is a beautiful but "flat" region!

Well, to start with, we are identical twins! We share the same passion of trail running, which started about 10 years ago with Anatolian Mountain Marathon in Turkey. Afterwards we participated (and still participating) to running events in a wide spectrum, including Tor des Geants / 4K (last four years), Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (finished UTMB three times and also CCC once), Lavaredo Ultra Trail, High Trail Vanoise, Trofeo Kima, Royal Sky Ultra, etc. We are simply amateur runners who enjoy being on the mountains, so nothing very spectacular performance wise, not very bad either. In these events, our motto is always the same: enjoy it as much as possible and try to finish. In our spare time, we also pass various routes together on our own (mostly for training purposes, but needless to say it is always great to be on the mountains).

Our interest in sports and love for the mountains dates back to university years and joining DKSK, the mountaineering and winter sports club at METU. DKSK plays an important role on where we currently are and how we approach things in general, we learned a lot there. Before switching to trail running, Sertan was a member of the nordic skiing and orienteering teams at university. Serkan did high altitude mountaineering and climbed several peaks higher than 5000 meters including two 8000'ers, Gasherbrum II in 2005 and Everest in 2006. Both were the first team expeditions from Turkey, organized by ORDOS, a mountaineering association founded by the graduates of DKSK.

Here are some ultra trails we have participated:

Join Us!

Do you want to company us while running the Alps? We will be happy to run and discover new places with friends!

If you are ready to walk ~40 km per day in Alpine terrain with a small backpack, please fill-in the form below to send us some information about yourself, the stage(s) you are interested in, and your suitable dates. You can find our planned dates for each stage in the Calendar section. Our dates are usually flexible, so we will do our best to arrange a common schedule.

How to Support?

We are not in search of any corporate sponsors for our project. We believe that it is better to have no strings attached and will try to cover the costs ourselves. If you want to offer us a drink, a meal or may be a night stay at lodgings/mountain huts on the path, please go ahead! (and thank you!)

Drink

A coffee or soft drink, or perhaps a bottle of (cold) beer from time to time :-)

Donate 5 €

Food

Nothing fancy, we love pasta and polenta!

Donate 10 €

Rest

We are planning to bivouac as much as possible. That being said, sometimes it is unavoidable (or better) to stay under a roof.

Donate 25 €

We are grateful to our friends at Ege Endustri for their support for summer 2019 events.

Ege Endüstri

Contact

Do you have any questions about our project or simply want to write some encouraging words to us?

Just fill the form below!

Follow us!

We will try to keep you posted about our progress and also send some photos along the route (as much as possible, no promises). Check it out!