New Book: Frank Eichmann Talks About His Via Alpina Hike
Frank Eichmann, a tax consultant born in 1965, has chronicled his long-distance hike in a book of over 300 pages—and now shares the story of how he came to embark on his 2,600-kilometer journey along the Via Alpina.
Four years ago, he was once again struck by the long-distance hiking bug. Instead of a long-distance trail in the U.S. or New Zealand, he opted for the Via Alpina’s Red Route: 161 stages across the main Alpine ridge, from Trieste through Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and France to Monaco—eight countries, roughly 2,600 kilometers, and about 140,000 meters of elevation gain.
Eichmann was on the trail for four months, almost entirely on foot and mostly alone, with a tent in his pack. Along the way, he faced dangerous weather, challenges finding places to stay, and physical hardships—but he also experienced unforgettable natural spectacles, warm encounters with locals and fellow hikers, and a sense of freedom and independence he had never known before. He brought back more than 7,000 photos from his journey.
His conclusion: a journey full of emotional highs and lows that demanded everything from him—and gave him everything in return.
His book, Wanderung ins Glück. Via Alpina – 2,600 Kilometers Across the Main Alpine Ridge from Trieste to Monaco, is published by Books on Demand (313 pages—available on Amazon and in bookstores).
