Via Alpina

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The key to this trip is Kev Reynolds's excellent book 'Alpine Pass Route' by Cicerone press, which contains everything you want to know.  My kit list is below...everyone's will vary but with a lot of effort I kept to 8kg before water and food. This was no problem for carrying.

Having purchased over £100 worth of maps The new site www.schweizmobil.ch  has everything for free. However all footpaths in Switzerland are very well sign posted. As long as you know the name of the next pass / village you should be OK.... but I wouldn't go without a map.

I went in early June, which is probably to early. I also made most of the journey by myself.... because of safety a few times I thought this might not be the wisest move.
Main Kit

 

 

 In Sub Bags & Wallet
35Ltr Rucksack + Liner

1

 

 Outer V thin bag with shoulder strap
Thin trousers

1

 

 Maps…as little as poss
Thin trousers

1

 

 APR book
Long Sleved Shirt

2

 

 YHA card
Base Layer T Shirts

1

 

 Note / sketch book
Thin Warm tops

2

 

 Pasport
Thin Annorack

1

 

 Money
Waterproof trousers

1

 

 E111
Trainers (lightweight)

1

 

 Pens / pencils / waterpen
Thin Socks

3

 

 I Pod + Earphones
Thick socks

3

 

 SatMap + Maps
Pants

3

 

 Kindle
Boots

1

 

 Mobile Phone
Baseball Cap

1

 

 Powermonkey + chargers
Sheet Sleeping Bag

1

 

 Spare SatMap Baterry
T Shirt

1

 

 Spare Camera Battery
Gloves

1

 

 Camera  Charger
Padded seat (V lightweight)

1

 

 Camera
Silk Pillow Case

1

 

 Small Compass
Platipus Bottle

1

 

 Pen Knife
Walking Pole

1

   Knife scissors

 

 

 Spare Glasses
Toiletries + First Aid

 

 

 Sun Glasses
Antibiotics

 

 

 Small First Aid kit
Bowell Fixer + & -

 

 

 Sun Screen
Isoprofine

 

 

 Small head torch
Vassaline

 

 

 Small wistle
Lamosil

 

 

 Nylon line (Emergancy washing line)
Emergancy sink plug

 

 

 6 Nappy Pins (hanging washing)
Bar of soap

 

 

 2 spare plastic shopping bags (vthin)…damp washing)
Tooth Paste

 

 

 Emergancy Sleeping bag - foil
Tooth Brush

 

 

 Spork
Razor + Blades

 

 

  
Earplugs

 

 

  
Anti bacterial wipes

 

 

  
Small packet tissues

 

 

  
Towel light weight