Hiking for their lives

Gudrun and Peter Seifert are avid hikers on a mission. Originally from Germany, the Seiferts spent two years in Switzerland before coming to the United States in 1964. After taking early semi-retirement, Gudrun, an English teacher, and Peter, a mechanical engineer, traveled to Europe in 1998 for a hiking holiday in the French Alps. While on this trek, the Seiferts hit on a bold plan. They would hike the Alpine mountains from Nice, on the French Riviera, to Vienna, the capital of Austria. This journey would eventually extend over eight summers, becoming one of the greatest experiences of their lives—and helping them overcome adversity.