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Onwalking trails through

the eight alpine countriesThe Austrian andGerman stages

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T V aA a...

...isan internationallong-distancepaththat wasestablishedin1999 ontheinitiative of theAssociationLa GrandeTraversedesAlpes.It takesthewalker fromTriesteinItaly viaSlovenia,Austria, Germany,Switzerland,Liechtensteinand Francethrough toMonaco.Thereareatotalof 342daystageson5 internationalwalkingpaths, enticingyouto visittheAlps mountainrangeas thegreatest Europeannaturalspace,the cradleof Alpinesportsandtherefugeofauniquefloraandfauna.But theAlpsarenot just a placeof nature,but alsoof culture,andaboveall ofhabitat,somethingworth beingpreservedinitspresent formforits inhabitantsandvisitors.Inaccordancewiththis theVIAALPINA ispursuingtheobjectivesof sustainabledevelop-ment,whicharealso theobjectivesofthe AlpineConvention ,thetreatysigned in1991byallAlpine statestoprotect thenaturalexpansesand habitatsofthe Alps.ParticularlyintheprotocolsTourismandSpatial PlanningandSustainableDevelopment,theobjectivesoftheAlpineConventionarethesameasthoseoftheVIAALPINA.

Asmall example,anextract fromtheprotocol, Tourism,Art.6Orientation oftouristdevelopment(1):Thecontractualpartiesshallintegratetheinterestsofconservationand protectionofthecountrysidei ntothepromotion oftourism.They areobligedif possibletopro-moteonlyprojectsthat areinharmony withthelandscapeandthe environment(2):Theyshall introducesustainablepoliciesthat strengthenthecompetitivenessof nature-orientedtourism,thusmakingan important contributiontothe socio-econo-micdevelopment oftheAlpine region.(...)

Nonew trailswereset upalong thecourseof theVIA ALPINA,but theexistingnetworkoftrails,with theEuropeanlong-distancetrails,was connectedtothe tenAustrianlong-distancetrailsand thenumerousregionaltrails.TheVIA ALPINApasses throughmanydifferent areas.It opensup theentirewealthof cultureandlandscapeof theAlps ,whichcould not bemorewide-ranging.Cities, coas-talareas, abandonedminingvillages, remotepeaksand widelyvisited tourismvenuesalternatewithone another.It crossesnationalbordersmore than60 timesand passesthroughtennational parks,seventeennaturalparksandnumerousnaturereserves.Allthe trails canbewalkedinthesummermonths easilyandwithout additionalequipment suchascramponsorropes ,asfixed roperoutesor crossingglaciersare con-sciouslyavoided.But inthehigh mountainstherearemany sectionsthat aresomewhatexposedandsecuredwithwire rope,sothat aheadfor heightsandsure-footednessaretosomeextent necessary.Eachstagehasat least oneplacetostayovernight ,ofcourse,and thereareusuallydesti-nationsinbetweenthe stagesaswell,allowing routestobe plannedindividually.Alltrails arewell markedand sign-posted ,andin additionbearthelogoof theVIAALPINA,whichstretcheslike aredthreadthroughthe entireAlpinemountainrange.Thelogoschangecolour,marking thefivedifferent paths ,whichis howtheyare differentia-ted.But westillrecommend that youtakeregional walkingmapswith you,asthe logosonlyindicatethe VIAALPINAfrom timetoti me,but cannot beregardedasa continuoussignpostingforthepath.

T F v Ro t oft V a A a

TheRedTrail161stages,morethananentirewalkingseasonthrougheightcountries:Italy,Slovenia,Austria, Germany,Liechtens tein,Switzerland, Franceand Monaco.

TheRed Trailis aconnecting routebetweentheeight Alpinestates. It crosses themainridgeofthe Alps severaltimes to connect TriestewithMonaco,via Bavariaand Liechten-stein.Onthis routethewalker cancontemplatethe dimensions ofthe Alps,particularlyinthe numerous naturaland nationalparks,as thegreatest Europeannatural space,and discovera widerange offauna, floraand landscape.The trailskirts many ofthehighest mountains:Triglav,Drei Zinnen,Hochfeiler,Zugspitze,Silvretta,Bernina, Mont-Blanc,the glaciers ofthe Vanoise,the Barredes Ecrins...But it also leads,far fromthebustleof tourists,to theisolated villages ofthe Julianand Carnic Alps,the Ticino andthewesternAlps.

ThePurpleTrail

66stages throughthree countries:Slovenia,Austria,Germany.ThePurpleTrailisidealforgettingtoknowtheeasternLimestoneAlps,fromtheKara-wankenandalong theNational ParksofTriglav,Gesuse, KalkalpenandBerchtesgadentotheAllgu.Intheheart oftheTriglavmassifit turnsofftheRedTrailtotheeast.Off thebeatentrack,throughthel imestoneplateaus,it crossesnineofthe tenAustrianlongdistancetrails.

TheYellowTrail 40 stages throughthree countries:Italy,Austria,Germany.

TheYellowTrailtakesthewalker from0to 3,000mabovesealevel,from theAdriaticcoasttothe meadowsofthe Allgu,fromthe mixtureof different culturesinBolzano totheunspoilednatureofthe Lechtal,fromtheDolomites that oncesprangupfromthe oceanfloorto theSimilaun,thehome ofthetzi,the Iceman:acrossingrich incontrasts.

TheGreen Trail13stages throughtwocountries:Liechtensteinand Switzerland.

TheGreenTrailisthe shortestVIAALPINAsection.It canbewalkedduringa holidaystayorbeusedasashortcutduringtheoverallcrossingfromTriestetoMonaco.Hereyoustrollpastthefootof probablythemostfamous mountaininthe BerneseOberland,withtheEiger,MnchandJungfrau.

TheBlueTrail61 stages throughthree countries:Switzerland,Italy and France.

FromtheglaciersoftheMonte-Rosato thetranquilvillagesofthe MaritimeAlps,theBlueTrailtakesyoutoa largeextent ontheGrandeTraversatadelleAlpithroughthePiedmont Alps.Inits northernpartsit followsthefootstepsof theWalseron theSwiss-Italianborder.Startingoff fromthe highRhonevalley inwhat todayisWallis, thistribeinthe 13thcenturyestablishedsettlementsin highvalleysfrom VorarlberginAustriatothesouthernflankso ftheMonte-Rosa inItaly.Even todayyoucan comeacrossGermanspeakingminoritiesas faroffas GressoneyintheValle dAosta.

FromSimilaun in theAllgu AlpstheYellowTrail through Austria to theAllgu

Thehighest point ofthe VIA ALPINA inthe entirealpineregion is reached at theSimi-launlodge,crossing fromSouthTyrol into thetztal ofNorth Tyrol.Youhave to climbto 3,019mabove sea-level,but theview overthemountainscape is breathtaking.Thisroutewas used by early hunters,becausethetzi,theIceman,was found not farfromthelodge.A monument marks theprecisesite wherehewas found and describes thespectacularevents leading to his discovery by theSimoncouple.

TheVIA ALPINA leads fromtheSimilaun lodge,viathe MartinBuschlodge,down to thehighest situated village along withObergurgl in Tyrol,to Vent.This mountaineeringvillageat thefoot oftheWildspitze is well-knownforits idyllic mountainclimbing andunspoilt naturalbeauty.This panoramic routecontinues to theTiefenbachferneranddownto Zwieselstein.Via theRettenbachfernerand thePitztaler Jchl,you reachtheunspoiled Mittelbergfernerand theBraunschweigerl odge.Walking along thePitztal, youcross thenorthernentranceof theVenet to reachtheInntalin thedirectionofZams.Fromhereyou cannow set offforthe heart ofthe LechtalAlps.The Memmingerlodgeis anideal placeto stay beforemaking thedescent thenext day into thewonderfulLechtal.Now youstillhave to cross theAllgu Alps beforecoming to OberstdorfintheAllguat theend oftheYellow Trail.

ChARACTeRisTiCs

High-alpinecharacter dueto its heighand direct proximity to glaciers,head forheights and sure-footedness required.Highlightsin TyrolHighest point ofentireVia Alpinaat theSimilaunlodgePlace wherethetzi was foundArchaeologicalpaths inthetztalMountaineering villageofVentRest areatztalerAlpsPanoramic views at theVenetUnspoiled LechtalerAlpsLechtalNatura 2000 area

WA l k i n g M A p s

sterreichischerAlpenverein:AV30/1,30/2,30/5,30/6,3/3,2/1 www.alpenverein.atFreytag&Berndt: WK251,WKS 2,WK351,WK 372 www.freytagberndt.comKompass: Nr.43,24,3, 4 www.kompass.atBayerischesLa ndesvermessungsamt Mnchen: TopographicMap:AllguAlpswww.geodaten.bayern.de

Over the Karnischen Kamm (Carnic ridge),through the Zil-lertal,vi a the Wettersteingebirge,through the Groe Walservalley,across the Rtikon and Silvretta the Red Trail throughAustria,Germany,South Tyrol,Li echtenstein and Switzerland

TheVIA ALPINA leads across theWurzenpass fromSloveniato Austria.You follow theentirecourseofthe Carnic ridgefromeast to west,enterthefascinating world ofgeolo-gy and learnabout thehorrors ofthe First and Second World Wars ontheFriedensweg(PeacePath).Via theDrei Zinnenand theRieserfernergroup,the ViaAlpina takes youacross SouthTyrol, beforereturning to Austriansoil at thePfitscherJoch. Along theentireZillertal and throughtheZill ertalAlps Highland NaturalPark,through thesmallmountaineering villageof Ginzling and viaFinkenberg,you reachthe Rastkogellodge,fromwherea detourto Innsbruck forks offfromtheVIA ALPINA.This detourgoes past theWeidener-,Lizumer-and Glungezerlodges to thePatscherko-feland downto theAlpinecity ofInnsbruck,theseat ofthe Permanent Secretariat oftheAlpineConventionand a culturalcentresurrounded by abreathtaking moutainworld.Viathe Nordketteyoureach thePfeis lodge,and youreturn to theVIA ALPINA viatheHallerangerhaus lodgeand theBirkkarspitze,the highest mountainin theKarwendel.Becausethis takes youfrom theRastkogel lodgeback to theKellerjoch,into thesilvertownofSchwazand right throughthemiddle oftheKarwendelAl pinePark to theLam-senjochlodge,theFalken lodgeand theKarwendelhaus lodge.ViaScharnitz and theLeutasch youthen againascend into theWettersteingebirge,crossing theborderto Germany,staying overnight intheMeiler lodge,beforereturningto Austriavia theSchachenhaus lodgeand theReintalangerlodge onthe Gatterl.Con-tinuing overthe EhrwalderAlm,past theSeebenseelakeand theCoburgerlodge,youdescend to Bieberwierand viathe Wolfratshauserlodgeto Berwang,cross theRotlech-talvalley and cometo theLechtalvalley. This valley,announced as aNatura2000 areaand established as theWildflusslandschaft TirolerLechtal NaturalPark,is thepreserveofoneof thelast stillintact riversystems ofEurope.

ChARACTeRisTiCs

Richinvariation,alpine ontheKarnischenKamm,leisurelythrough theZillertal,breathtakingthroughthe Karwendel,culture-relatedfrom Hachtannbergto theGroeWalsertalandhigh-alpinein theRtikonandin theSilvrettaHighlightsin Carinthia Geo-trailon theKarnischen Kamm,going back 500 millionyears throughthe

history ofthe Earth,numerous fossils right by thepath Lesachtal Europes landscapeofthe year MariaLuggaubasilica....in TyrolandBavaria Mountaineering villageofGinzling and ZillertalAlps Highlands NaturalParkSilver townofSchwarz,show mineKarwendelAlpine ParkAlpineci ty ofInnsbruckAlpinariumGaltrHunting lodgeofKing Ludwig II.Zugspitzeand WetterwandNatura2000 areaLechtal and Wildflusslandschaft TirolerLechtal NaturalParkAllguerHochalpen NatureReserve...in Vorarlberg

UniquevarietyoflandscapesbetweenHochtannberg,WalgauandtheRhinevalleyTannbergregion,withRhine-DanubewatershedandtheKalbeleand Krberlakes GroesWalsertalBiosphereReservewithSt.GeroldProvost Feldkirchhistoricalcentre

WA l k i n g M A p s

sterreichischer Alpenverein: AV 35/1,35/2,5/1,5/2,5 /3,31/5,4/2,4/3,2/2,3/2,26www.alpenverein.atFreytag&Berndt: WK224,223,182, 152,151,321,322,252, 351,346,371, 373www.freytagberndt.comKompass: Nr.64,60,47, 57,82,037,26, 5,07,25, 04,3, 2,21,41 www.kompass.atBayerischesLandesvermessungsamt Mnchen: Topographic Map:WerdenfelserLand,AllguerAlps www.geodaten.bayern.de

Mo ta r V a

Viathe Hochobir,throughthefoothillsofthe Schilcherwine-gro-wingarea,acrossthe Koralm,throughAdmont,overthenorthernLimestoneAlps,throughthreeNational Parks,throughtheChiem-gau,acrossthe Bavarianpre-AlpstoGarmisch-Partenkirchen,SchwangauandFssen thePurpleTrailin AustriaandGermany

Branching offfromthe Red Trailinthe Triglavmassif,thePurpleTrail reaches theAustri-anborderon theSeebergsattel.Withashort detourto therichviews oftheHochobir,orto thewell-knownObir dripstonecaves,youreach Bad Eisenkappel,and onvia thePet-zento Bleiburg and viaLavamnd and theSoboth to Eibiswald.Across theKoralm,thesummermeadows oftheLipizzanero ntheStubalm and viathe Gaberl,youcontinueonto Knittelfeld,past theBenedictineabbey ofSeckau,to Triebenand Admont,thegate-way to theNationalPark ofGesuse,famous worldwideforhousing theworlds largestmonastic library.ViatheHallerMauern and throughthe second longest walkablerockygorgeinAustria, theDr.-Vogelgesang gorge,and afterSpitalam Pyhrn,youarrive intheLimestoneAlps NationalPark,and continuevia theToteGebirge(Dead Mountains)totheworld heritagesites ofBad Goisernand Gosau.Across theGosaukamm,faceto facewiththe GroenBischofsmtzeand theDachsteinmassif,the VIA ALPINA follows thepathto Lungtzand onthesouth flank oftheTennengebirgeto Werfen,wheretheBurgHohenwerfenis poised majestically abovethe riverSalzach.Now youstrollat thefoot ofthe impressiveHochknig massifto Hinterthaland MariaAlmand across the SteinerneMeerto theBerchtesgadenNationalPark.Onemoredetourto Austria,viatheNeue Traunsteinerlodgeand theReiterAl mto Unken,beforeentering theChiemgauand fromtherestraight to two mountains withthemost beau-tifulviews,the Hochfellnand theHochgern,and onto Marquartstein.Viathe Kampenwand,witha short stop at thePrienerlodge,you reachSachrang andthen,viathe Spitzsteinhaus,youarrivein Austria.Aftera visit to thepassionplay venueofErl, youcontinue viathe Zollhausbrckeonto Oberaudorf,past theBrnnstein,theGroenTraithenand theRotwand to theSpitzingsee lake,and viathe RisserkogeltoKreuth.Afterthefinalstage intheMangfall mountains youreachLenggries,fromwhere youclimb up to theBavarian pre-Alps,via theBenediktenwand and theHerzogstandto Eschenloheand viatheWank to theOlympic city ofGarmisch-Partenkirchen.To thenorthof Garmisch,past thePflegerseelakeand along and out oftheElmaubachvalley, youreach Linderhofin theGraswangtal,enjoy a luxurious overnight stay inthe castlehotel,beforecarrying on,viathe isolated Ammergebirge,to thetourismstrongholds of Schwangauand Fssen,withtheir world-famous fairy talecastles ofNeuschwansteinand Hochenschwangau.As ifthis was not enough,you also pay avisit to Germanys highest situated mountain

ruins,theBurg Falkenstein,beforearriving inPfronten,and continuing viatheTannhei-mermountains to Austriaand into theTannheimervalley.But soonyou areascendingagain,climbing theAllguAlps and following theJubilumssteig (Jubileepath)to thePrinz-Luitpold-Haus lodge,whereyoucomeonto the Red Trail.Thetwo trails briefly runtogether,beforeyou branchoff to thenorth, taking onthe descent via theEdmund-Probst-Haus lodgeto Oberstdorf.HerethePurpleTrail,thethird intheassociation alongwiththeYellow and Red Trails,comes to animportant junctionintheAll gu

ChARACTeRisTiCs

Apleasant walkthrough easternAustria,pre-Alps character,NorthernLimestoneAlps,numerousculturalhighlightsonthe NationalParkRouteHighlightsin CarinthiaHochobirand ObirdripstonecavesSpatown ofBad EisenkappelWernerBerg Gallery inBleiburg....in StyriaSobothWalking CentreKoralmCrystal Trailhighabove theSchilcherlandBenedictineabbey ofSeckauAdmont Abbey,worlds largest monastic libraryGesuseNational Park

....in Upper AustriaKalkalpenNational ParkDr.Vogelgesang gorge,second-longest walkablegorgein AustriaImpressivemountain world oftheTotes GebirgeWorld heritagesites ofHallstatt,Bad Goisern,Gosau,Dachsteinmassiv, Salzkammergut,lakeworld ofDachsteinand Dachsteincaves....in theSalzburgerLandArnowegBurg Hohenwerfenand Eisriesenwelt (worlds largest icecaves)Prehistoric coppermines,Mhlbacham HochknigAlp SummerinSalzburg

....in BavariaBerchtesgadenNationalParkMountainv iews fromHochfellnand HochgernTheimpressive Benediktenwand and HerzogstandOlympic city ofGarmisch-PartenkirchenSchloss LinderhofintheGraswangtalRoyal castles ofNeuschwansteinand HohenschwangauinFssenJubilumsweg(Jubileepath)i ntheAll guAlps

WA l k i n g M A p s

sterreichischerAlpenverein:AV15/1,15/2,15/3,10/1,10/2,14,16 www.alpenverein.atFreytag&Berndt:WK232,471,237, 132,212,062,082,281, 392,103,102,101, 301www.freytagberndt.comKompass: Nr.65,218, 222,69,19,20,15, 14,10,9, 8,008 www.kompass.atBayerischesLandesvermessungsamt Mnchen: TopographicalMap: Berchtesga-denerAlps,Chiemsee and surroundings,Mangfall mountains,Bad Tlz-Lenggriesand surroundings,WerdenfelserLand,Fssenand surroundings,Allgu Alpswww.geodaten.bayern.de

s c f c off r o t p r Tra

Hochknig Via Alpina tour impressivewalking without packs

Co try Austriala d Salzburgprov d r Hochknigs BergreichV aA a ta Purpletrail,A 36 A 38Ty 5-day tourwithbaggagetransportpr c r r o 5 nights/HB 299.-EURBoo region@hochkoenig.at

i format o

Region HochknigAm Gemeindeplatz 75761 Maria AlmTel.:+43 6584 20388Fax:+43 6584 20388-25region@hochkoenig.atwww.hochkoenig.at

One very beautiful and impressive way to start walking the Via Alpina is from thefoot of the Hochknig.Four day stages from Bischofshofen to Saalfelden,a stress-free journey by train,the comfort of walking without packs,a return via beautiful meadowsand the excellent local cuisine all help make this section of the Via Alpina particularlyappealing.

Ge

T V a A a A tr aa d g rma y

Lying right intheheart ofthe Alps,thetwo countries ofAustria and Germany togethermakeup thelargest shareof theVIA ALPINA.Threeof thefive routes cross thecoun-tries fromsouthto north,and fromeast to west.BothAustria and Germany haveanextremely richvariety of landscapes,world-famous culturaltreasures and breathtakingnaturalbeauty.Onthe VIA ALPINA you walk throughthesouthernfoothills of thewine-growingarea,theol d rock masses ofthe Koralm,theimpressive limestonemassif ofthe TotenGebirges (theDead Mountain),theDachsteinand theSteinernes Meer(Stony Sea),follow inthe footsteps ofEmperor Maximilianand theChiemgau Alps,the Mangfallmountain,theBavarian pre-Alps and theAllguAlps.In Tiroland Vorarlberg youcomecloseto theimpressiveglaciers ofthetztal and Pitztal,but also ofthe SilvrettaandtheRtikon. Youskirt theNational Parks ofGesuse, Kalkalpen(Limestone Alps)and

Berchtesgaden,walk ona sectionof theWalserweg right throughthe Vorarlberg,andpass throughnumerous naturereserves and culturalcentres,such as Admont inStei-ermark,themedieval towns ofFeldkirchi nVorarlberg and FsseninBavaria, withtheirworld famous royalcastles.A short detourfromtheVIA ALPINA takes you to thealpinecity ofInnsbruck,whichis not only theseat ofthe Permanent Secretariat oftheAlpineConvention,but also aculturalhighlight.

YoureachOberstdorf viathe AllguerAlps.But incontrast to theYellow Trail,the RedTrailonly makes ashort stop here,as it continues viatheMindelheimerand Widdersteinlodges and theWalsergemeindeSchrckenthrough theGroeWalsertal and theWal-gauright across Vorarlberg.Splendid views oftheGroes WalsertalBiosphereReserveand theimpressivecultural landscapeofthe valley canbeenjoyed.Fromthehistorical centreofFeldkirch, theVIA ALPINA leads past theFeldkircherlodge,withani mpressiveview oftheWalgau,theRhine valley,theSwiss mountains and LakeConstance,to thePrincipality ofLiechtenstein.At thebordertriangle ofLiechtenstein,Switzerland and Austria,you now reachthePflzerlo dgeand wind along thenationalborderacross theRtikon and theSilvretta, beforefinally leaving Austriansoil ontheFutschlpass.

ThDeIni

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i a - a l p

i n a . o r g

iMpRessuM

p b r:NationalSecretariat ViaAlpina Austriaand Germany,layo t a dprod ct o : Werbeagentur Ingenhaeff-BeerenkampBruder-Willramstrae1A-6067Absamwww.i-b.at,p ct r :Michael Kleider,Christina Schwann,R o a ma :Art'graphi Crations - Ran-donne Crations,T t ct r :Erichhtte am Hochknig

The Mountaineering Villages initiative originated from an idea of theAustrian Alpine Association.Together with the Federal Ministry for Ag-riculture and Forestry,Environment and Water Management,in shortthe Ministry of Life,selected communities and regions all over Austriawere presented in the context of soft summer and winter tourism.

The exemplary effect of the Mountaineering Villages stretches above all to the activeefforts to implement the objective of sustainable development in the Alpine region,in harmony with,and naturally in compliance with,all relevant legal regulations andprogrammes.The promotion and further development of the Mountaineering Villagesis thus in harmony with the implementation protocols of the Alpine Convention.

Mountaineering Villages are exemplary regional cores of development in sustainableAlpine tourism,with a corresponding tradition.They guarantee professional tourismresources for mountaineers,provide an excellent quality of landscape and environ-ment,and are committed to upholding local values of culture and nature.As Al pinecentres of competence,Mountaineering Villages rely on self responsibility,capabilityand sovereignty,as well as a responsible and environmentally aware behaviour of theirguests on the mountain.Mountaineering Villages represent holiday destinations for a specific group of tourists.A group that is looking for rest and relaxation,but that also wants to explore the opencountryside,and aims to spend an active holiday far from the large centres of tourism.Mountaineering Villages are shining examples in the implementation of the AlpineConvention,which is why they are responsible for doing justice to the protocols andobjectives of the Convention as much as possible.This can be seen in initiatives to usepublic transport wherever possible,in offering regional products in the partner busi-nesses of Mountaineering Villages,in the way community residents interact respon-sibly with their environment,and especially,of course,in connection with the range of Alpine activities on offer.But living traditions,Alpine history,culture and agriculturehave also always characterised these communities,and play an essential part in crea-ting the personal charm of each individual location.

Via Alpina crosses several villages part of the Mountaineering Villages programme.For instance in the Groe Walsertal valley on the Red Trail,all six municipalities,alsopart of the UNESCO-Biosphere Park,are mountaineering villages. But also Kartitsch,Obertilliach,Untertilliach and Lesachtal on the foot o f the Karnischer Kamm moun-tain range are members of the initiative; and not to be forgotten the small village of Ginzling in the Zillertal valley.

Vent in the tztal valley on the Yellow Trail and Johnsbach im Gesuse next to Admont,a national park community and famous for its extraordinary alpine climbing routes,onthe Purple Trail,are also members.

More information about the philosophy of the project as well as details to all 1 7 moun-taineering villages in Austria can be found on the websitewww.bergsteigerdoerfer.at.

1st edition 2007:Alpine Space Interreg IIIB

2nd edition 2010:BMWFJ