follow the rules

01

MANDATORY GEAR

Mandatory equipment of the participant may be checked in the starting area before the start of the event.

Participants who are missing a unit of equipment required by the organizers during the equipment check and during the event will be disqualified. HIGHLANDER Pin, Patch and Certificate will not be issued.

  • Tent or bivouac sack or hammock and waterproof tarp
  • Sleeping bag (not required if bringing bivouac sack)
  • Sleeping pad (not required if bringing bivouac sack with a built-in sleeping pad)
  • Head torch / flashlight
  • Cookware & cutlery
  • Portable stove (gas / gasoline / alcohol)
  • Start water 2-4L
  • Hydration bladder or water bottles with a minimum total volume of 4L
  • Warm clothing and footwear suitable for terrain and conditions
  • Boots or trail runners (footwear)
  • Compass
  • First-aid supplies (bandages, adhesive tape, adhesive bandages, stretch bandages, sterile gauze, antiseptic, repellent, pain relievers)
  • Survival blanket
  • Trash bag (provided by organizer)

02

SHARED EQUIPMENT

Some of the equipment can be shared in a group of maximum 4 people.

However, the group must cross the Finish Line within a time difference of no more than 30 minutes from the first to the last group member. Participants sharing equipment must inform the organizing staff at Registration - Event week. Staff may check equipment before the event start. Participants missing required equipment, either at the start or during the event, will be disqualified and will not be eligible to receive a HIGHLANDER Pin, Patch, and Certificate.

  • Tent
  • Portable stove and canister
  • Compass
  • First-aid KIT

03

REGISTRATION INCLUDES

  • Mountain Safety Team
  • 3 meals per day
  • HIGHLANDER ID – detailed itinerary showing checkpoint (with dedicated checkpoint stamp areas)
  • HIGHLANDER Maps
  • HIGHLANDER Map Cover – waterproof cases
  • Hiker tag, Luggage tag and other Kit items
  • HIGHLANDER Pin
  • HIGHLANDER Patch
  • HIGHLANDER Certificate
  • Educational and leisure activities
  • Infrastructure provided at the start, finish, checkpoints, and along the route
  • Transportation before the event for the HIGHLANDER Hercules Lake Ohrid: from Camping Scout Struga, to the start in v. Modrich

04

VIOLATION OF THE RULES

Participants will not receive the HIGHLANDER Pin, Patch, or Certificate in any of the stated circumstances.

Participants will be disqualified under the following circumstances:

  • If groups the teams sharing gear reach the finish line more than 30 minutes apart
  • Preventing staff from verifying that gear meets requirements
  • Missing required gear
  • Littering
  • Fire starting
  • Sleeping or cooking in mountain lodges, huts or other accommodation facilities
  • Borrowing equipment from the same facilities
  • Bivouacking outside of the designated camps

05

FOOD

HIGHLANDER Lake Ohrid offers vegetarian meal plan.

Vegan and gluten-free options will not be available. There is a specific question in the registration form.

Provided meals will be handed out in small packages suitable for carrying in backpacks. Each participant will receive three meals per day. Meal sizes are suited to adult persons: cooked food, dehydrated food, and ready meals, spreads, cheese, cold cuts, and bread.

We all have unique eating habits and feel full at different rates so if you think you need additional food / have a special diet please bring it with you. We recommend bringing snacks, dry fruit, and similar in addition to the meals provided by the Organizer.

There are no stores or supermarkets on Jablanica, so stock up.

HIGHLANDER HERCULES

The Organizer will provide 15 meals to be distributed at checkpoints. Food will be delivered to checkpoints in the following manner:

  • START – 1 dehydrated meal, 1 breakfast meals, 1 additional meals
  • CP1 Sv. Ilija – 1 cooked meal (dinner), the two-day package (2 breakfast meals, 2 dehydrated meals, 2 additional meals)
  • CP3 Gorna Belica – 1 cooked meal (dinner), the two-day package (1 breakfast meal, 1 dehydrated meal, 1 additional meals)
  • CP4 Visni – 1 cooked meal (dinner), the half-day package (1 breakfast meal, 1 additional meal).

HIGHLANDER ORION

The Organizer will provide 3 meals to be distributed at the Start. Food will be delivered in the following manner:

  • START - the one-day package (1 breakfast meal, 1 dehydrated meal, 1 additional meal)

 

06

WATER

You must bring your own water to the Start (minimum 4L).

It is important to stay hydrated so please make sure to carry enough water with you at all times.

Plenty of drinking water will be available at all checkpoints.

At checkpoints with water tankers participants may help themselves to water as customary in hiking practice.

Mountain water is generally safe for drinking, but using water purification (tablets/drops/filter) may be a good idea.

07

BIVOUACKING AND SITES:

Participants choose their bivouacking spot on site.

Choose a location on a hard dry surface such as rock, sand, gravel, or pine needle duff, not on vegetation or in meadows.

Sleeping arrangements may only include the required gear: tent, tarp, bivouac sack or hammock. Fires, lodging, cooking or borrowing gear from mountain lodges or huts are PROHIBITED.

08

TIME LIMITS

HIGHLANDER is not a race but it does have a time limit.

All participants who collected all stamps and came to finish by the time of the finish closing, will receive their HIGHLANDER Pin, Patch and Certificate.

09

FIRE

Fire making is prohibited at Jablanica.

10

LITTERING AND WASTE:

Garbage cans will be located at some bivouac camp checkpoints.

Littering and polluting is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate disqualification.

Participants may use the toilets available at checkpoints, huts, hostels, etc.

In nature, feces must be buried at least 15 cm deep, and 60 m away from campsites, water sources, buildings, and backpacking trails. Use toilet paper sparingly and pack it out. A plastic bag confines odors effectively, and double bagging prevents any accidental contamination.

11

DOGS

This is a dog-friendly event but dogs must be on a leash. You need to carry the dog food with you.

$0No extra registration fee required.

When in camping area: dogs will need to stay on a leash and must be taken outside of the camping area to relieve themselves. Dogs are not allowed inside any buildings including the dining hall.

Please note it might still be pretty hot and unless the dog is acclimated to the heat, overheating might be a challenge. For the same reason, please make sure the dog is well hydrated - you probably need to carry 1.5x to 2x your water amount for the two of you.

The general rule for the K9 team for wilderness in hot weather is 1 liter per 1-2 hours for the dog and his owner together.

12

WITHDRAWING

In the event of a serious injury or inability to walk, and if there is no cellular coverage, this must be reported at the nearest checkpoint through other participants or the organizers so that emergency service can be called.

If cellular service is available, a serious injury or inability to walk must be reported to emergency services by dialing +389 46 520842.

The organizer is not responsible in any way for participants' withdrawal. Withdrawing participants will be responsible for making their own transportation arrangements.

Check Backcountry safety tips to avoid unnecessary withdrawing.

THE ORGANIZER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE RULES.

Hikers exercising

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245 Park Avenue, New York

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