01
MANDATORY GEAR
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.
*This equipment can be shared in a group of maximum of 4 people, the group must cross the Finish Line with not more than 30 minutes time difference. Participants sharing equipment must inform the organizing staff at Registration – Event week.
All mandatory equipment can be checked at the start, before the start of the event.
ORION FORMAT:
- winter footwear
- gaiters
- winter gloves + spare gloves
- cap
- warm clothes
- hardshell clothing (jacket+pants)
- snowshoes — (possibility of renting snowshoes when registering for the event – LIMITED offer!)
- hiking poles with snow cloths
- winter sleeping bag
- sleeping pad (recommended - insulated)
- astro-foil
- first aid (elastic bandage, plasters, sterile gauze, bandages, antiseptic, painkillers)
- lighter/stamps/flint
- thermos/insulated tea bottle (0.5l-1l)
- compass* and map (the map is provided by the organizer)
- mobile phone or GPS device (gpx route provided by the organizer)
- gas burner for cooking*
- gas cartridge (minimum 200g)*
- dishes and cutlery
- a knife
- head light + spare batteries or rechargeable
- spare universal battery (powerbank)*
- water at the start (minimum 2 liters)
- bladder or water bottle with a minimum capacity of 2 l
- bag for garbage and waste (Provided by the organizer)
- backpack with rain protection
02
REGISTRATION INCLUDES
You can leave your additional luggage with us. Leave it at the registrations and collect it after you finish. Please note that the Organizer is not responsible for any of your valuable items.
- On-duty Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (HGSS)
- Luggage transportation (40 L/20 kg) from START in Bela Vodica to FINISH in Platak
- Premium mountaineering food: 3 meals per day (dehydrated food, cold cuts, cheese, bread, ready meals)
- HIGHLANDER ID – detailed itinerary showing all checkpoints (with dedicated checkpoint stamp spaces)
- HIGHLANDER gpx map
- HIGHLANDER map
- HIGHLANDER BIB
- HIGHLANDER Luggage tag and other Kit items
- HIGHLANDER Pin
- HIGHLANDER Patch
- HIGHLANDER Certificate
- Educational and leisure activities
- Infrastructure at start, finish, checkpoints and along the route
03
TRANSPORT
Transport to the start and from the finish is not provided by the organizer.
- Please check out travel & accommodation section where you can find which busses and trains can take you closes to the start location.
04
VIOLATION OF THE RULES
Participants will be disqualified under the following circumstances ➝
- If the teams sharing gear reach the finish line over 30 minutes apart
- Denying staff to check the required gear
- Missing required gear
- Littering
- Fire starting
- Sleeping or cooking in mountain lodges, huts, or other accommodation facilities
- Borrowing equipment from the same facilities
05
Food
The Organizer will provide 4 meals to be distributed at checkpoints with the vegetarian option for those who choose it during the registration process.
Provided meals are suited to the average daily needs of an average adult: cooked food, dehydrated food, ready meals, spreads, cheese, cold cuts, and bread.
Participants supply their own snacks and extra food (as deemed necessary).
Water will be made available during staff working hours.
Detailed information on the provided meals will be given in a timely manner.
06
Water
You must bring your own water to the Start (3L).
Plenty of drinking water and tea will be available at all checkpoints during working hours.
Mountain water is MOSTLY safe for drinking since there are natural spring waters, but water purification (tablets/drops/filters) is strongly recommended.
07
BIVOUACKING AND SITES
The Organizer will designate bivouacking spots on Checkpoints 3
There is no designated bivouacking spot at Checkpoints 1, 2 and 4 as they serve only to get the Checkpoint stamps
Fire starting is prohibited at Gorski Kotar. However, a gas stove can be used for cooking.
Sleeping arrangements may include only the required gear: winter tent, tarp, bivouac sack, winter sack
Lodging, cooking, or borrowing gear in and from mountain lodges or huts IS 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
CHECKPOINTS
Each format has a certain amount of mandatory checkpoints.
Participants must collect all checkpoint stamps in their HIGHLANDER ID.
Checkpoint stamp collection is the sole responsibility of the participant. If the event staff is not present at a checkpoint, participants must stamp their HIGHLANDER ID themselves.
10
LITTERING AND WASTE
Checkpoints will not have wastebaskets so please carry the litter with you to the Finish.
Littering and polluting are strictly prohibited and will result in immediate disqualification.
Participants may use the lavatories available at checkpoints, provided by the organizer.
When relieving yourself in nature, feces must be buried or covered with stones well outside camping sites, buildings, and hiking trails. Failing to do so will result in immediate disqualification. Participants will be denied the HIGHLANDER Pin, Patch and, Certificate.
11
LUGGAGE TRANSPORTATION TO GORSKI KOTAR
The bag must not exceed 40 liters in volume and 20 kilograms in mass.
The Organizer will arrange transportation of a maximum of one bag per person to finish in Platak.
Upon registration, participants will receive a LUGGAGE TAG that must be attached to the luggage. The luggage collection service will be located at the finish in Platak. (please check the finish/checkpoint working hours).
Please note that the Organizer is not responsible for any of your valuable items.
12
DOGS
Dogs are not allowed on this event
13
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, serious injury or inability to walk must be reported to emergency services by dialing 112.
If withdrawing for reasons other than injury, participants must reach a road and either go back to one of the Checkpoints.
The Organizer will not be obligated toward withdrawing participants in any way. Participants will be responsible for making their own transportation arrangements.
THE ORGANIZER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE RULES.
