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
- 3 hiking meals per day (dehydrated food, ready meals, spreads, cheese, bread, etc.)
- Luggage storage (one 60 L/20 kg bag only)
- HIGHLANDER ID – detailed itinerary showing all checkpoints (with dedicated checkpoint stamp spaces)
- HIGHLANDER Maps – detailed hiking maps
- HIGHLANDER Pin
- HIGHLANDER Certificate
- HIGHLANDER Patch
- Educational and leisure activities
- Infrastructure at the start, finish, checkpoints, and along the route
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 Mont-Blanc offers meat and vegan options.
Organizer will provide camping food according to the diet preference each participant chose during the registration process. All meals are distributed at campgrounds.
Provided camping food is suited to the average daily needs of an average adult: cooked food, dehydrated food, and pre-made meals, spreads, cheese, cold cuts, and bread.
Participants supply their own snacks and extra food (as deemed necessary). We recommend bringing snacks, dry fruit, and similar food in addition to the meals provided by the Organizer.
There are no stores or supermarkets in the Mont-Blanc Mountains, so stock up ahead of time. :)
Detailed information on the provided camping food will be given in a timely manner.
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 for the day of the hiking ahead. We will not provide a means to carry it so please pack your own bladders or bottles. The water refill will be available at all checkpoints during their working hours.
Mountain water is NOT safe for drinking, so using water purification (tablets/drops/filter) is a must.
07
BIVOUACKING AND SITES
Participants choose their bivouacking spot on the 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 are prohibited.
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 successfully collected all stamps and finished by the official closing time of Finish will receive their HIGHLANDER Pin, Patch, and Certificate.
09
FIRE
Always be aware and alert to the danger of fire.
Note that fire restrictions can change based on the current conditions, and we will update you with the current restrictions before and during the event.
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, and 60 mt 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.
$0There is no extra registration fee required but please note the dog food is your responsibility.
Your dog must always be kept on a leash, even in the camping area where they must be taken outside of the camping area to relieve themselves. Dogs are not allowed inside any buildings including the dining hall.
Take into consideration 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 1-1-2.
The organizer is not responsible in any way for participants' withdrawal. Withdrawing participants will be responsible for making their own transportation arrangements.
THE ORGANIZER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE RULES.
