01
MANDATORY GEAR
All mandatory equipment will be checked at the start, before the start of the event. Participants who are found to be short of equipment at the start and during the event will be disqualified and will not receive a HIGHLANDER Pin, Patch, and Certificate.
BACKPACKING GEAR LIST
- 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
- Water purification tablets or drops or filter
- Backpacking stove
- Minimum 4L / 1 gallon of water on start
- Hydration bladder or water bottles with a minimum total volume of 4L
- Warm clothing and footwear suitable for terrain and conditions
- Compass
- First-aid KIT
- 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
You can leave your additional luggage with us.
Leave it at the Check-in and collect it after you finish. Please note that the Organizer is not responsible for any of your valuable items.
- On-duty Mountain Rescue Service (GSS)
- 3 meals per day (breakfast, main meal, additional meal, snacks, bread).
- Storage of a travel bag (60 L / 20 kg) in the Masna Luka Mountain Lodge (start / finish)
- HIGHLANDER ID – detailed itinerary showing all checkpoints (with dedicated checkpoint stamp spaces)
- HIGHLANDER Maps – detailed hiking maps
- HIGHLANDER Pin
- HIGHLANDER Patch
- HIGHLANDER Certificate
- Educational and leisure activities
- Infrastructure at start, finish, checkpoints, and along the route
04
VIOLATION OF THE RULES
Participants will not receive the HIGHLANDER Pin, Patch and 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 Blidinje offers meat and vegetarian options.
The Organizer provides a total of 15 meals that will be distributed at the checkpoints.
Meals will contain enough food for the daily needs of an adult: hot meal, ready meals, spreads, cheeses, stew, snacks, bread.
All meals are distributed at the start and checkpoints.
Each participant will take the prescribed quantities. There will be no bags for food items so bring your own dry bag for food storage. Meal sizes are suited to adult people.
Participants supply their own snacks and extra food (as deemed necessary).
Detailed information on the provided meals will be given in a timely manner.
06
WATER
You have to bring your own water at the Start (4L) or you can fill the bottles at the start in ML Masna Luka or at the spring within the camp (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 refills will be available at all checkpoints during their working hours.
Mountain water is generally safe for drinking, but using water purification (tablets/drops/filter) may be a good idea.
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 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 collected all stamps and came to finish by the time of the finish closing, will receive their HIGHLANDER Pin, Patch and Certificate.
09
FIRE
CAMPFIRES ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE WILDERNESS AREAS OF BLIDINJE NATURE PARK.
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 15cm deep, and 60m 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 +387 63 15 15 16.
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.
