01
MANDATORY GEAR
All mandatory equipment may 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.
- 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.
Participants may make private transportation arrangements to the starting point on Black Lake, but parking space is limited. The organizer will not be providing transportation after the event, from Black Lake to Žabljak. (2.5km).
- HIGHLANDER Maps – detailed maps in waterproof cases
- HIGHLANDER Map cover - waterproof cases
- HIGHLANDER ID – detailed itinerary showing all checkpoints (with dedicated checkpoint stamp spaces)
- 15 meals: 3 meals per day (dehydrated food, cold cuts, cheese, bread, ready meals)
- On duty Mountain Rescue Service Montenegro
- Educational activities and entertainment
- HIGHLANDER Certificate
- HIGHLANDER Patch
- HIGHLANDER Pin
- HIGHLANDER Trash bag
- HIGHLANDER stickers
- 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 Durmitor, Montenegro offers meat and vegetarian options.
Organizer will provide camping food according to the diet preference each participant chose during the registration process. All meals are distributed at the start and 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. You can choose between a meat or vegetarian, the gluten-free option, however, is not available. You choose your diet preference during the registration process.
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 Durmitor mountain, so stock up ahead of time. :)
Detailed information on the provided camping food will be given in a timely manner. It will be announced one month before the event.
06
WATER
You must bring your own water to the Start (minimum 4L / 1 gallon).
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 from the lake or something else is NOT safe for drinking, so using water purification (tablets/drops/filter) is a must.
There are natural water sources on the track, and the organizers will draw your attention to this before the start. Natural spring exist at “Zminje '' lake, natural spring Lokvice and on Sušica lake.
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 National park Durmitor.
Always be aware and alert to the danger of fire.
We recommend obtaining a free campfire permit before the event.
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 the 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 6 inches deep, and 200 feet 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 (0.26 gallon) 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.
Check Backcountry safety tips to avoid unnecessary withdrawing.
THE ORGANIZER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE RULES.
