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.
- HERCULES format: Transportation from finish in Kobarid to Bohinjska Bistrica using shuttle and public transport (tickets and timetables will be distributed)
- HERCULES format: Luggage transportation (60 L/20 kg) from start to finish (Kobarid)
- PEGASUS format: Transportation from finish in Most na Soči to Bohinjska Bistrica using train (tickets and timetables will be distributed).
- PEGASUS format: Luggage transportation (60 L/20 kg) from start (Bohinj) to finish (Most na Soči)
- Food package and water at checkpoints (dehydrated food, cold cuts, cheese, bread, ready meals)
- HIGHLANDER ID – detailed itinerary showing checkpoint (with dedicated checkpoint stamp areas)
- HIGHLANDER Maps – detailed maps of the route
- 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
*Participants may make private transportation arrangements to Bohinjska Bistrica and may stay longer in Kobarid and Soča valley.
04
VIOLATION OF THE RULES
Participants will not receive the HIGHLANDER Pin, Patch, or Certificate in any of the stated 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 Slovenia offers meat and vegetarian options. Vegan and gluten-free options, however, will not be available.
For each participant, the Organizer will provide camping food, distributed at checkpoints.
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. There is a specific field in the registration form that includes diet preferences.
We all have unique eating habits and feel full at different rates, so if you need additional food / have a special diet, please bring it with you. If you are participating with your dog please bear in mind dog food is not provided.
Food for HIGHLANDER Hercules will be delivered to checkpoints in the following manner:
- START: Bohinj - lunch and a snack for day 1 (bring your own water for starting day, it is a long hike!)
- CP 1: Podbrdo - food package for one day, water,black coffee
- CP 2: Kneške ravne - food package for one day (except dinner), water, black coffee
- CP 3: Campsite Siber, Tolmin - food package for one day, hot meal for dinner, water, black coffee
- CP 4: Livek: a food package for half day, water, black coffee
- FINISH: Kobarid: *hot meal for extra charge after crossing the finish line
- We advise all participants to bring snacks; nuts, dried fruits etc. On the trail you will pass food stores in Tolmin.
Food for HIGHLANDER Pegasus will be delivered to checkpoints in the following manner:
- START: Bohinj - lunch and a snack for day 1 (bring your own water for starting day, it is a long hike!)
- CP 1: Podbrdo - food package for one day, water, Cedevita, black coffee
- CP 2: Kneške ravne - food package for one day, water, black coffee
- FINISH: Most na Soči: hot meal for extra charge after crossing the finish line
- We advise all participants to bring snacks; nuts, dried fruits etc.
06
WATER
You must have to bring your own water to the Start (minimum 3 litres).
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. Mountain water is generally safe for drinking. Complimentary soft drinks will be handed out at certain checkpoints.
07
BIVOUACKING AND SITES:
Wild camping is forbidden in Slovenia.
The Organizer will designate bivouacking spots nearby Checkpoints. During their night rest, participants need to stay at the specifically marked camp areas (at Checkpoints). Participants who fail to reach marked camp areas can choose their bivouacking spot on site (but only in case of emergency).
Sleeping arrangements may include only the required gear: tent, tarp, bivouac sack, or hammock.
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.
10
LITTERING AND WASTE
Wastebaskets will be placed at some checkpoints and at the start and finish areas.
Littering and polluting are strictly prohibited and will result in immediate disqualification.
Participants may use the lavatories available at checkpoints, huts, hotels, etc.
When relieving in nature, feces must be buried or covered with mud or stones well outside camping sites, buildings, and hiking trails. Failing to do so will result in immediate disqualification. Participants will be denied the HIGHLANDER Hercules Finisher Badge and Certificate.
11
DOGS
We are a dog-friendly event
$0No extra registration fee required
- The route is demanding for dogs, there can be heath and rocky path. Please reconsider if your dog is in used to walk terrain like that.
- Dogs must be on a leash at all times
- There is no extra registration fee
- You should carry the dog food with you
- Please note: dogs must be used to sleep in crowd and not make noices during the night.
12
WITHDRAWING
In circumstances of no cellular coverage; serious injury or inability to walk must be reported at the nearest checkpoint through other participants or controllers.
If cellular service is available, serious injury or inability to walk must be reported to emergency services by dialing 112. In the most urgent and life threatening situations, it is important to adhere to the instructions and call 112 instead of family members and partners.
If withdrawing for reasons other than serious injury, the event organizer must be informed about withdrawal immediately. Participants must reach a road or train station and return to Bohinjska Bistrica or to the closest checkpoint.
If you have to withdraw, the easiest way is to return to the starting point by train from the railway station in Podbrdo (1st checkpoint) or when you reach Tolmin (3rd checkpoint, Hercules only). Withdrawing between the 1st and 3rd checkpoint is more challenging as the area is poorly accessible. In case of withdrawing (Hercules only) between the 3rd checkpoint and the finish line in Kobarid (e.g. in Livek or Kolovrat) you can use local HOP ON HOP OFF buses to reach finish line or main bus station (more information at https://www.soca-valley.com/sl/dolina-soce / sustainable-mobility /).
The organizer has no obligation towards the participants who decide to withdraw. Participants will be responsible for making their own transportation arrangements. However, please consult the event director if we can offer some help.
THE ORGANIZER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE RULES AND T&Cs.
