The Iceland Challenge July 2016 CHALLENGE MANUAL

Transcription

1 The Iceland Challenge July 2016 CHALLENGE MANUAL 1

2 Introduction We would like to first congratulate all of you for being part of our inaugural Iceland Ultra Challenge. This guide should give you an overview of what you should expect on the Challenge, and combined with the Participant s Area of the website, you should have access to all of the information you need to fully prepare yourself. Our route takes us along the spectacular Laugavegur Trail; covering a distance of nearly 2 marathons over mountain plateaus, past hot springs, across black lava fields and through glacial rivers to reach our finish line 2 days later. This is no walk in the park the wilderness of the trail will be awe inspiring but you will need grit, determination and stamina to complete it. This may well be one of the biggest challenges you ve ever taken on - but with good preparation, some focussed training and the right clothing and equipment you can do it! Event Overview The Laugavegur Trail is situated in Southern Iceland, north of the infamous Eyjafjallajökull Volcano. It has been listed as one of the top 10 treks in the world and is famed for its diverse scenery and the wide variety of landscapes. Our event follows a route that is normally 4-5 days long and combines it into a tougher 2 day trek. You will be taking on this supported challenge with approximately 200 other like minded participants who all share the same goal. The Iceland Ultra has been created as a trekking event, however if you wish to jog or run the challenge then please let us know so that we can do our best to accommodate and plan for that. On the event you will be supported by a team of UK and Icelandic staff which includes event management, doctors, mountain leaders, cooks and logistics staff. This is a tough challenge and you should expect very long days with early morning starts and late finishes. To complete the Challenge you will have to maintain a minimum trekking speed of 4km per hour through hilly terrain for 26 miles a day - over the 2 days. This will ensure that you will be able to get sufficient time for rest in the evening at the camp before continuing your next day s trekking. 2

3 Itinerary Day 1 Friday - Arrival If you have booked your flights through us then you will meet the group and Action Challenge staff at your relevant airport by 10:00am. You will then get your flight to Keflavik Airport in Iceland where you will have a 4 hour coach transfer to our first overnight campsite - also the start of the trail in Landmannahellir. If you have not booked your flights with us then you will need to meet at 14:00 in central Reykjavik at the main church (Hallgrímskirkja). Alternatively you will be able to meet us at 15:00 at Keflavik airport. Full details about the meeting times and locations will be published in the Final Event Guide 4 weeks before the Challenge. Please ensure that if you are booking your own flights you provide us with your flight details by logging back into your Registration Form so that we can make our logistical plans. A hot dinner will be provided en route so that when you arrive at the campsite you will collect your bags and have a quick kit check before an early night under canvass (tents will be up already!). Dinner is included in today s schedule, but no other meals are provided (you should buy lunch at the airport prior to departure). Day 2 Saturday Trekking Day 1 You will be woken up at approximately 4:00am for breakfast and then break-down of your tents. Our leaders will deliver a short briefing and warm up before your Iceland Challenge starts! You should expect to start the challenge between 6:00-8:00am depending on the weather conditions and if you would like to run / jog you will have a later start. During the day there will be one morning and afternoon snack stop, as well as a lunch stop. Here you will be able to replenish your water, have some snacks and food before continuing the route to the campsite and finish for the day. There will be a hot dinner on arrival to the campsite before having some well earned rest after a long day. You should expect to finish the day s trekking between by 19:30 (earlier for runners / joggers). If you are unable to complete the day within 14 hours then you will be unable to take on the full course on Day 2 (due to critical timings). The table below illustrates Day 1 of the Challenge an equivalent distance of the London Marathon (26 miles) while climbing the elevation of Ben Nevis (1405 metres). After the lunch stop there will be a very steep climb up to a high plateau where if the weather is good you should expect to see stunning panoramic views. Please note that these distances can vary from different GPS devices and to maintain accuracy of GPS devices it is always best to turn the OFF at rest stops / when stationary. Meals included today are Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. 3

4 Day 3 Sunday Trekking Day 2 Today you will be woken up at approximately 3:00am where you will have some breakfast before packing down camp. Your start time will be dependent on what time you finished the Challenge on the Saturday (ie how fast you are likely to go on Day 2 also). There will be a morning snack stop as well as a brunch stop at half way. When you reach the afternoon stop if you would like to complete the FULL second day route (you must set off before a specified cut off time) then you will do an extra loop past the rest stop along the river valley. Today s route will be a flatter 23 miles with an elevation gain of ~700m (and a elevation loss of 1,065m). There will also be 4 very cold glacial river crossings to contend with! We will celebrate at the Iceland Challenge finish line with some photos, medals, cake and even a glass of Icelandic fizz. From here you will have a 3 hour transfer to the Hotel Edda Laugarvatn where you will be able to have a hot shower and relax before our celebration dinner. The celebration meal will start at 20:00 - and will be a 3 course meal of local Icelandic dishes and together we ll look back and reflect on your tremendous achievement of the last few day and the inaugural Iceland Cjhallenge. Meals included today are breakfast, lunch and your celebratory dinner. 4

5 Day 4 Monday After a welcome bed in the hotel there will be coach transfers at various times to the airport and Reykjavik. If you have not booked flights with us then please let us know your flight details so that we can ensure you are on one of our transfers at an appropriate time. Flight Inclusive - non extension o Keflavik to London Gatwick at 07:45 you will be given a packed breakfast and transferred to Keflavik airport at 03:45 where you will get on your flight back to the UK. o Keflavik to London Heathrow at 16:10 you will have breakfast at the hotel before being transferred to Reykjavik at 9:00am where you will have a couple of hours to explore. At 13:00 you will be transferred to Keflavik for your flight. Please note that your lunch will NOT be included. o Keflavik to London Gatwick on Tuesday at 07:45 you will have breakfast at the hotel before being transferred to your hotel in Reykjavik at 8.00am. You will be able to spend the day at your leisure, Lunch and Dinner will not be included. Extension package o You will have breakfast in the hotel before the coach departs at 8:00am to transfer you to Reykjavik harbour. Here a boat will be waiting to take you on your whale watching excursion. This 3 hour trip will take place on Faxaflói bay. In the afternoon after lunch (included), you will join your city guide for a 3 hour walk through Reykjavik where you will find out about the history and culture of the city. Tonight you will stay at a hotel in Reykjavik and have dinner at a local restaurant. o On Tuesday morning after Breakfast you will be transferred to the Blue Lagoon where you will be able to relax for a couple of hours in this iconic spot. You will then be transferred to the airport to get your flight back to London Heathrow at 16:10. Land Only o Transfers will be provided if you have selected to book your own flights, you will need to let us know your flight details by logging on to your registration form. This is so that we are able to allocate you a transfer to either Reykjavik or Keflavik airport. You will be advised of your transfer time in the Final Event Information. What to Expect Flights If you have booked your flights through us you will have received your specific flight times. On arrival at your departure UK airport you will meet the Action Challenge team where you will be provided with your e-ticket. Your precise meeting time and location will be sent out to you in your Final Event Information. You will have a main baggage weight limit of 15kg - and this will also be the maximum weight limit of luggage that you will be allowed on the Challenge. Your main bag should be in a large soft shell duffle bag / rucksack (no wheels or small ones only) so that it can be easily transported on the Challenge. Please refer to the kit list in the Participant s Area for further details. 5

6 Facilities Overnight Camp At the overnight camps you will be provided with tents and sleeping mats. These will be 2 person tents unless you have paid for a single supplement. If you are travelling in a group and would like to share with someone in particular please let us know by logging back into your Registration Form. There will be a dining marquee where you will be able to get hot drinks, this will also be where you have your breakfast and dinner. There will be drinking water as well as toilets, however there will be no showers at these campsites. All UK and Icelandic staff will be at the campsites should you have any questions as well as our UK doctors who will be holding an open surgery should you have any problems or medical concerns. AM/PM Rest Stops There will be one morning and one afternoon stop on each day, these stops will be manned by our UK staff who are all First Aid qualified. There will be toilets at these stops as well as a selection of fruit, snacks and water. Lunch Stops These stops will typically be larger than the morning and afternoon stops, and be located approximately half way through the route. There will be mess tents where you will be provided with your lunch as well as drinking water and toilets. Safety and Support Route: The route is well trodden and where necessary marked by posts, piles of stones (cairns) or flags. These will be a mixture of the national trail posts and Action Challenge flags and signs. You will be given a route card for each day as well as advised as to how you can download the route on your smart phone. Medics: On all of our challenges participant safety and welfare is taken very seriously. On this challenge there will be 2 UK doctors, who are practicing GPs and have had experience on a number of our events. They will be on the route and at the Rest Stops as well as the campsite in the evening. Mountain Guides: There will be a number of Mountain Guides on the route who will be there to help and support you. They will be local guides with experience of this particular route as well as UK qualified Mountain Leaders. There will be one front marker guide and one rear marker guide. The other Mountain Guides will be throughout the group. Safety Vehicles: There will be safety vehicles throughout the event that can be called upon if necessary. There is only limited vehicle access on the route so the vehicles will only be able to get to the rest stops. If there is a medical emergency and we are unable to get a vehicle to you then the emergency services will be called upon and a helicopter deployed (so for real emergencies only). Cut off times: All participants must adhere to stated cut-off times and on the first day you will be expected to complete the route in no longer than 14 hours. Full details will be given in the Final Event Information. If you are unable to do so the Event Manager will make a decision as to whether you will be able to start the trek on Day 2 or be moved forwards. The Event Manager s decision will be final as he has to consider the overall timings of the whole group getting to the hotel. Communication: All participants must carry a mobile phone. There are a number of apps that we recommend that you download before the Challenge and we ll detail these in the Final Event Information along with our emergency procedures - and what to do if you are lost. Check with your mobile provider that your phone will work in Iceland and if they have any deals. We also recommend a battery pack to ensure that you are able to charge your phone over the Challenge. Walking Groups: If the weather is good you will be expected to walk in groups of three at all times. For your safety - if the weather is bad you will be walking in larger groups led by our Mountain Leaders. If the weather were to seriously deteriorate, there may be alterations to the route to ensure the safety of the event. 6

7 Catering We will cater for most dietary requirements but to do so you must tell us what your requirements are in advance. You can do this by logging back into your Registration Form on the Participant s Area. During the Challenge all of meals will be included unless otherwise specified. On a typical day of trekking you can expect the following types of foods: Breakfast Porridge, yoghurt, muesli, fruit and hot drinks Lunch Stop Sandwiches, cake, fruit, snacks and water Dinner Soup, Icelandic stew and dessert Snacks Cereal bars, crisps, chocolate, sweets and fruit Environment The weather in Iceland can be variable and change quickly. If the weather is good then you should expect beautiful views, warm temperatures and clear skies. If the weather is bad then there can be horizontal rain, no views, and freezing temperatures. The average temperature during the day at this time of year is 7-8 c and at times there will be an additional wind chill. Snow and fog can also appear at any time of year so it is essential that you are prepared for every eventuality. Remember it s light during the night in July. Please ensure that you have looked at the kit list in the Participant s Area of the website and come well prepared. Terrain The terrain on the Challenge varies considerably and you might find yourself walking through snow and shortly afterwards on dirt paths across lava fields. On Day 2 of the Challenge there will be river crossings that you will need to navigate. When you are crossing these rivers you should not do so at the narrowest point, here they are often the deepest and fastest flowing. Before you cross the river you should change into your trekking sandals, please refer to the kit list if you are unsure what is suitable. The rivers should not be crossed in bare feet as this can cause injury. We recommend that when crossing the rivers you cross in a minimum group of 3 or wait for a Mountain Guide to advise and assist you. Most of the route you will be able to walk, however there will be parts of the route that you might need to scramble. If this is the case you will be advised in the briefing for that day of where you can expect this. Preparation Personal Details All participants must complete and update their Registration Form with their flight details (land only), medical, insurance and passport details no later than by the 13 th May. You can find out how to complete these details in the Participant Area on the Updating your details page. 7

8 Kit Correct clothing and equipment for this challenge is essential. As the weather can be very changeable it is important that you are prepared for every eventuality. If you do not have the kit that you need we recommend borrowing or hiring it if keeping the cost down is important. We have a number of discount codes as well as recommended hire companies - all of these details can be found in the Participant s Area of the website. On the aeroplane we recommend that you wear your walking boots and carry your day bag with your essential clothing and equipment such as waterproofs and warm clothing. This means that in the unlikely event your luggage were to go missing, you would still be able to take part in the Challenge. Comfortable and well worn-in walking boots with good ankle support will ensure that your challenge is more enjoyable. Your day bag should be a litre rucksack - please check the kit list for further details. Before the event we will carry out a kit check to ensure that everyone has the correct clothing and equipment. Anyone without an acceptable minimum will not be allowed to start the Challenge.. Please make sure that you have read the kit list and ensure that you have all of the essential items. Baggage For your larger bag (that will go in the aeroplane hold) you will all have a strict weight limit of 15kg. This bag will be transported from the start to the finish location of each day and will not be accessible to you at any time other than these. The duffel bag / rucksack should not have wheels (or very small ones) and should be waterproof in order to protect your clothing. We will be weighing everyone s bag to ensure that the weight limit is adhered to. If you have any particular favourite snacks / energy bar then we recommend that you bring some with you. Please don t overdo it as the weight piles up quickly. Electrolyte type tablets are good - so that you can add it to the water to improve the taste - as well as giving you that extra energy boost. Medical and Insurance There are no specific vaccinations required for travel to Iceland - however if you are unsure whether you are up to date with your general travel jabs - please check with your doctor. It is essential that you disclose ANY previous or current medical issues. If requested by us then you will need your GP to complete a form, this form can be downloaded in the Participant s Area. We must have this form no later than 10 weeks before the Challenge. It is important that you have a European Health Insurance Card. This will give you access to state-provided healthcare and it will cover you if treatment is required. Apply for free online at All participants MUST have adequate travel insurance that should include all transport costs (incl. Helicopter) to the nearest medical facility. We recommend Campbell Irvine Direct Travel Insurance, you can find out the details of their cover online at If you are using a different insurer then you must ensure that they will cover this trek (remote area). We require all of your insurance details 8 weeks prior to the event. Please ensure that you have updated this information on your Registration Form. Training As you are aware this is a very tough challenge - where physical fitness, a strong mind, and good kit will be crucial. You should aim to start your training no later than 3 months before the Challenge, if not sooner. Your training should include varying terrain and hills while carrying your backpack. In order to complete this challenge you will need good aerobic fitness, strength and stamina to make sure that you are able to achieve a minimum of 4kmph through a hilly / mountainous environment for 26 miles a day over 2 days. Make sure that you sign up and claim your free 50km Ultra Challenge place! We are also running a specific Iceland Ultra training walk on the 9 th April where you will be able to meet the team as well as your fellow challengers. You are 8

9 able to sign up to the training walk by completing the form found in the Participant s Area of the website. What next... Timeline 9 th April Iceland Challenge Training Walk on the South Downs. Join us it s important! 13 th May - Deadline for updating registration form - Self funding balance due - Charity fundraising 80% of fundraising target due with your charity 22 nd June Final Event Information sent to you 11 th July Good Luck message & final updates 22 nd July The Iceland Challenge 22 nd August Remaining 20% fundraising due Don t forget to keep looking back to the Participant s Area for important challenge updates in the build up to the event... If you have any questions then you can contact the team on or by ing info@theicelandchallenge.com 9