The organisers have an obligation to ensure that the Salomon Mamores VK™ is as safe as possible, but without diminishing the nature of the challenge... The nature of the challenge is arduous and the entire route is exposed to potentially serious weather.

The Salomon Mamores VK™ follows the well established International Skyrunning Federation ‘VK’ format, in which participants follow a marked course gaining 1000m of height in less than 5km. Participants are set off at timed intervals with the winner having the fastest overall time to the summit. 

Whilst physically arduous, the Salomon Mamores VK™ route does not include technical terrain that requires any scrambling or rock climbing experience. As such, the Salomon Mamores VK™ is suitable for any runner who is up for the challenge.

However, the race route traverses high and remote mountainous terrain, and once committed to the higher sections of the route, the quickest option to return to the safety of the valley is to reverse the race route. There is no easy get out! 

The entire route is subject to rapidly changing, highly variable and extremely severe weather. 

The route is very rough underfoot with sections of rock and scree-covered terrain. There is an enormous amount of ascent and descent – because after finishing the race at the summit, competitors must return to the Grey Mare's Car Park for our safety check and to receive a finishers medal. You will pass the Grey Mare's Car Park as you follow the course back down into Kinlochleven.  

Parking 
Parking for competitors and spectators at the event is in designated parking areas only. The local community has been very supportive of the event but has asked that visitors to the event do not park on the residential streets in Kinlochleven as they are narrow and quickly become congested. Please respect our parking arrangements.

• There is plenty of parking adjacent to the Event Village in Kinlochleven - please follow signs on arrival.  
• Parking will be charged at £1 per visit with all proceeds going to the local Kinlochleven Community Trust - please bring along plenty of change.   
• A campervan pass for the weekend will be £10 per vehicle.  

Registration
The registration marquee will be in the Event Village outside the Ice Factor in the centre of Kinlochleven. This is where registration, kit check, and issue of competitors' race number will take place. Competitors should allow at least 1 hour to complete the registration process. Registration is only possible as per the times above.

Start Times
Competitors will be allocated a start time by the organisers. The start times will be published on the event website before the event and emailed out. The start interval will be between 30 and 60 seconds depending on the overall number of entries. Competitors’ start times will be based on their requested start time window, with the fastest runners starting latest. We advise you to be conservative in your estimation to avoid finishing your descent in the dark …and out of consideration to the event team and other runners.

The Route 
The race route will be fully marked and marshalled, as will the recommended descent route back to Kinlochleven.

The Descent
Remember, the summit of Na Gruagaichean where the VK finishes is only half way… participants will need to descend back to the Grey Mare's Car Park in Kinlochleven to return their timing chip and receive a finishers medal! We have reviewed the descent route options carefully and on balance have decided to direct all the participants back down the ascent route. We think this is best in terms of managing large numbers of people on the mountain, and for allowing as many participants as possible to be cheered on by their fellow runners. Because the route comprises very steep grass slopes in places (you’ll need good studs on your shoes) and exposed to poor weather (you’ll need an extra layer to wear once you have finished), we would like to draw aspirant competitor's attention to the mandatory kit list below. 

Checkpoints 
There will be no checkpoints on the the route and competitors must carry suitable clothing for staying warm on the descent, as well as, food and drink.
Family, friends and members of the public are welcome to support along the up hill race route and meet you at the summit. 

Retirements
Any competitors retiring from the race are advised to return to Kinlochleven by reversing the ascent route. Any competitor retiring must communicate this to the first race marshal and return immediately to the Event Centre.

Mandatory Clothing and Equipment List 
There is a Mandatory Clothing and Equipment list in the section below for competitors and you may be kit checked before starting or at the end of the race.

Cut-Offs
Although it will not be dark until 20:00 on Saturday evening the ascent Course Closure Time AT THE SUMMIT is 15:30, giving plenty of time to have participants and marshals off the course by dusk.

Prize Giving Ceremony 
There will be a Prize Ceremony for the Salomon Mamores VK™ - approx. 16:00 on Saturday. 

2019 map ©Harvey Maps. Please see below for digital representation of the route.

Route Description Statistics 
5km / 1000m 

Cut-Offs 
It will be dark soon after 20:00 on Saturday evening so the ascent Course Closure Time is 15:30, as we wish to have everyone off the course by nightfall.

Fly-through  

TIP: You may wish to set the speed to 32x

Predicted Course Times
Find out current course records, average and slowest (to complete the course) times.

• 2021 predicted course times coming soon

GPS Route Data (2019 data)

Note: The 2021 update will be made available in good time ahead of September

This route is drawn as accurately as possible, however, competitors must follow the race signs on race day and NOT rely on their GPS for the route. The organisers retain the right to alter the race route at any time. 

You can either download the official 2019 GPX file of the following route or by using the "Open in the ViewRanger app" button then "GET THIS ROUTE" if you use ViewRanger.

Checkpoints 
There will be no checkpoints on the the route and competitors must carry suitable clothing for staying warm on the descent, as well as, food and drink. Family, friends and members of the public are welcome to support along the up hill race route and meet you at the summit. 

Detailed Route Description
Na Gruagaichean* is the most prominent Mamores Munro above Kinlocheven, and from our Event Centre, the road at the Startline will feel like a runway for the beginning of your kilometre of ascent up this fine mountain. 

The route soon switches into a rocky path in some steep woodland, passes beside the Grey Mare’s Waterfall, and pushes up out of the trees and onto the open hillside using good narrow paths. At 330m altitude, a short section of rough vehicle track is used, and leaving this track marks the start of the mountain’s steep flank, and then to its shoulder. This route is a lesser used approach to this mountain and is impressively direct. 

The clear goal is the southern promontory approach ridge where the Leachd na h-Aire cairn can be found, and the route briefly levels after this, and passes through 900m at a shallower gradient. The summit will now be in clear sight, as will the other mighty Mamores Munros east and west, and Ben Nevis and the Grey Corries to the north, and if you were to look back, Glen Coe’s (Skyline) Munros to the south. Mission accomplished!

Returning from the summit to Kinlochleven is via the uphill race route, EXCEPT on the steepest ground between the altitudes of 850m and 375m, where, on occasion, a parallel route will be marked and marshalled to create some separation from ascending runners.

Please note that there is NO Bad Weather Route option.

*Na Gruagaichean is pronounced Na Groo-a-gee-chan and means The Maidens. It has two summits, but it’s OK we only reach the nearest and highest!

Please arrive in good time for the start as there will be a kit check as you enter the start pen. Remember, “No Kit, No Go”.  Anyone in a position of note at the end of the race will be kit checked, and anyone found without the mandatory kit will be disqualified. 

Mandatory items

All competitors must carry or wear the following:

1. Fell/mountain running shoes*
   We recommend: Salomon S-Lab Speed 2 Unisex or Speedcross 5 Men's / Speedcross 5 Women's
   (road trainers or running shoes without a deep enough lug are NOT acceptable)
2. Waterproof top with hood 
   We recommend: Salomon S-Lab MotionFit 360 jet Men's / Salomon S-Lab MotionFit 360 jet Women's or Salomon Bonatti Pro WP Jacket Men's / Salomon Lightning WP Jacket Women's
3. Waterproof trousers/pants
   We recommend: Salomon Bonatti WP Pants Unisex
4. Hat, gloves/glove-mittens suitable for the weather conditions
   We recommend: Salomon Active Beanie, Salomon Bonatti WP Mitten
5. Whistle 

Recommended items

1. Spare warm top suitable for the weather conditions (spare means unworn at the start)
   We recommend: A technical midlayer (see Men's / Women's) / insulated garment
2. Headtorch (with sufficient light to be able to navigate in the darkness) if you are starting later
   We recommend: Petzl e+LITE​
3. Some food and drink to refuel with on the way back down to Kinlochleven
4. A ca. 5-litre pack in which to carry the above
   We recommend: Salomon Ultra Set Unisex / Salomon Advanced Skin Unisex
5. Water bottle and / or hydration system
   We recommend: Salomon Soft Flask or Soft Reservoir

Official outdoor retail partner

Further Inspiration

Clothing and Equipment Clarifications

• It is not possible to leave surplus equipment with event staff at the checkpoints.
• *We would like to emphasise that fell or mountain running shoes with decent lugs (i.e. decent depth and quality of tread) will be IMPORTANT AND BEST in both ascent and descent. Trail running shoes are not suitable and anyone in completely unsuitable shoes (like flat-soled road running shoes) will not be allowed to start.

Entry Process 
Competitors must complete an online entry form and entries will be sold on a first come, first served basis.  

Entries are likely to sell out very fast so please enter early to avoid disappointment. 

Minimum Experience 
Entries for the Salomon Mamores VK™ are not vetted, but competitors must be suitably experienced and agree to the declaration below. Whilst physically arduous, the Salomon Mamores VK™ route does not include technical terrain that requires any scrambling or rock climbing experience. As such, the Salomon Mamores VK™ is suitable for any runner who is up for the challenge.

Declaration 
Each competitor must agree to the following Declaration when completing an application form:

I am an experienced and competent mountain runner, and declare that: 

• I have experience of running in a similar mountain environment to the Salomon Mamores VK™;
• I can apply sound mountain judgement at all times even if it means compromising my overall race result; 
• I know how to be aware of others around me, both above and below me, and can take care with my footfall on the mountain to minimise the hazard of rockfall, slips and trips; 
• I can diligently concentrate and follow waymarking; 
• I can understand and interpret a pre-event route map and elucidate the main features and passage points, such as marshalled support locations, road crossings and time cut-offs (this does not mean map-memory and full navigational competence – this is a waymarked route); 
• I accept full responsibility for my own safety and any injury sustained during the event. These are not the responsibility of the event organiser, their agents or the landowners; 
• I know my limitations and I am experienced enough to make a reasoned decision whether or not to start the event and/or to retire from the event rather than jeopardise my own or other people’s safety; 
• I understand that there is a risk of serious injury or death whilst participating in the Salomon Mamores VK™ 

We will award the following prizes, finisher's medals and trophies:

Finisher's Medal 
All finishers completing the course (within the cut-offs and course opening times) will receive a Salomon Mamores VK™ finisher's medal. This will be presented to you in the Grey Mare's Car Park that you will pass as you follow the course back down into Kinlochleven. You must also hand in your timing chip at the Grey Mare's Car Park.  

Prize Ceremony
The Salomon Mamores VK™ winners' prizes will be awarded at the prize ceremony approx. 16:00 on the Saturday. 

2020 Prize Fund

Prize money to be confirmed.