Original Mountain Marathon

The Original Mountain Marathon (OMM) was founded in 1968 and is recognised as one of the world’s toughest tests of endurance and navigational skills.

Over the years races have taken place in mountainous terrains across the UK and in Norway and Switzerland.

Teams of two from all over the world are graded according to their experience and complete two-day courses of varying difficulty.

Strict rules on safety equipment have to be met before entrants are approved.

Organisers say the ethos of the event, which is always held at the end of October, is to be “totally self-reliant in the wilds.”

Those taking part have to carry all their own equipment, have no outside support and are not allowed any satellite navigation equipment or mobile phones.

All entrants are given a map detailing the route they must cover depending on their experience.

Entrants are told: “Your first source of help is your partner and if you retire you are responsible for getting yourselves back to base.

“In these days of 24/7 contact and total support this is an event to test and indeed help develop teamwork and self-reliance.”

This is from a report on the BBC. See the full report here.

This year’s event hasn’t gone quite to plan as the weather in the Lake District has been awful, with high winds and torrential rain.

However, only 12 of 2500 competitors have required hospital treatment for hypothermia and minor injuries. Although 1700 of the competitors were unaccounted for last night, most have set up their tents or found shelter and just waited for the weather to improve.

Interestingly, although the media are making a great fuss about this, there has been no tragedies or serious problems. The competitors have gone fully prepared for their event and have done the right things by stopping and camping or seeking shelter.

Sounds like the rules for Hillwalking (Terrain 2 Winter) to me. Be Prepared? They were!