The MONTANE Spine Challnger North packs all the intensity, exposure, and self-sufficiency of the full Spine Race, and takes in the technical northern section of the Pennine Way from where the Challenger – South stops. A truly epic challenge that will test your physical resilience and mental fortitude. Racing non-stop along the most iconic trail in the UK, you will experience the full intensity and ferocity of the British Winter.

We proudly introduced this race in January 2022 and, after a positive response from runners and dot-watchers alike, we have decided to keep it on the calendar beyond the tenth-anniversary event where it was launched. The Montane Spine Challenger North will take you from Hardraw to Kirk Yetholm. That’s 160 miles. You will have 108 hrs to complete. For those who have completed the Spine Challenger, this gives an opportunity to take on the northern section of the full race route, slightly more exposed than the southern section, the Challenger North will test you and give you the experience you want from a Spine race.

The Pennine Way is one of the most demanding National Trails in Britain, and certainly the most iconic. The trail crosses some of the most beautiful and at times difficult terrain found in England, including; the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland National Park, Hadrian’s Wall, and the Cheviots; finishing at the Scottish Borders.

The MONTANE Spine Challenger North is open to anyone with appropriate experience* who wishes to test themselves and compete in a truly demanding race. Expect to face extreme weather, deep snow, ice, mud, bogs, groundwater, storm-force winds, and driving rain in a grueling, non-stop, 4.5-day race from Hawes to Kirk Yetholm.

It’s not just the conditions that are against you, your own body and mind could become your worst enemy. Tiredness, fatigue, sleep deprivation, and exposure to the extremes of winter weather are all to be expected. To finish you must be prepared and willing to push yourself harder than ever before.

There is very little hand-holding on this race. We expect you to travel with a degree of self-sufficiency and skill which sets this race apart from others. Why? You should never embark on an adventure of this magnitude without the appropriate knowledge and skill to make yourself safe in a time of need. There is nothing more personally reassuring than being secure in your own abilities. That said, we still attach a GPS tracker to you with an emergency button just in case!

The MONTANE® Spine® Team will support your herculean efforts by being there when you really need us. We have an event safety team who will support you on the course, checkpoint teams who will provide you with some of the comforts of home when you need a rest, baggage transfers for your resupply and an excellent medical team provided by Exile Medics.