Official Spine Recce - with Kim Collison

Pay the balance 6 weeks before the start of the event

Jump to: Itinerary/activities  |  Your guides  |  Kit list  |  Accommodation & food

Friday 30th

• Arrive Friday afternoon/evening from 5pm
  • 7.00pm optional shake out run north of Alston
  • 8:30pm dinner – Alston Lasagna – what else!!
  • Special session: effective  navigation using your watch + watches to borrow
  • Quick kit check
  • Socialising and exchanges of tips and tricks

Sat 31st Oct

• 7:30am Breakfast
• RECCE 1: CP3.5 (Dufton) – CP4 (Alston) – 31Km 1000m
  • Special guest guide Kim Collison
  • Cross fell
  • Greg’s hut – stop for a brew / noodles
  • Garrigill (might even see Annie)
• 6:30 evening meal @ CP4
• Discussions and fireside chats  *** informal exchange and advice
• Bobbing apples?

Sun 1st Nov

• 7:30am Breakfast
• RECCE 2: CP3 (Langdon Beck) – CP3.5 (Dufton) 20Km 400m ** depending on the group there may be possibility to start further back should people wish…
  •  Special session: intro to winter survival skills with Andy Rowlinson head of Spine safety
  • Cauldron Snout (+ potential winter diversion)
  • High Cup Nick (glorious to see during daylight!)
• 4:00pm approx END for home travel or debrief  (food recce) in the stag pub Dufton
• Optional extra night + evening meal Alston

OPTIONAL Mon 2nd Nov

• 7:00am Breakfast
• Travel to Hawes / facilitate Tann Hill/A66 car drops
• RECCE 3: CP2 – Tann Hill or A66
  • Great Shunner Fell
  • Stop at the oasis that is Keld Village Hall
  • Tann Hill
  • + Optional guide/explore over the dreaded bog that is SLEIGHTHOME moor

Kim won the Winter Spine race in 2025. As well as the challenges of the course he overcame a number of issues that ultimately resulted in 3 previous DNFs. 4th time lucky? Well of course it wasn’t luck but outstanding execution that got him to the finish line in the third fastest time ever – the two faster runs coming the previous year in more favourable course conditions. Kim will share his insights of the race and his wider fell, trail, ultra and skyrunning experience with you during the day.

Andy is the overall lead on all things relating to Spine safety. In other work he is a training consultant for high risk emergency incidents. A mountain leader, navigation and winter survival expert.

As well as looking after your safety on the recees Andy will give a special session on winter safety and survival skills.

Jon is the owner and operator of Almond Lodge Helvellyn and Almond Lodge Brecon Beacons. Before that he ran a design consultancy which he sold in 2018 – this allowed him to pursue his passion for the outdoors and pretend to be an athlete.

2024 was a big running year with an accidental completion of the Winter Spine (he won his place in the volunteer lottery), and a successful completion of the Dragons Back race the following September, then he completed Northern Traverse in April 2025.

In 2025 he revisited the Winter Spine race, – this time with intent – and finished 30 hours faster than the last time.

In June 2026 he was employed as a Spine Safety Manager for the summer spine race, and will continue working with the Spine on other races.

Jon represents the midpackers to backpackers – he has taken both 160 & 130 hours to complete the winter race – so knows the struggles most of us face. He is also a tech and kit geek and will lead a session on effective nav using a watch for those that need it – he will also help you refine your gpxs!

 Spine kit – Obviously essential trail and safety kit – but it makes sense to bring as much of your full spine pack as you can. You can test in-situ, make modifications, try out stuff in a safe environment.

Bring your race day nutrition to try out on course 

It also makes sense to bring as much of your drop bag as possible. Test your spares and your CP strategy – get feedback and advice.

Other – evening clothes, wash stuff etc. – or you could go full immersion and stay in spine kit if you like!

We will be staying at Alston Hostel – race checkpoint 4. Whist we won’t be able to offer you the full range of wonderful experiences provided by the full Alston CP team – we will feed you lasagna (of course) and might even arrange a realistic kit faff and kit check scenario (best to be prepared)!

Dinner and breakfasts  provided. There will be vegitarian and vegan options (GF options too).

Tea and coffee and soft drinks in plentiful supply throughout.

You will want to bring nutrition for out on course during the day. You may wish to bring alcoholic drinks for the evenings