Gemma’s Morocco Trip

Last Tuesday a group of 13 from all around the country (many never having met before) met at stupid o’clock in Gatwick airport to head to Morocco to climb the highest mountain in North Africa Mount Toubkal (4,167m). After a very early flight to Marrakesh and bus trip up to the village of Imlil our first task was to walk to the valley to our guides home village of Arourmd.

Once we arrived in the village we got our first proper look at the mountains we were about to go walking in, I must admit they did look quite high and steep.

Rather then go straight up the tourist path to Mount Toubkal, we spend 3 days ‘going the long was round’. The first day started with heading into the next valley over and climbing to the valley head. where we could see the villages we had passed through and the snow of the mountains ahead. It was at this time that our guide found out there had been a small avalanche at Toubkal base camp and crampons would be needed for summit day.

The rest of day 1 was sent heading back into the next valley and the the nights camp-site. Where the bath for the evening was the stream full of snow melt.

The late snow meant we had to go a slightly different route the next day then had been planned, so up we went into the gorge.

Once we left the gorge we got our first look at the ‘Zig Zags’ that our guide had been mentioning all day. There are over 100 of them and start at 3000m and climb to 3600m and can be just been to the left of the snow.

We were more than ready of our lunch once we reached the top and got an idea of the snow we would have to cross to drop down into the valley that contains Toubkal base camp.

After arriving in camp we packed our crampons and got ready for our 5 am start.

I don’t have any picture of the accent on summit day as was too busy trying to breathe, but after 3 days of heat the wind and the cold on the summit where a bit of a shock to the system. On a clear day you can seen Marrakesh, but we were not that lucky.

By the down to headed down the snow had turned to slush and even with crampons it was bit more similar to skiing than to walking. Then back down the tourist path to Arourmd and in the morning off to Essaouira for  a couple of days of relaxing and camels.

The last day was spent in Marrakesh, where a few of the group helped prop up the Moroccan economy with the amount of bartering they did in the Souks.