September 19, 2002 –
Refuge – Toubkal 4167m – Tizi Ouanoumss
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At 5:20am, we wake up for the ascent. We are not the
first ones as we can see two groups in the loose scree with their lights.
After a solid breakfast, we start to walk at 6am with another French group
who ends there a 18 days trip in the Moroccan mountains. The slope is steep but it is ok for the moment.
After 1 hour I need to make a stop, I don’t have the same caliber as my
mates. I decide to let them go ahead while Mohammed will try to help me by showing
me the path and among all his face. But I can’t, I prefer to let him join the
2 others. I am in the same situation of a cyclist in the Tour de France who
is chucked by the group and try to stick with all the other small groups. It
is really the same here. I met Olivia on the path a Canadian girl I will see
again in a few days and also a guide who will give me enough courage to see
the landscape behind the slope. From there, you can see the summit so hope is there.
I am not sure I will go further but a group is with me so I decide to stay
with them and finally they will bring me to the top. It is now 9am and I am at the top of the Toubkal
mountains, 4 167m, the highest point in North Africa. It is my first summit
above 4 000m and I am very happy to be there. Kevin, Isabelle and Mohammed
welcome me warmly, they were convinced I will do it. The view from the stop is superb and totally clear,
we are dominating the whereabouts. I take many pictures on a 360° format.
There is a lot of wind but everybody is pleased to be there to share this
moment. View towards Marrakesh We will stay there 30 minutes (1 hour for Kevin,
Isabelle and Mohammed) to savour the moment, take some pics and admire other
summits. For the descent, you need at least 2 hours because
of the difficult ground. One solution like in the dunes is to run in great
hurdling strides and your feet will leave the scree just before you fall with
them. At 11:30am we are back at the refuge. We have a brief rest before
packing the bags and the tents and move on to our night stop. We don’t want
to spend a second night at the refuge and we prefer to begin the journey
towards the Ifni lake. Just after 1pm, we are on the way to the pass of
Tizi N’Ouanoumss (3 664m). The ascent is very difficult for me with this hot
sun just above us. From the pass the view is great, you can see a small part
of the lake right at the bottom with this emerald color. We decide to stop in the middle of the descent to
bivouac at 3 000m where we will have a tough night with a lot of wind. The
night falls quickly and surprises us during the meal. As for the menu, it is
like yesterday and we share the good meals brought by Isabelle directly from
Scotland!!!! The ground is rough and the pegs do not enter the
ground properly, Kevin has to put rocks all over the tent to fix it. Preparation of the Chaï Main expenses of the day : Nothing |
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Other travels (Syria,
Jordan, Egypt, USA...) (Hotels, Transportation
timetables…) D1 :
Luxembourg – Paris – Casablanca D4 :
Meknes – Volubilis – Meknes D9 :
Tinehrir – Ouarzazate – Marrakesh D13 :
Refuge – 4167m –Tizi Ouanoums D14 :
Tizi Ouanoums – Amsouzert D16 :
Azib Likemt – Tacheddirt D17 :
Tacheddirt – Imlil – Marrakesh D19 :
Essaouira – El Jadida – Tangier D22 :
Chefchaouen – Casablanca D23 :
Casablanca – Paris – Luxembourg |
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Last update : January
2003
Contact : pindavid@hotmail.com