September 19, 2002 – Refuge – Toubkal 4167m – Tizi Ouanoumss

 

 

 

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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D1 : Luxembourg – Paris – Casablanca

D2 : Casablanca – Rabat

D3 : Rabat – Meknes

D4 : Meknes – Volubilis – Meknes

D5 : Meknes - Fes

D6 : Fes

D7 : Merzouga

D8 : Merzouga – Tinehrir

D9 : Tinehrir – Ouarzazate – Marrakesh

D10 : Marrakesh

D11 : Marrakesh – Imlil

D12 : Imlil – Toubkal refuge

D13 : Refuge – 4167m –Tizi Ouanoums

D14 : Tizi Ouanoums – Amsouzert

D15 : Amsouzert – Azib Likemt

D16 : Azib Likemt – Tacheddirt

D17 : Tacheddirt – Imlil – Marrakesh

D18 : Marrakesh – Essaouira

D19 : Essaouira – El Jadida – Tangier

D20 : Tangier

D21 : Tangier – Chefchaouen

D22 : Chefchaouen – Casablanca

D23 : Casablanca – Paris – Luxembourg

 

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Last update : January 2003

Contact : pindavid@hotmail.com