September 20, 2002 –
Tizi Ouanoumss – Amsouzert
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As we did well yesterday, we are not in a hurry
today and the wake up is late. It is even nicer that the night was terrible
with all the wind, I was frightened for the tent so I didn’t sleep well on
the morning. When we were trying to pack the tents, a strong gust
of wind throws away the bag of Isabelle into the rocks and breaks the camera.
We secure the other “flying” items and double the speed to pack everything. The descent towards the lake is quick and easy with no
difficulty. From the bottom we just look back to see the pass of Tizi
Ouanoums that seems so far and we pity all the trekkers who will walk on this
punishing ascent. The pass is just at the top in the middle!!! The water of the lake has an emerald color but we
have still a 1 hour walk to reach the lake from the moment we see the
scenery. We are the first ones of the day and we are warmly welcomed by the
keeper of the place. We decide to go directly into the water to test our
endurance to this high altitude water (2 312m). It will be a nice and
welcomed bath after 2 days and ½ overwhelming by dust. The water is frozen
but as often it is only when you enter it that you feel it. After some
breaststrokes, the temperature is better but we will not stay in it for a
long time. It is just a moment to take a great picture for all of us. Even
Mohammed will go there to swim a little bit and he will come back with a
smile saying that he found the water too hot for him!!!! Finally we stay at the lake for 3 hours and we have
our lunch there next to booths that are used as shops for tourists selling
soft drinks and some chocolate bars. A group just arrives after noon,
Mohammed knows everybody in the region and one of the guides offers us a
watermelon as dessert. Delicious!!! We resume our walk to reach Amsouzerte. The valley
is so great and thanks to the lake and its water, it is so green with fields,
trees… It has been a long time since we saw such vegetation. We discover also
many villages on the hillsides. At 4pm, we have set up the tents near a little river
and next to a watermill. The sound of the water rocks us literally. Some kids
of the village come to see us, curious as they are and it is the occasion to
give them some biscuits for the afternoon snack. We take advantage of our
location to do some washing before visiting the village. This one is not cut
from the world because 4*4 vehicles can use a kind of road to link the
village to Ouarzazate or Marrakech. Tonight, Mohammed, who is maybe tired of my pasta
meal, proposes us to eat a tajine cooked by one of his friends. We will be
ready for 7:30. The tajine is not as good as the one in Imlil but it
is so great to eat something new (Isabelle imported meals excepted) and to
eat with locals. Mohammed is happy to present us to his friends. He is the
guy on whom field we are camping. During the meal, it is the occasion to
revise our Berber words and to learn some new words… We are back under the tents around 9pm ready to
sleep. Just before joining the bivouac, we have a look to the inside of the
watermill that uses the power of water to grind the wheat into flour. It
works 24h a day and at night two little candles light the room. The moon is full tonight and lights very well. In
the middle of the night when I walk up, I was looking for a street lamp but
it was simply the moon!! Main expenses of the day : Tent location : 6 DH Tajine : 20 DH |
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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