Three days trek in Morocco for our ambassador Chloé

Doing his first 4000 in Morocco ... and why not?

Spring is the ideal time to climb the Toubkal Massif, which reaches an altitude of 4167m. Indeed, while the great heat is already installed in the plains near Marrakech, in the mountains the temperatures remain very pleasant (25° to 2000m), with a small permanent breeze that we know how to appreciate.

Located in the Moroccan High Atlas, the ascent of Toubkal requires adequate equipment and the presence of a local guide without whom it is not possible to access the Toubkal National Park. This trek is intended for people with regular physical activity, if only to resist the high altitude ascent (4000m), to which many of us are not used to.

It is in May 2019 that the adventure begins ...

Our arrival in Marrakeck was a thermal shock as we went from winter to summer, without any spring transition. We took the road the next morning towards the village of Aremd, the starting point of our trek.

Day 1 From Aremd (Alt.1900m) to the CAF refuge of Toubkal (Alt.3207m)

After a good night spent in the gite of our local host, Omar, we are ready to start the days hiking, accompanied by our local Berber guide. This first day of walking starts by crossing the village and then we reach the plan d'Aremd, a long flat and rocky valley.

The first ascent leads us to the village of Sidi Chamarouch (2310m) then on our way we had the chance to meet many mulberry trees before reaching the Louis Neltner refuge.

Day 2 Du refuge CAF du Toubkal (Alt.3207m) to Djebel Toubkal (Alt.4167m)

It's five o'clock, put on the shoes, turn on the headlamps and don't forget the gloves: We begin our Ascent for the Toubkal! Small lights already snake the mountain in front of us, and the day rises very quickly. Caution is required on this first part where we walk on a path still covered with snow.

As the first sun lights make their appearance on the mountains, we advance each at our own pace before reaching the Toubkal Pass (Alt.3900M) where everyone enjoys putting on a small jacket and eating some Moroccan seeds before the remaining 267D+ that will take us to the summit.

14 May 10:30 am: here we are on the roof of North Africa, the so-called Djebel Toubkal

At the top, we enjoy a 360° view of the surrounding valleys. What we experience up there is unique: a mixture of pride (the first 4000 for most of us), this feeling of feeling even more alive, but most of all to be up there all together!!!!

We already spot the summits planned for the next day and after many shots in all directions, we slowly start our descent ...

Day 3: From the CAF Toubkal hut (Alt.3207m) to Timzguida (Alt.4089m) to Djebel Ouanoukrim (Alt.4083m) to finish at Aremd (Alt.1900m).

Same scenario as the day before, departure 05h at the front! The only difference is that today it is not one but two summits that await us ... In our progressive ascent, we could enjoy a beautiful sunrise before daring a little climbing on a ridge before our arrival on a large lunar plateau.

Arrived at the top of Timzguida, many Cairn welcome us : Clic Clac Kodak, we take some pictures and it's already started again in the direction of Djebel Ouanoukrim (15 minutes walk separates these two summits).

It's already 10:15 am, it's been more than 5 hours that we are alone in the middle of nowhere.

HAPPY but it's already time to go back down towards the Refuge. Then begins a good game of de-escalation and sliding in the snow. Andafter a good meal at the refuge, it's time for us to go back down to Aremd, the sun is beating down and sun cream is required ... We arrive at the gîte around 5.30 pm and a long evening follows where we can't sleep a wink... We're still up there, we think back to each moment, how good we were !

This is where our 3 days trek in the Toubkal massif ends. Thank you guys for this great adventure that would not have been the same without you!

Organization of the trek: Patrick Pinel(https://www.alpinel.fr/)

Article directed by Chloe Charles, our ambassador