MAROC - 94 - A Youth Expedition To Morocco

EXPEDITION MEMBERS:

Doctor Andrew Newton - (Expedition Leader)
Mr Christopher Willey - (Assistant Leader)
Mr Michael Smith - (Assistant Leader
David Lancaster
James Smith
Robert Canning
Timothy Harris
Alasdair Putt
Stephen Plumbley
Habib Fouilloux

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The main aim of the expedition was to introduce a group of youngsters (members of the Third Gosport Sea Scout Group) to the challenges of expedition work and to allow them a chance to experience something of Moroccan culture and lifestyle.

As the first ever expedition made by British Scouts to Morocco, MAROC 94 aimed to establish a link with the authorities in Morocco which would prove beneficial for future expeditions visiting the Country.

On the mountaineering side the aim was to allow all the expedition members an attempt at reaching the summit of Mount Toubkal (the highest mountain in North Africa).

EXPEDITION DIARY

TRAVEL

Travel to Morocco was with Royal Air Maroc (the National Airline of Morocco) from London Heathrow via Casablanca to Marrakech.

MARRAKECH

On arrival a one day and two nights stay in Marrakech (the Red City) was taken, to allow for re­organisation of equipment after the flight, provisioning, fuelling and also for acclimatization to the climate.  The time spent in Marrakech also allowed the expedition leaders to make contact with local youth officials including representatives of the Scout Organisation in Marrakech.

Accommodation was arranged at the Grand Hotel Tazi, however, unfortunately due to over booking the first night had to be spent at a small Berber Hotel in the Medina (old town) which afforded those unfamiliar with African travel a crash introduction to the delights of a cheap "doss house" (cockroaches and all).

The expedition travelled from Marrakech to the mountains by bus, using SATAS the local bus company which runs a 3 times daily service from Marrakech to Asni (the regional administrative centre for the central High Atlas region).  In Asni locally run trucks are readily available (at a price) for onward transportation up to the village of Imlil.

PHASE ONE

Using the village of Imlil (altitude 1,740 metres) as a base the expedition undertook a 3 day acclimatization phase which consisted of short day walks of increasing length and altitude.

The walks undertaken included a 5 mile circuit of the middle Mizzane Valley visiting the waterfalls above the village of Around and a 10 mile trek over Tamatert Col (altitude 2,279 metres) to the remote village of Tacheddirt (altitude 2,314 metres).

Imlil makes an ideal base for an expedition as there are plenty of shops from which to purchase fresh rations (albeit at higher than average prices).  The village also has a Club Alpine Francais hut which provides basic accommodation at very affordable prices and also a number of small hotels and family run Gites (Guest Houses).

During this phase of the expedition we befriended a Franco Moroccan mountaineer called Jean-Pierre who runs a mountain guiding service and owns a Gite in the village.  Their exceedingly mountain wise 11 year old son Habib asked to join the expedition and rapidly became both a valuable asset and a good friend to the other children on the expedition.

PHASE TWO

The ascent of Toubkal (altitude 4,167 metres).

Making a late afternoon departure we climbed to the village of around (altitude 1,920 metres) which sits perched on a moraine at the entry to the upper Mizzane Valley.  We spent the night in a small Gite in the village (the Guest House was run by one of the local farmers and had a balcony affording the most magnificent panoramic view of the surrounding mountains).

The next day we made an early start and with a team of 3 mules to transport our rucksacks we made the long ascent up the Mizzane Valley passing through the village of Chamharrouch to the Neltner hut (altitude 3,207 metres).  The Neltner hut is traditionally regarded as being a suitable location for advanced camp prior to a summit ascent. Due to the popularity of the hut with trekking groups the majority of private parties climbing the mountain during the summer months opt to camp on the flats just underneath the hut.

Our expedition took an additional acclimatization/rest day at the Neltner.  For those brimming with energy a one day trek over the Ouanoums Col (altitude 3,876 metres) was arranged.  This Col is famous for the fantastic view which it affords over Lac D'infini and the Jebel Sahro.

The ascent from the Neltner hut to the summit of Toubkal is a 2-3 hour trek passing through the western Cwm (renowned for its loose scree slopes) and then by using either the north west or the south west Arrette ascending to the summit plateau.

A dawn start was made to avoid climbing during the heat of the day and also to miss the cloud which tends to shroud the summit of the mountain most afternoons in the summer months.

We were extremely lucky with the weather and reached the summit with a panoramic view in all directions.

After returning to the Neltner a restful afternoon was spent splashing underneath the waterfalls and re-packing kit for the descent back to Imlil.

Having used all of the food and fuel the descent was undertaken without the use of mules, allowing the expedition members to gain useful pack carrying experience for the final stage of the expedition.

PHASE THREE

Trek to Tizzi Oussem

The final two days of the mountain phase of the expedition were spent on a circular trek to the remote village of Tizzi Oussem (altitude 1,850 metres), crossing over the exceedingly arduous Mzic Col (altitude 2,489 metres) en route.

Tizzi Oussem is a classic northern central Atlas Berber village which thanks to its remoteness from roads has remained untouched by development.  The village is situated in a very fertile valley which is intensively farmed using an extensive system of terraced fields and an ingenious series of irrigation ditches.

A very comfortable night was spent in one of the village houses and the following morning was set aside for exploring the village (with the inevitable crowd of small Berber children in tow).

On arrival back in Imlil we went to stay at our friend's Gite where Jean-Pierre had prepared a huge taggine (a traditional local meal) for us.  Our feast was accompanied by Berber music performed by the local village band which Jean-Pierre had employed for the evening to thank us for looking after his son.

MARRAKECH

After our return to Marrakech a day was spent visiting the famous palaces and sights within the City and also for shopping in the Medina (which has a maze of little streets and alleyways where craft stalls, spice markets and workshops jostle for space and customers attention).

We were lucky to have our touristic wanderings supervised by a representative of the local Scout Association who ensured that we got value for money and also did a fabulous job of defending us against the Marrakech hustlers (whose aggressiveness is legendary).

EQUIPMENT

The following communal equipment was used on the expedition.

One Ultimate Horizon 4-man tent.
Three Hornet 2 man light weight tents.
Four Peak-one multi-fuel burners.
Fourteen Sigg fuel bottles (one litre).
Five Trekker Well water purification systems.
Cooking Equipment.
Navigational Equipment.

Obtaining fuel for camping stoves can be a problem in Morocco.  Camping Gas is widely available (in C206 cylinders in cities and in larger cylinders in more rural areas).

Unleaded fuel is difficult to buy (Government permits often being required), and kerosene and methylated spirits are almost impossible to obtain.

FOOD

During the acclimatization phase, military type compo rations of the boil in the bag type were used. These rations give 3,000 calories per day and come in an easy to prepare format.

For the high altitude phase of the expedition, dehydrated rations of the Raven type were used with dried fruit, crunchy bars, sweets and hot drinks as dietary supplements.  (A total calorific intake of between 2,500 and 3,000 calories a day was aimed for).

CLIMATE

The climate in Morocco is generally warm and dry during the summer months.  In Marrakech the average mid-day temperature is in the region of 110 degrees, however in the mountains the temperature is considerably more comfortable for trekking.

In the central Atlas region it is common for cloud cover to build up during the day with precipitation and electrical storms frequently occurring during the late afternoon and evening.

CONCLUSIONS

MAROC - 94 achieved all of its major aims. In particular the expedition demonstrated that it is entirely possible for a correctly equipped and well supported Youth Party to successfully undertake a major trekking challenge in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco.

Doctor Andrew Paul Newton FRGS MRCGP
BEC Member

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