|
Day 1. Drive from Marrakech to
Imlil and trek to Toubkal Refuge via Aremd & the Mizane Valley
Leaving the city behind we drive south today, towards the craggy
peaks and plunging valleys of the Toubkal Massif. Crossing the Haouz
Plain we pass through the tiny town of Asni, from where our road
begins to climb towards the foothills of the Massif. Below us the
valley of the Oued Rhirhaia stretches out into the distance and
small villages cling to the sides of the steep hills as we meander
our way towards the village of Imlil. Here we leave our vehicle and,
in the
company of our mountain guide, begin our trek, heading along the
Mizane Valley, first towards the village of Aremd and then onto the
shrine of Sidi Chamarouch. Built on a moraine spur overlooking the
valley floor, Aremd is the largest village in the valley and
provides an interesting mix of traditional terraced farming, gites
and streets that seem to be permanently gridlocked by goats and
cattle. For generations the local Berber villagers have worked these
lands, producing corn, potatoes and walnuts from the harsh landscape.
Continuing east and crossing the flood plain our route takes us
along mule tracks and up into
the high rocky cliffs above the valley. Crossing the river we
eventually come to the pastoral shrine of Sidi Chamarouch, which
attracts tourists and pilgrims alike (although only Muslims are
allowed to cross the stone bridge to visit the
marabout shrine itself). The village sits besides a small waterfall,
a jumbled
cluster of houses that seem to melt together into an anarchic mass.
From here
the trail continues to climb steadily, snaking and zigzagging its
way up to the snowline and the Toukbal Refuge (3206m), our stop for
the night. Approx 4-5hrs walking.
Day 2. Trek to summit of Jebel Toubkal(4165m); return to Imlil Early
this morning we make our attempt on the summit of Jebel Toukbal, the
highest peak in Northern Africa. Our route takes us up the south
cirque, crossing the stream above the refuge and then heading across
one of the
mountains numerous scree fields, where we will have to negotiable a
seemingly endless carpet of boulders and rocks. The walking is
relatively straightforward,
but the scree and the altitude will make the going quite difficult
in parts, however, the views along the way make the journey more
than worthwhile. Cresting the ridgeline we find ourselves on the
plateau, from where it is a short walk to
the summit and the vistas out across the surrounding landscape are
quite breathtaking. From here there are unrestricted views in every
direction, from the Marrakesh Plain to the High Atlas in the north
and as far south as the Anti-Atlas and the Sahara. Pliny, the great
Roman scholar, once described the High Atlas Mountains as "the most
fabulous mountains in all of Africa" and from our vantage point high
above the valley it is easy to understand why. Retracing our steps
we then return down the mountain and head back towards Imlil where
we will spend the night amongst the Berbers, staying in a
traditional village house. ( or head back to Marrakech on the same
day).
Other alternatives :
|