What do you get when you take a Financial Advisor an Economist and a Barrister to the Atlas Mountains?
Our most recent excursion to the High Atlas Mountains proved once again to be very successful. Only a small group on this occasion, but what we lacked in numbers we more than made up for in personality.This was the sixth running of our popular trailrunning camps based at the Iconic Kasbah du Toubkal in the Berber village of Imlil (1800m), just 60km from Marrakech.
Arriving very late in the evening our guests awoke to the amazing views that surround the Kasbah, standing beneath the shadow of Mt Toubkal (4167m) the highest peak in North Africa. Imlil is actually a series of smaller villages seemingly clinging on to precipitous mountainsides. After a sumptuous breakfast we headed out for a short acclimatisation run through the Southern reaches of the villages and headed up around the hills overlooking the Kasbah. It was a hazy start to the day, but this did not spoil the magnificence of this place.
Run done some of the group headed to the wonderful surrounds of the Kasbah's hammam, the Berber version of a steam bath. Lunch taken on the terrace where our group met up with Hassan our Berber running guide.Hassan loves nothing better than showing trailrunners his Berber homeland and the myriad of trails that criss-cross the Atlas Mountains. A showery afternoon and early evening resulted in a much clearer second day which was the start proper for our 5 day traverse of the mountains. An steady introductory day taking in the high level pass of Tzi Msik of around 11k and 1000m of climb got our group used to the terrain an the effect altitude has on the body. Dropping into the remote village of Tizi Oussen we were acquainted with our accommodation for the evening. Our Gite was basic, but clean and dry. After tea (mint) and biscuits on the terrace, some free time for the group to read and chill for a while. Night-time brought us more food, amazing fayre prepared from a single gas-ring by our Berber Chef and muleteer Haasan...yes we had two Hassan's.
Our second day brought about a variation of route choice for our guests, with some deciding to take on a 27k route taking in 2000m of climb. Other guests headed out for an easier but no less stunning trip down the valley to the village of Tisianne. The longer route takes in a whole range of different rock strata's. Reds, Greens and Grey coloured earth mingle in the bright spring sunshine. Goats and sheep are pretty much our only companions on these lesser trod mountain paths. A stunning day ended at another Gite in the village, followed with yet more tea!
Our fourth day took us back to Imlil and the Kasbah, the route of around 18k took us by some of the most remote and equally poorest villages in the area. The valleys in this area are very lush at the moment, a result of much winter rain. There is still much snow over the 3000m level giving fresh water to the valleys of an otherwise typically arid high-level landscape. Another varied day with a mixture of tracks and trails brought us back to the luxury of the Kasbah. the much awaited and hot showers and more tea followed
Our final day in the mountains led to a repeat of our opener run for some, while others took chance to chill or head out for some photos'. Our Yoga teacher then took our group out onto the terrace for an hour of meditation and running related stretches. The Kasbah lends itself to an ideal retreat and it's easy to see why a number of yoga sessions are run here.
Our trip ended with a day in Marrakech, not for the faint hearted, a hustling, bustling city that is a far cry from the remote mountains of the Atlas.
Future trips are planned later in the year, we have a Manchester running Club coming for a 5 day camp in November with places still available either side of this week. If interested in finding out more please contact me:
www.rightaltitude.wordpress.com
or info@howardchambersservices.co.uk
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