The High Atlas

Inspirational book packed with anecdotes and insights about the best treks and climbs in the High Atlas mountains of Morocco, in North Africa, and drawn from the author's 50-year experience. Illustrated with dazzling photographs of the mountains and also the mountain people, the Berbers. 48 routes including Jbel Toubkal, Tazekka and Igdat.

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Overview

This is an inspirational book packed with anecdotes and insights and describing the best treks and climbs in the High Atlas mountains of Morocco, in North Africa, illustrated with dazzling photographs of the mountains and the mountain people, the Berbers. The range has endless tops of over 3000m and some over 4000m, including Jbel Toubkal, Ouanoukrim and Ighil Mgoun (Oumsoud), but travelling through the valleys and experiencing the welcoming Berber people and their culture, is also key to appreciating the High Atlas. The passion of author Hamish Brown's 50-year love affair with the High Atlas fills every page of this unique guide, which describes 48 routes across the range, from north east to south west, from the Eastern High Atlas, through the Mgoun Ranges, the Toubkal Massif and the Tichka Plateau to the Western Atlas. Practical information for first-time visitors to the region is also provided, including how to plan your trip, getting there and getting around, selecting local guides, dealing with bureaucracy, health and safety concerns, what to take and how to get hold of the best maps and guidebooks.

Table of Contents

Index of route maps
Overview map

Introduction

Geography and climate of the High Atlas
Trekking routine
Planning your trip
Getting there and getting around
Bureaucracy
Local guides
Local language and culture
Health and safety
Maps
Using this guide

Middle Atlas and Eastern High Atlas

1 Jbel Tazekka
2 Jbel bou Naceur, Moussa ou Salah and Jbel bou Iblane
3 Jbel Ayyachi and Jbel Masker
4 Jbel Hayane

Central High Atlas

5 Jbel Msedrit
6 Jbel Laqroun
7 The Cathedral (Mastfrane)
8 Mouriq

Mgoun Ranges

9 Aroudane (Aioui)
10 Jbel Azurki
11 Ouaougoulzat
12 Adar n’ Ouchane, Jbel Anzig, Jbel Amezrika and Imejdag
13 Jbel Tigounatine
14 Tizi Mkorn
15 Ighil Mgoun (Oumsoud)
16 Jbel-n-Nig Oumassine and Jbel Tazoult-n-Ouguerd (Aslad)
17 Jbel Aklim

Western Central Atlas

18 Jbel Tizoula
19 Jbel Rhat and Tignousti
20 Jbel Anghomer
21 Tissili n’ Warg
22 Jbel Tastwiyt group
23 Adrar Tircht (Jbel bou Ourioul)
24 Adrar Yagour
25 Adrar Meltzen

The Toubkal Massif

26 Kik Plateau edge
27 Jbel Toubkal
28 The Ouanoukrims
29 Aksouâl
30 Adrar n’ Inghemar
31 Angour
32 Taska n’ Zat
33 Tazaghart

West of the Tizi n’ Test Road

34 Jbel Gourza
35 Jbel Erdouz
36 Igdat
37 Adrar-n-Oumzra
38 Jbel Tabgourt
39 Jbel Ikkis

The Tichka Plateau

40 Amendach
41 Takoucht
42 Flillis
43 Moulay Ali
44 Imaradene (Tassiwt)

Further West

45 Ras Moulay Ali
46 Mtdadene
47 Jbel Awlim and Jbel Tinergwet
48 Azegza

The Southern and Northern Ranges

Appendix A Glossary
Appendix B Texts, books and maps
Appendix C What to take
Appendix D The highest summits
Appendix E Contacts

Index of route maps
Overview map
Introduction
Geography and climate of the High Atlas
Trekking routine
Planning your trip
Getting there and getting around
Bureaucracy
Local guides
Local language and culture
Health and safety
Maps
Using this guide

Middle Atlas and Eastern High Atlas
1 Jbel Tazekka
2 Jbel bou Naceur, Moussa ou Salah and Jbel bou Iblane
3 Jbel Ayyachi and Jbel Masker
4 Jbel Hayane

Central High Atlas
5 Jbel Msedrit
6 Jbel Laqroun
7 The Cathedral (Mastfrane)
8 Mouriq

Mgoun Ranges
9 Aroudane (Aioui)
10 Jbel Azurki
11 Ouaougoulzat
12 Adar n’ Ouchane, Jbel Anzig, Jbel Amezrika and Imejdag
13 Jbel Tigounatine
14 Tizi Mkorn
15 Ighil Mgoun (Oumsoud)
16 Jbel-n-Nig Oumassine and Jbel Tazoult-n-Ouguerd (Aslad)
17 Jbel Aklim

Western Central Atlas
18 Jbel Tizoula
19 Jbel Rhat and Tignousti
20 Jbel Anghomer
21 Tissili n’ Warg
22 Jbel Tastwiyt group
23 Adrar Tircht (Jbel bou Ourioul)
24 Adrar Yagour
25 Adrar Meltzen

The Toubkal Massif
26 Kik Plateau edge
27 Jbel Toubkal
28 The Ouanoukrims
29 Aksouâl
30 Adrar n’ Inghemar
31 Angour
32 Taska n’ Zat
33 Tazaghart

West of the Tizi n’ Test Road
34 Jbel Gourza
35 Jbel Erdouz
36 Igdat
37 Adrar-n-Oumzra
38 Jbel Tabgourt
39 Jbel Ikkis

The Tichka Plateau
40 Amendach
41 Takoucht
42 Flillis
43 Moulay Ali
44 Imaradene (Tassiwt)

Further West
45 Ras Moulay Ali
46 Mtdadene
47 Jbel Awlim and Jbel Tinergwet
48 Azegza

The Southern and Northern Ranges
Appendix A Glossary
Appendix B Texts, books and maps
Appendix C What to take
Appendix D The highest summits
Appendix E Contacts


Index of route maps
Route 1: Jbel Tazekka
Route 2: Jbel bou Naceur, Moussa ou Salah and Jbel bou Iblane
Route 3: Jbel Ayyachi and Jbel Masker
Route 4: Jbel Hayane
Route 5: Jbel Msedrit
Routes 6-8: Jbel Laqroun, Cathedral and Mouriq
Routes 9-13: From the Bou Guemez and Dadès valleys
Route 14: Tizi Mkorn
Routes 15-19: Ighil Mgoun, Oumassine, Jbel Tazoul-n-Ouguerd/Aslad, Jbel Aklim, Jbel Tizoula, Jbel Rhat and Tignousti
Routes 20-22: Jbel Anghomer, Tissili n’ Warg and Jbel Tastwiyt group
Routes 23-25, 32: Adrar Tircht, Adrar Yagour, Adrar Meltzen, Taska n’ Zat
Routes 26: Kik Plateau edge
Routes 27-31, 33: Jbel Toubkal, the Ouanoukrims, Aksouâl, Adrar n’ Inghemar, Angour and Tazaghart
Routes 34–36: Jbel Gourza, Jbel Erdouz and Igdat
Routes 37–48: Around the Tichka Plateau

Maps

Maps are a problem. The Atlas ranges are all covered at a scale of 1:100,000 (maps at this scale are referenced as '100' in this book, with the sheet name, see Appendix B) and some are covered at 1:50,000 (referenced as '50' plus the sheet name), but the mapping is very old. This may not matter for the delineation of the landscape, but all human infrastructure is woefully out of date. These maps are very hard to purchase (but see Appendix B for possible suppliers). Obtain what you can, but go regardless.

Maps may not be as vital as one might presume. Working from a good map of the country (Michelin, Hallwag, World Map/Geo Center, Freytag & Berndt, Rough Guide, etc), the vital Mgoun Massif West Col map (referenced as 'MM' in this book), the more available Toubkal area maps, plus map sketches in Peyron or Fougerolles (see Appendix B), and closely reading texts (including this book), means one can manage quite happily.

As well as any maps, the wise will have a knowledgeable local along (see Appendix E) and/or glean information from muleteers and locals. In addition, good visibility (usually!) makes life much easier – allowing hill sense to make the obvious correct decisions – and is essential for those going into the mountains without a map at all. In all my years in the Atlas I’ve used a compass only twice. (If it is bad enough to need one, you’re just not going anywhere!)

The spelling on maps can vary, as can the heights, so any inconsistencies between this book and published maps is unavoidable. (In the text, the height given for any peak may be followed by a second height in brackets, which is an alternative figure fairly often encountered, so may help to pinpoint the peak.) As long as a mountain name is near enough and recognisable, go with it – Zawyat Ahancal, Zaouie Ahansal and Zawit Ahansal is one example of this type of variation. A height can be different on the 1:100,000 and 1:50,000 scale maps and in books consulted. The 1:100,000 and 1:50,000 maps also tend to show a differing selection of paths – and are decades behind changes to such. Ah, for the good old Ordnance Survey and the simplicity of Gaelic nomenclature!

This book uses metres and kilometres throughout (as that is what is used on the maps) and, to aid navigation, key places and features shown on the sketch maps are highlighted in bold in the narrative.

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The best and most important trekking guide to the High Atlas mountains, where to go and how to get there. This is as much about the people and the landscape and is as insightful as it's practical.

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