Ski touring Morocco Atlas Mountains

Hello,

Just wanted to know if anyone has been ski touring in the Atlas and can offer any advice as to when to go or how best to arrange it.

Thanks,

 

Carol.

 

Hi Carol,

I went a couple of years ago.  We stayed the first night in Imlil, then walked up to the Tazaghart Hut - a long walk but well worth it. The hut is very remote with amazing views. It's in a bowl surrounded by almost-4000m peaks with nice couloirs between them.   We spent a few days there, then skied over to the Toubkal Huts (choice of two, big, quite busy, running water!). Toubkal itself was a bit underwhelming (apart from great views from the top) but there other good options from the hut. 

Maps and the French guidebook weren't great so we ended up relying on a combination of google earth and a German cycling map...  But it was a really brilliant and very memorable holiday.

Happy to help if you need more info on logistics etc,

Katie

Hi Carol,

Attempted the Moroccan Haute route in 1997 as described in Peter Cliff's book but was unable to link the routes to the south of the range owing to lack of snow. Instead we went up to the Lepiney hut & skied Tazaghart, then back to Imlil & up to the Neltner hut for Toubkal. Back to Imlil then trekked around to Tachdirt and its magical hut for a ski ascent of Tizi Likemt I think it was. Weather was variable with fine days & storms. Mules were useful to transport skis to & from the snowline and the main huts were staffed as it was easter. Talking to the local guides & muleteers there was no particular best time of year recommended. The consensus was that the maritime influence of the nearby Atlantic meant conditions could change from day to day & week to week. We met a Swiss team who had driven out with a VW camper loaded with skis for the snow & rock gear if there wasn't any. There's the Todra gorge to the south or lots of new rock developed to the NW of Imlil.

It's worthwhile visiting the area: the Berbers are great people & Marrakech had an incredible atmosphere.

Hi Carol

I’ve been to Morocco several times over the years for climbing and trekking but never with skis. Friends of mine went one year and had no snow and had the unenviable experience of having to tell an incoming group the bad news at Marrakech airport. It really is a bit of a lottery for skiing. That said, I’ve heard from folk who have been out already, that this year has been good to date.

There are guided trips including some of which avoid the busy main Toubkal area.

http://www.snowdonia-adventures.co.uk/expeditions/mgoun.html

If the snow is bad you always have the fallback of climbing or trekking. The mountain biking is good, not too technical with cycleable mule tracks are everywhere. You can hire bikes out there easily.

It’s a magic place well worth a visit. If you get skiing, it’s a bonus.