John's Winter Traverse of Toubkal in aid of the Ian Edwards Cancer Break Trust

Between 15th & 17th March 2012  I will be attempting a winter traverse of  Jbel Toubkal, at 4,167 metres (13,670 ft) the highest mountain inNorth Africa(it is in the Moroccan Atlas range) along with a large party of members from West Bromwich Mountaineering Club on a self-led expedition.  

The idea is to make the 7,000 foot of ascent up to the north col (off to the left of the picture)traverse across the summit and then descend down the snowfield below the south col (centre of picture).  I think whether we succeed on the mountain or not will depend mainly on the weather and snow conditions - it will definitely be an “ice axe and crampons job”.   I have reached three summits higher than this without any real altitude problems......but I was not a pensioner then and 2.6 miles high sounds a lot more than it did a few years ago!

For the first time in my mountaineering attempts I will be trying to raise money for charity – the one we set up in memory of our son Ian, which helps people suffering from cancer take a holiday break when they are not having treatment.   Ian really loved the countryside and mountains, especially the Vaud region of the SwissAlpsbut he never got the chance to go really high. 

Please sponsor me and help this worthy cause by donating on this page.  I thought I'd aim for a £ for every 10 foot of actual ascent!